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.

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†’
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 my review β†’
Maxxis Aspen ST 2.4 MaxxSpeed

Maxxis Aspen ST 2.4 MaxxSpeed

Semi-slick version of the Aspen. Ideal for hardpack and short track.

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†’
Kenda Booster Pro 2.4 SCT (120 TPI)

Kenda Booster Pro 2.4 SCT (120 TPI)

XC race tire with aggressive knobs and SCT protection β€” a lighter, confident alternative to the Maxxis Ikon.

Read my review β†’
Eflator Digital Tire Pump

Eflator Digital Tire Pump

Compact digital inflator that’s perfect for travel and daily pre-ride top-offs.

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†’
Hyperice Normatec Recovery Boots

Hyperice Normatec Recovery Boots

Compression boots that help keep your legs fresh through big training blocks and back-to-back race days.

Read my 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 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