As an extreme enduro rider, having the right tire setup can make or break your performance. The terrain we traverse is unforgiving – slick rock ledges, deep water crossings, and leg-burning ascents.
One small slip-up can lead to a devastating crash. That’s why having tires that grip like glue yet absorb impacts like a pillow is critical.
When suiting up for a race, I first caress the knobby rubber of my tires. I can feel their firmness and imagine how they’ll respond when pushed to the limit.
Too hard, and they’ll bounce my body like a rag doll over the rocks. Too soft, and they’ll fold under the forces of turns and landings.
The sweet spot is somewhere in between – a supple sidewall that flexes naturally combined with soft interior pressure. This gives both traction and cushion.
In the past, I’ve experimented with different inserts to try to achieve that balance. Standard moose bibs are heavy and expensive but work reasonably well right out of the box.
I usually run a 110/100 sizing, which matches my tire dimensions. Going too big reduces traction as the moose can’t fully engage the sidewalls.
The typical feel of a new moose bib is around 12-15 psi. That may be fine for desert riding, but I need things much softer in the trees and slippery slopes of extreme enduro.
As the moose bibs wear in, they slowly drop to that buttery zone of 4-6 psi. At this point, the tires grip like Velcro on rock gardens yet provide lively small bump compliance.
However, this optimum window is fleeting. After a few hard rides, the moose packing has broken down to the point the tires feel vague and squirrely.
This wear-in period can take weeks, eating into precious training and testing time. Plus, I’m forced to retire moose bibs at their peak right when dialed in for a specific event.
I began customizing the moose through strategic cutting and drilling to overcome this. Carefully carving channels in the top allows more conformance and sidewall support.
Drilling tiny holes all along the sides bleeds off air pressure for a softer initial feel. Don’t be shy with the drill – the more holes, the lower the psi.
This lets me precisely tune the tire’s durometer to match a given course’s traction needs. The downside is customized moose wear out faster, as the mutilations accelerate break down.
For trail and practice riding, this doesn’t matter much. But for race day, I need every ounce of performance, so I will install fresh, customized moose.
The transformation is dramatic. Buzzing through rock gardens, the tires feel alive, flexing and conforming over every hit. I can lean harder into turns, knowing the sidewalls will hold without folding.
And on higher speed sections, the bike stays planted and controlled since the moose bibs keep the pressures low and predictable.
Riders who prioritize longevity over performance run higher psi and sacrifice this dynamic sensation. But for those seeking every competitive advantage, custom moose are a must.
Recently, a European friend turned me on to a new option – the Nitro Moose Soft Insert. Using proprietary low-density foams, Nitro claims these provide a 4-6 psi feel right out of the box.
Skeptical but open-minded, I installed a set to test back-to-back against my customized bibs. Amazingly, they lived up to the promises.
Without any modifications, the Nitro moose delivered supple traction instantly with no wear-in period needed.
I did notice slightly less sidewall support in turns, but the plushness was unmatched. For hardcore racers, customized biblical still reigns supreme. However, Nitro soft moose is a game-changer for riders prioritizing cost and convenience.
Tires may seem like a mundane topic, but they directly affect how much fun you’ll have out on the trail. After much experimenting, I’ve found my perfect setup – customized moose bibs for race day and Nitro soft inserts for practice and training.
This gives me the best of both worlds – max performance when it counts and affordability for every day. Let me know in the comments what tire and insert combos have worked for you.
Key Takeaways:
- Proper tire pressure is vital for grip and control in extreme enduro riding. Too hard, and the ride is harsh. Too soft, and handling gets vague.
- Moose bib inserts help lower tire pressures. But brand-new bibs feel too firm until broken in.
- Customizing moose bibs by cutting and drilling lets riders precisely fine-tune pressures for max traction.
- The downside of custom moose is they wear out faster, making them expensive for regular use.
- Nitro Moose Soft inserts provide ultra-low pressures straight out of the box with no modification required.
- For hardcore racing, customized moose bibs still offer the best grip. But Nitro soft inserts are great for practice and training.
- Experiment with different tires and insert combinations to find your perfect riding style and terrain setup.
- Proper tire pressures can be the difference between an epic ride and an epic crash!
FAQs:
- What is the benefit of moose bib inserts?
Moose bib inserts help lower tire pressure for increased traction and impact absorption. By using a malleable material inside the tire, moose bibs provide a more progressive rate as the tire compresses. This gives a softer feel at lower pressures.
- How low should tire pressures be for extreme enduro?
Most extreme enduro riders aim for 4-6 PSI tire pressures. This provides sufficient sidewall support for cornering grip while still delivering a plush ride quality for high-speed impacts. Harder tires or higher pressures sacrifice small bump compliance.
- Why customize moose bib inserts?
Customizing moose bibs by cutting or drilling lets riders precisely fine-tune the air pressure feel. This customization allows dialing in the exact pressure needed for maximum performance based on riding style and course conditions.
- What is the downside of custom moose bibs?
The downside is that customized moose bib inserts wear out faster than stock ones since the modifications accelerate material breakdown. So they must be replaced more frequently, increasing long-term costs.
- How do Nitro Soft Moose inserts work?
Nitro Soft Moose use proprietary low-density foam materials to provide ultra-plush tire pressures straight out of the packaging. By engineering the foam’s cell structure, Nitro can achieve 4-6 PSI feel without any customization required.
Conclusion:
Finding the ideal tire setup requires extensive testing and tuning. For extreme enduro riders seeking every competitive advantage, customized moose bib inserts allow dialing in the exact pressures needed for maximum traction and control.
While the customization process is expensive and time-consuming, it provides unparalleled performance for race day.
For everyday training and riding, new products like Nitro Soft Moose deliver impressively low pressures straight out of the packaging without modification.
Experimenting with different combinations enables finding your own perfect match of grip, cushion, and affordability. With the right tires, you can push harder and ride faster with confidence.
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