 The single-ply Maxxis Minion DHFs are fantastic all-round tyres. Not particularly heavy, very grippy, clear fast and roll reasonably well too. Got one on the pointy end of the Pace right now and might stick one on the back too.
Winter conditions all relative to where you are really. Peak, round here, doesn't get proper gloopy mud at all, just wet, fast-clearing, gritty slurry for the most part, so you can get away with quite light tread. If you live in the Chilterns, then things are going to be markedly different...
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 chilterns is really hard for tyres, you get mud that sticks to everything and is axle deep, so narrow spikey is the way, otherwsie the frame just clogs, but then you get the flint and chalky trails with a slime on them, plus loads of wet roots where something with a bit more volume is required. and you will often find those different conditions just going over one hill.
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That's why I don't live in the Chilterns...  The Peak is relatively easy, I've run the first generation Racing Ralph all year round as a rear tyre before now, though something grippier but still fast is probably a better option. I'm thinking Maxxis Ardent or another Minion single-ply DHF running tubeless.
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 I like a nice chunky Kenda up front with a Nobby Nic 2.1 behind, seems to work as a nice compromise on my hard tail (used more in winter). Also I hate Nobby Nics as a front tyre, I just don't get on with them on the front but out back they seem to do a better job.
Actually it's a policy I use on both bikes, a wider more aggressive front tyre with something thinner and faster rolling out back as loosing ones front wheel is usually a much scarier prospect.
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 Ooh what a luverly tyre thread! I was thinking at the beginning of this thread that wet roots at an angle are just your worst nightmare, especially when you are going slowly..............and if anyone recommended a trye that coped with them I'd rush right and buy some! Clearly the wet root tyre is the holy grail! I'm leaving it for another month before the trailraker 2.1 goes on the back!
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In LBS this aft and one of the lads has his bike fitted with Minions and he said they were superb but dont roll well if its dryish.
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 Clearly the wet root tyre is the holy grail! No that tire exists but it's got spikes on it and a 2.5 width and is only really useful attached to a 36lb behemoth of a bicycle with 8 inches of travel front and back
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 Middle of the chilterns here.. High Wycombe Trailraker on the back..Cinder on the front.. None of this matters when you hit wet chalk at 25mph...You then rely on the force to save you! 
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 None of this matters when you hit wet chalk at 25mph...
Behind Whiteleaf Golf Course? LOL, you should know about that one 
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None of this matters when you hit wet chalk at 25mph...
Behind Whiteleaf Golf Course? LOL, you should know about that one
Oh indeed Mike...I excorsised my demons and did the coombe hill run last week for the first time since my Steve Austin impression 2 years ago.
It was dusty and dry . I am gonna let my balls expand a little more before i try it in the wet again. Funnily enough I was on the trailraker / Cinder combo when i hit the fence at the bottom of the chute.. It was a mixture of wetleaves and slimy chalk . I touched the brakes and and the bike decided to go off on its own and leave me to my own choice of landing. I really gotta practice that one a bit more. Johnny Peanut snapped his MC10 Genius bottom pivot mount on that last ride..never a dull moment with the chucklebrothers display team . You may have seen his frame in CC
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PMSL, you guys kill me.
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Lads see rides. anyone fancy a day round the chilterns?
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Combe hill wasn't dry/dusty today  Amazing really, a couple of days of morning moisture and the clag is back already - now goes to garage to dig out the Trailrakers...
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I just got back from a night ride in penn..most of it is dusty but some of it under the trees is beginning to clagg..trailrakers / cinders on tonight..seemed to grab well. The new ztr flow rims really push the trailrakers out and makes them a tad wider..really works having a wider low profile rim . Bloody brakes were dragging though..didnt have time to shim them swapping from my last wheels..so me on my fat old spesh enduro tailing 2 hardtails was a slog this evening . sweated buckets
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