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.

RockShox Flight Attendant

RockShox Flight Attendant

Electronically adaptive suspension SID ULTIMATE - fork / SIDLuxe ULTIMATE shock.

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†’
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†’
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†’
Giro Aries Spherical Helmet

Giro Aries Spherical Helmet

Lightweight, highly ventilated helmet with top-tier MIPS protection.

Read my review β†’
Topeak Digital Torque Wrench

Topeak Digital Torque Wrench

Accurate, reliable digital torque wrench for precise bike maintenance.

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†’
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†’
Pearl Izumi Summit Gloves

Pearl Izumi Summit Gloves

Minimalist, breathable MTB gloves with touchscreen-ready fingertips and all-day comfort.

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