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.

Dynaplug Racer Pro Review – Fast, Lightweight Tubeless Tire Plug Kit

Dynaplug Racer Pro Review – Fast, Lightweight Tubeless Tire Plug Kit

Why I trust the Dynaplug Racer Pro to save races: lightweight, fast to deploy, and incredibly reliable. Full review + real race experience.

Read my review β†’
Specialized Epic 8 EVO Pro – Flight Attendant vs. Stock

Specialized Epic 8 EVO Pro – Flight Attendant vs. Stock

Full breakdown of the Specialized Epic 8 EVO Pro in both its stock 120/130mm configuration and a custom 120/120mm RockShox Flight Attendant setup.

Read my review β†’
Garmin Edge 1040 Review – Incredible Battery Life

Garmin Edge 1040 Review – Incredible Battery Life

Why I trust the Edge 1040 for every race and training ride. Full review here.

Read my review β†’
Shimano XC903 S-PHYRE Review

Shimano XC903 S-PHYRE Review

A full-season review of the Shimano XC903 S-PHYRE XC race shoes β€” ultra-stiff, lightweight, shockingly comfortable, and brutally tested in alpine racing and hike-a-bikes.

Read my review β†’
Maxxis Aspen 2.4 MaxxSpeed

Maxxis Aspen 2.4 MaxxSpeed

Fast dry to slightly mixed course XC tire. Lightweight and race-proven.

Read my review β†’
Camelbak Podium Bottle

Camelbak Podium Bottle

Big, insulated, and fast to drink fromβ€”this is the race bottle you’ll keep reaching for.

Read my review β†’
Aerate Pro Air 3.0 Short-Sleeve Jersey

Aerate Pro Air 3.0 Short-Sleeve Jersey

A race-cut jersey that disappears once you're riding. Tight, breathable, and built for big efforts in hot weather.

Read my review β†’
Silca Super Secret Wax Blend

Silca Super Secret Wax Blend

High-performance hot melt wax blend for chain durability and efficiency.

Read my review β†’
Tacx Garmin Neo 2T Smart Trainer

Tacx Garmin Neo 2T Smart Trainer

A rock-solid direct-drive smart trainer that delivers natural feel, perfect power accuracy, and near-silent operation β€” without any fuss.

Read my 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