bc original Loamer MK2 Long-Term Test – Wheel Killer at the Whistler Bike Park?

The bc original Loamer MK2 is our all-rounder and must be constantly put through its paces among our colleagues – often on our local trails, but also sometimes in the bike park. Product manager Chris rode the Loamer over Canadian trails for 2 weeks in September and put it through its paces. Find out how the Loamer MK2 performed on Dirt Merchant Laps and rough single tracks around the bike park.

Chris and Loamer: The Backstory

Before we get started, we need to be transparent, because there’s history between me and the Loamer. As an editor at my old job, I had already had dealings with the MK1 series of the bc wheelset. Then at the end of 2021, a few years later and after I had started working at bc, I was handed the Loamer project. It was all the more exciting for me to take it on and further test and optimise the product that already inspired me when I was at my old job.

It wasn't long before my enduro bike was fitted with our in-house brand wheelset. For a modern enduro set that has to meet current (racing) requirements, the Loamer MK2 is already on the lighter side at just over 1.8 kg. Durability and weight are two different things – just because something is light doesn't mean it will break, and just because something is heavy doesn't mean it will last forever – but trends can emerge.

The Setup: Loamer, Cushcore, Continental Kryptotal

For this reason I equipped the Loamer with Continental Kryptotal F and Kryptotal R in the Downhill version for the trip. The Cushcore XC in the front wheel and the Cushcore Pro in the rear wheel offer a little extra protection.

Supported by Cushcore and the thick carcass, the tyre offers very good support despite my rather stiff frame. I am a big fan of the narrower 28 mm jaw width, as opposed to the popular 30 mm variant. On most of my bikes I either ride with the Loamer set or on rims with only 25 mm jaw width. On the narrower rim, you cannot lower the pressure as much as on wider rims, as this reduces the grip on the edges somewhat. This isn’t really loss, however, because at the same time it increases the support of the tyre in curves, which is much more important to me. The tyre folds less and you don't have to adjust the air pressure too carefully.

In technical jargon, this is called burping – a very unpleasant characteristic for me, especially since I like to actively push off with the front and rear wheel in curves. If the tyre starts to flounder here, I no longer feel in control. When you're slamming down narrow and technical trails at a pace that blurs the trees next to you, that control is very important to me – and the Loamer really excels at that. I have also noticed this in a setup without inserts and with lighter tyres.

bc original Loamer - Conclusion

In short, the bc original Loamer MK2 continues to be an excellent all-rounder for me. I've ridden the set on a hardtail with light tyres, I've ridden it hard on the enduro bike and I'm currently riding with it on my RAAW Jibb after a frame swap. The bc original Loamer is a compromise, but for me it is a very good one: handling, durability and reliability are top notch for a wheel at this weight – when you factor in the just under 400€ price point, for me this makes it an ideal set for custom builds or an affordable tuning part.

Of course, as a product manager you always have ideas floating around in your head – what could be done better with the wheelset? To this end, we also always diligently ride with third-party products, conduct tests and weave together a few ideas which, of course, first have to be put through their paces with our own testing. But let's take this last moment to turn the question around – what do you want in a Loamer MK3?