Today we're featuring a Rock 'n Road tire review by Curtis F. of San Francisco:
"I find the idea of being "well-rounded" a little boring. Being good at something generally makes us not so good at something else. A 29er sucks on pavement because it's designed to shred on dirt, and a road bike isn't so fun on technical single track. Bruce Gordon lacks social graces because he's a mad scientist when it comes to bikes. The point is... without a little give, there's no take. So how could a tire be really great at any one thing if it's good at everything else? I had to find out.
The first day I put the BG Rock 'n Road tires on my Frances diffusible tourist, I immediately went for a ride on the local fireroad of choice, Aptos Creek in Nisene Marks. Climbing up the steep sections to eventually reach 1600', I was impressed by the grip on the hardpack characteristic of Santa Cruz County. I noticed that even at 70 psi, I could still easily stand up and pedal hard in the steep sections without spinning the rear tire. Dem fatties got bite.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iBTOmHx3MZhCox4yqnmI2T7fCv80L8YupDgXS8gPZiNzKNFgNjbGJDP-TOlKdVjAO41JrQN9HmkzZwSgG1NJDeeRkB0bZLmegp6jShaCn3nsD_Pp_Ux-5VsMtfaydu-YMUjFaYuCNIA/s640/IMG_0005.jpg) |
A perfect synergy of predictable traction. |
On the way down, I fell in love. Pardon my French, but these tires f-ing shred. The combination of grippy tread and soft sidewalls create a perfect synergy of predictable traction. These tires do what you expect them to do, even when you're sliding sideways through a sand pit at 25+ mph. They are soft without being mushy, and roll faster than I expected for such a large tire. They even behave nicely when loaded down with 30-40lbs of gear and beer.
So what don't they do? Well, they won't massage your calves after a long ride. I wouldn't recommend them to a faux CX'er who spends 95% of his or her time on the pavement. They're a little small for really technical stuff. But to be honest, these tires really don't suck at anything. Last weekend I went camping in the woods with these tires, and this morning they were still on my bike when I rushed to work on it. They might make the ride a little longer, but certainly not by much.
If I had to put a label on them, I would say the Rock 'n Road is a fireroad tire. A gravel travel companion. And it beats any other tire I've ever used for this purpose, hands down. It might not love pavement, it might not have the grip for slick-as-snot mud, but holy crap, this tire rolls like a rubber cloud when it comes to open trails and smooth-ish single track. It's grippy and predictable in corners, and eats up washboard and small rocks when bombing in the open. In short, I am absolutely in love with these tires and would recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone willing to listen."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHZpaOxxsbL5Iqlz4FcblStVYpJ4lBnA9XVOU68Y3lVwnecim8HDWseu_-flZAEl3ZFS6gLGs3ut1Ei-Y9pIqB7YyMWjb2Jqv1kZh1xyllKgZa62TjojJL2xuq6dh6Zknsddm6lv7_3w/s640/IMG_0051.jpg)
Thanks so much for the kind words, Curtis! We appreciate the feedback and the pictures of your very nice Frances (with a BG taillight, no less!). If you Rock 'n Road riders out there would like to send us reviews, we'd like to feature them on this here soapbox.
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