Wow, sounds like lots of fun out baking mud cakes while I was strapped to my office chair staring at a pc screen. The wind should hopefully dry up some of the mud for tomorrow and Sunday.
Paddling your bicycle: when there`s just too much traffic on the roads. http://www.efitology.com/expertadvice/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/bicycle-boat.jpg
Yeah the Hopes are nice but so is XT for xc riding. As for a rear rotor nothing beats the Hope floating rotor - it even eliminated the dreaded pig slaughtering turkey gobble noise that the rear Avid break so loves to make.
Not only Spaz but also Scott, Merida and Bulls teams prefer duallies. I have not heard of any top teams preferring a hardtail, not sure if the riders have a choice in the matter though. But I remember Merida, Scott, and Bulls teams being disappointed at not having their duallies ready during the past few years.
Then the recommendation of Stans is wrong as well as two very good LBS`s. I clearly stated this to be a guideline not gospel. Go and convert al cheapo non-UST non-TR rims to tubeless without rim strip at your own peril.
Not gospel just a guideline. I have seen on more than one occasion non-UST/TR rims holding air fine but burps out on the trail where things get rough. This guideline does not have to be followed but be sure to test the setup properly on rough terrain. For me the best option is to put money down on proper tubeless ready wheels and tyres, UST is too heavy in 29er format and tubeless ready works great.
But it`s been won on duallies for the past few years? I think comfort is more important in a race like the Epic. It can be done on hardtail just fine, but for me I think I will enjoy the event more on a good 29er dually, and also be faster.
This is why I love the hub, people misunderstanding and then being rude. Ok I did use the incorrect term "rim tape" instead of "rim strip". I wrongly assumed people will understand what I mean. The correct term is rim strip, not rim tape. Look closely at this pic: http://www.notubes.com/Assets/ProductImages/Tubeless_Kit2.jpg See those 2 black things with the valves on. These are rim strips and only needed for rims which are not tubeless ready. These need to be replaced every 6 months or so. It adds weight and cost.
