schwalbe:racing ralph $87.45 | www.Schwalbe.com
Racing Ralphs’ name largely clarifies their intended purpose: the tires are light for carrying efficient speed and aggressive enough to rip any descent you’ll find on a crosscountry course. A continuous row of serrated “shark’s tooth” side knobs gives better-than-expected grip on corners and in loose conditions, and the arrangement of the center knobs keep the rolling resistance low and mud build-up to a minimum. This design makes Ralph a great choice for the tire-eating, cross-country or marathon racecourses we get in the Rockies. Schwalbe’s Racing Ralph has been proven time and again on the race circuit, but what really made our test tires stand out was the optional Double Defense technology. The Double Defense rating—which refers to the addition of a heavy-duty ceramic guard under the tread and reinforced sidewalls—dramatically improves the tire’s durability for rough conditions in which sidewall tears or punctures are a concern. The Double Defense option increases the weight from 460 grams to 575 grams, but in many cases it’s well worth it. The feature also has the unintended side effect of making these tires an excellent choice for those of us who like to contrive tubeless tire systems using sealant. The extra sidewall adds stability and won’t bleed sealant like paper-thin race tires can. Yet the Racing Ralph Double Defense is still 75 grams lighter than the UST tubeless model. Ralph is available in sizes 26x2.1, 2.25 or 2.4 and 29x2.25 or 2.4. Double Defense is not available on the 2.4 size for 26ers or all 29er sizes. –B. Riepe
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