I’ve been really happy with the Kenda Rush. I have the 2.4 SCTs on my bike right now.
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What’s the go to combo with Aspens?
Double aspens? Aspen out back and another up front?
I’ve seen guys racing Pisgah Stage race in the rain running Aspens out back and Rekon up front or Rekon Race up front.
What’s been your combo?
Aspen/Aspen
Aspen ST/Aspen
Both of these have served me very well
I’ve also run a combo that’s maybe a little counter into intuitive but was inspired by Russell Finsterwald a few years ago. Aspen (f)/Rekon Race(r). The thinking is that the Aspen actually does corner pretty well, but has so much open space between lugs that it’s a little bit more flat prone. The Rekon Race has a little bit more tread across the body and is a touch tougher, so it stands a better chance in the rear. I ran this at Leadville and was very happy with it in 2022 but have switched since to primarily just aspen iterations front and rear
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I like 2.4 Rekon Race front with 2.4 Aspen rear. For me, the Rekon Race corners better than the Aspen. The only downside to the Rekon Race is it is heavier than the Aspen.
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Pirelli xc m / aspen
Picked up a set of Rick XC Pros and initial thoughts are positive. Definitely better traction than RK 2.2 and, if I remember correctly, they’re better than Aspen 2.4s. They lean over and corner much more predictably than both these tires. Trail conditions were dry with a fair amount of loose leaf/needle over top. Ran 14 psi front/rear and that seemed perfect for my 135 lb weight. So far so good. Will be interested to see how the roll on bicyclerollingresistance.com’s drum. They felt fast and quiet in the parking lot.
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Mine recently arrived and the weights are 745-747g for the 2.4’s.
I want to try them for my next race in two weeks but I’m a tad nervous because I’ve had such great luck with the ray/ray combo I currently have.
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Let us know how wide they measure after you mount them on your wheels. If you’ve been using the Ray on the front I’m sure you will get along fine with the Rick XC.
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Collagen peptides will surely make them incredibly pliable. 
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That’s pretty amazing. I’ve gone through multiple 2.35" Ralphs on 30mm IW rims inflated to at most 23psi (I weigh 175lbs nkd) and they never get to 2.35".
Unless the rider is heavy 30psi is pretty hard
I wish there was a 2.4" Race King with maybe slightly larger side knobs similar to how the tread changes on the 2.35 Ikon vs smaller versions of the Ikon.
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I spoke with the gentleman at the Conti Booth at Big Sugar last weekend about the new tires. It was the same guy who was at the booth at Unbound. I flat out asked him if he had any prototypes he could show me and he laughed, but said no… He did confirm what others have been saying in terms of new XC tires coming. I asked him if a launch in Spring 2025 would be the timeframe and he said that seemed about right.
They are also expanding their offerings on the gravel side. They are looking to fill some gaps in the line up with a fast tire in the 50mm range.
I just received ENVE’s new M5 Pro wheelset. I have to work this weekend, so won’t be able to ride, but hoping the weather holds up the following weekend. Going to put something a little more chunky on them given it leaf litter season. Thinking the Kenda Karma2 Pro.
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Just remeasured since I was lazy the first time after setting them up tubeless… 21 PSI, same 30mm ID…2.340".
Not bad. Close enough to the advertised width.
What’s your experience for weight on racing ralph/ray in super race compound? Got a new set and they both weight above 780 grams a piece, which came as a surprise to me because 705 is advertised. Should i return them and order new ones?
Here was my review out of the box on this combination
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I haven’t weighed my Ray/Ralph combo, but I go with the super ground (blue) over super race. They tested faster (or the same) with improved protection. YMMV
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Order 2 extra sets from different store. Ray came in at 770 and 760 grams, ralph at 740 and 760. So a little bit lighter but far from 705 gram. I’ve got the super ground version before they where actually lighter ray at 740 and ralph at 750 both stretched to 58 mm on 29rim. Which is actually the same as a 2.2 raceking on the 29rim. Profile width is different of course.
Switched to super race as an experiment because I found the super ground not feeling as smooth as I would expected. Lower pressures they started to feel sluggish. Of course it’s just feel.
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Where are you seeing 705g?
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I must have missed that, mine were most certainly 740-750g for either the ray or ralph.
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It was on the sellers website, but obviously it is wrong… Man they’re heavy then for xc-race tires
I agree they are not super light - but I successfully rode them all season this year for both training and racing in any conditions or any trail type (root, dirt, muddy, rocky etc).
I did not have a flat (heck I never even added sealant), and the carcass/sidewalls have lots of small slash’s in them but neither tire gave up the fight!
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