Ben racing in RaceDaySetup kit at altitude

Race smarter. Ride faster.

XC race-driven tire picks, setups, and gear reviews.

Built for XC & endurance racing Gear that performs and lasts Efficiency when it counts

Tire Picks by Race

Event-specific recommendations for XC & marathon courses.

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Gear Index

Everything tested and recommended β€” filter, search, compare.

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Guides

Bike setup, pressures, inserts, waxing, and race-day strategy.

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Checklists

Pre-race, travel, tools, and spares β€” so nothing gets missed.

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Featured Gear

Current standouts from recent testing and races.

Continental Dubnital 2.4 Race Rapid

Continental Dubnital 2.4 Race Rapid

An extremely light and fast-rolling XC tire with outstanding grip for its category, but a very narrow use case in the ultra-light Race Rapid casing.

Read the review β†’
Topeak SmartGauge D2 Tire Pressure Gauge

Topeak SmartGauge D2 Tire Pressure Gauge

A pocket-sized digital gauge that nails MTB pressures with 1psi precision.

Read the review β†’
Topeak Digital Torque Wrench

Topeak Digital Torque Wrench

Accurate, reliable digital torque wrench for precise bike maintenance.

Read the review β†’
Lezyne Tubeless Pro Plug Kit

Lezyne Tubeless Pro Plug Kit

Permanent-style tubeless repair kit with mushroom plugs and rubber cement for fixing big punctures right β€” from the inside.

Read the review β†’
Air-Liner Light XC Tire Insert

Air-Liner Light XC Tire Insert

Insert system for rim protection and lower pressure confidence.

Read the review β†’
Lezyne Multi Chain Pliers

Lezyne Multi Chain Pliers

Compact, bombproof multi-tool with chain breaker, quick link storage, and more.

Read the review β†’
Maxxis Rekon Race 2.4 MaxxSpeed

Maxxis Rekon Race 2.4 MaxxSpeed

Review – fast rolling XC tire for dry trails. The Maxxis Rekon Race is my go-to front tire for dry, rough XC courses. See how it performs and why it’s in my rotation.

Read the review β†’
SRAM AXS XO Transmission

SRAM AXS XO Transmission

Cutting-edge wireless drivetrain for elite XC racing.

Read the review β†’
Kenda Rush Pro 2.4 SCT (120 TPI)

Kenda Rush Pro 2.4 SCT (120 TPI)

Fast-rolling XC tire with ample grip, superb handling, and SCT protection for rocky, technical terrain.

Read the review β†’

About Me

Ben Steger

I'm Ben β€” a full-time XC and endurance mountain bike racer with a deep obsession for optimizing race-day setups. Every recommendation you find here comes straight from real-world experience racing across some of the toughest XC courses in North America.

Follow more of the racing at BSracing.us .

Whether you're chasing your first finish or a new PR, my goal is to help riders choose gear that maximizes confidence on race day.

β€” Ben