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.

Lezyne Multi Chain Pliers

Lezyne Multi Chain Pliers

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

Read the 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 the review β†’
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†’
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 the review β†’
Silca Chain Waxing System

Silca Chain Waxing System

Efficient wax heating pot for dipping chains in hot melt wax.

Read the review β†’
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 the review β†’
Silca Strip Chip

Silca Strip Chip

Drop it in your pot along with a new chain to rid it of factory grease during first wax.

Read the 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 the 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 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