Delilah

I'm going too! If anyone has entries they won't be using (40 or 25 km), please PM me. Some of our friends really want to go, but the event is sold out. We'll even pay a little extra.

Perhaps this isn't an issue of 26" vs 29" size, but rather the two different brands. Some, like Silverback, are known for more compact frames.

I don't understand the way most people view the issue of wheel size. Different wheel size affects the way a bike performs/behaves, but just match that to the type of riding you do. People still need to get over the mindshift. Hardtail and dual-sus are accepted as alternatives for different styles/disciplines. The same holds for 26 vs 29. The bike you choose should be determined by your build, the terrain you ride and your own preference. Going form a 26 to a 29 is not an "upgrade", it is an alternative. If you need to get different jobs done, you might need more than one tool (read bike) for those jobs. Many people don't "switch", we just buy more tools

Rather order CRC from SA. Shipping is free on orders over R3000. Imagine what airlines will charge you to bring a wheelset in as extra bag...

I have the XT M775 wheelset on my 26" and love them. They look great, are light and UST. Some people don't like XT hubs and freewheel, but I've not had a single issue. Be warned though, putting UST tyres on them is really a struggle. Getting them off again, almost impossible. Rather go with tubeless ready tyres. Will be lighter too. Oh, a sidenote: the stripes on 'em are painted on, not decals. That is good because decals go shabby real quick.

Someone is selling a set of XT wheels in classifieds section.

+1 Don't care if they came from outer space, as long as they are good bikes at good value prices

No. Better! Do it! You won't regret it. After test-riding other 29ers, I also found this to be the most comfortable hardtail. This is also my first 29er and it takes a few minutes at most to feel completely at home on the bike - quite the contrary to what I expected. Good to hear from someone who has had the opportunity to race with the Storm. Have to agree with everything, except that my perception is that the Storm is very comfy for a hardtail - much more so than my 26" CF.

Yeah, their prices are sweet, especially if you can get them with good discount. If it comes to the same it might be worth it. Personally, I don't buy clothing I've not tried on. There are few things worse than ill-fitting gear. If you know your exact size for that particular brand AND the particular style, then importing is definitely an option. But the whole paragraph is actually moot really - if you found one to try on and it costs the same as imported one, why import?

Just remember, outrageous import duties on clothing. IIRC its like VAT and 30% duties

I was mistaken. The Storm 1 comes with both tubes and tubeless valves, my LBS just forgot to hand over the valves As for the tubeless conversion, it is pretty straight forward. Keep in mind I'm telling you about my own experience and your "mileage may vary". I received my Storm with tubes, so the Crossmarks (Maxxis Crossmark regular folding, not UST) were already stretched. So, when I removed the tubes the tyres weren't tight enough on the rims to take air using a regular floor/track pump. A whole roll (well, they are pretty small rolls!) of Joe's rim tape per rim (over the Stan's yellow tape that was already there) remedied the situation. The tyres were then tight enough to take air and inflated easily on first try. Okay, so added Stan's sealant, replaced the valve cores, inflated, seated nicely, shook 'em about a bit to distribute the sealant and done!

Good one! I am NOT piloting that thing down singletrack

http://media-3.web.britannica.com/eb-media/88/6488-004-96D89FFF.jpg

Well, I know nothing about road bikes, but isn't there just one standard for them? So.... nothing really to debate?

What he said Except, of course, for us girls

One really has to see the Storm in person to appreciate how true this statement is. Pictures do not do it justice. I was one of those who thought white rims look terrible, but now having seen it, I have to say it somehow "works" with the look of the bike. If you like a splash of colour, I recommend the red Blackburn camber bottle cage - it matches the red in the Storm frame as both a bright primary red. As for fit/size: Going from a 26er to a 29er it is sometimes necessary to go down a bike size, BUT I've found that Silverback frames are more compact that some other brands. My Schwinn 26er is a medium and the Storm medium is a perfect fit too. The Storm does not come set up tubeless, so you're gonna have to buy tubeless valves and sealant.

WHAT??? And they don't call? Will phone Shaun right now. Thanks for the heads-up! EDIT: Yep, both have arrived (mine and a friend's) Dingo's is just waiting for our Nobby Nics that will only be available next week. Anyone in Potch wanting to see a Storm 1.0 in the flesh (so to speak), the will be in the shop until next week.

Nah, you get Crests in either black or white http://www.notubes.c...t-Rims-C54.aspx And the decals look just like the ones on the Notubes website. I hope these wheels have the new 3.30 hubs that are way better that the hubs in the older Crests. EDIT: (Forgot to comment on the tyres). There are only 2 Crosmarks that can be run tubeless (don't think the wire bead one will work). Of these two the UST one weighs (claimed) 835g and the foldable one is 605g. So, if the supplied tyres are not UST, they will in fact be lighter. I won't be keeping the Crossmarks, because they are no good in thick loose sand - which we have a lot of around here!

I ordered one from my LBS for R22 250 - eta end of this month. If you can get one for R21 000 go for it!!! The stem (alu) and handlebars (carbon) are FSA SL-K, but the seatpost is FSA Afterburner (alu). I'm guessing this is due to rider weight limit on SL-K seatpost (75kg according to web sources) being way lower than even the Stan's ZTR Crest rims (86kg).

Storm 1. It is great value. Price dif between 1 and 2 is only 2k, but the 1 has way better spec for the money.