RossW

Gee, now my decision is tough. But I think the Hope Pro II's and 355's are going to win the race. So, if you guys are ever in PMB at a ride and hear the Hope's and they are on a slate Santa Cruz Superlight - it's me

Yea, it depends where you are riding. I ride the monorail as a rear tyre and I ride in the PMB/Karkloof area. Get quite a lot of mud which sticks to the tyre but it clears far better than the fast trak; which I have owned. It rails awesomely at low pressures (I run it tubeless and thanks to some discussion with WW) I don't know how the Captain behaves, have not used it before.

Maybe I'm just being fickle, but the XT's as a wheelset just don't grab me like the Hope Hoops with 355's. They are however more or less the same weight so in the end one is just paying for bling and the XT's definitely have an advantage being UST and one not having to hassle with rim tape etc. I actually think the XT's would look pretty sweet on the bike too, https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=76833&PN=23 Mid way down the page is my steed

I do crossmark front and monorail back for riding in PMB - tacky clay and loose of hard. Did some single track yesterday around Cedara and was like a pig in ****; huge smiles with the grip they give climbing and cornering.

Agree. White seatpost and leave the bars and stem black.

A pity that 6K is out of my budget; was thinking more max of 4K. Being a real light weight (59kg) I think I will still go for the 355's and lace them to the Hope's; it's my dream wheelset so will stick with those albeit that the Fulcrums are well priced. Yea, I got a RS Recon Race fork, I think the only lighter RS fork is a Sid? Fox's are crazy expensive and I actually don't think they are worth the price premium.

Newly built up and can not wait to go for a ride .... now to change that wheelset ....! Cause it's running at 12.9kg at the moment and I WANT it lighter.

Between the supporting of LBS over foreign ones - which I agree with I'm getting the feeling guys prefer the Hope and 355's over the Fulcrums although the Red Metal 3's are tubeless ready while the 355's require tape etc. XT's are nice, but for some reason and it's probably a silly reason, I keep thinking that Shimano concentrate on components so their wheels are not as good as other manufacturers wheels ...

Yea, going completely tubeless with no tape etc and UST tyres is the answer I think as well. Just a pity about the weight penalty on running UST tyres ... Win in one area and lose in another. The Fulcrums at CWC are 2009 aren't they? It would explain the difference in stated weights between CRC and CWC. I agree BIG Mac, it's great to be able to get goodies locally and support the cycling sector and SA's economy as a whole; with out dropping your entire salary at times. I second the idea of the catalog - CWC has a pretty decent website which is easy to use and helps with knowing what is available.

It's such a tough choice. I really want to support local LBS's and importers but those Hopes .... mmmmm, they're so nice. Of course they work out more expensive than the Fulcrum's ... If one could get the Hope's with your choice of decent, light rim locally at around the R3300 mark I'd be there in a flash! I'm not sure how likely that would be though ...

Ha ha ha, Mackie you telling me, decisions decisions ... I wonder if Chris could get Hope's in at similar price ?? Mampara, I didn't realise the fulcrums and fully tubeless - thought I'd be doing the whole rim strips etc. That is a bonus actually.

Hey all, I was going to get the Hope Hoops - Hope Pro II with 355 rims which are going for roughly R2559 ex VAT and duties so probably closer to R3220 and weighed in at approximately 1653g (stated) from CRC BUT CWC has now tempted me with the Fulcrum Red metal 3 rims all for R2995 and weigh 1853g (stated, CWC) while CRC has them weighing 1686g (stated). I think they are the 2009 version though as the ones on CRC are different and are labeled 2010... So, in your very humble opinion, which should I go for? I'm aiming to drop as much weight as possible from my XT hub DTSwiss X455 current wheelset as possible. With tyres, Stans, cassette (complete weight) my wheelset is weighing in at 4460g currently which is making my Superlight a Superheavy!

Completely agree! Or you have to go fetch the item because the person you went out of your way to help is too lazy to say thanks by bringing the kit back to you!

Hey Taygan, I take it this problem was sorted out and confirmed to be fixed and working 100%? The build is happening tomorrow :):):)

I'll be showing my new one off in pieces - as it get built over the week Frame first - Other bits going to the build: Stylo TM stem (black) Stylo TM flat bar (black) XT disc brakes X9 shifters Ergon grips RS Recon Race (black) X9 FD X0 RD Stylo TM Cranks (black) (Not the OCT ) Spez BG saddle Race Face seat post KCNC seat clamp and headset spacers (red) Chris King headset (slate/grey) Wheels; XT hubs DTSwiss X455 rims - running tubless with Crossmark and Monorail

I have a LOBO and could not ask for a better one-size-fits-all pack. As bumpNgrind says, you can pack all those things in and I even fit a First Ascent Stratos jacket in mine in case the weather turns or after the weather has come and gone. Also depends on what is too big for you - MULE is too big for my needs. You do get hot under them but it's not unbearable in my opinion. You could carry bottles but on more than one occasion I've had to decant water to mates who had run out of water on longer than expect or harder than expected rides.

Yea, the pics are from PMB - taken today. I've been working on a few more so will put them up in the morning some time.

More mid section

Some guys were .... conservative over it.... But lower down were some cool rock ledge type jumps

Now for the mid-section action The wooden bridge formed part of the WC DH route. Do I need to say awesome air!

More top section shots

Hey guys - spam time again! The day started out cool and misty but the mist cleared, the clouds drifted away and the sun shone! Hot in the end with a dry track. Ended up with loose of hardpack with sections of humic soil - one section caused a massive wipe-out with the guy being transported away in a neck-brace. Holding thumbs he'll be back in the sadlle chop chop. This group of photographs is from the top section of the course.

Yes, I feel bad that I did not live up to my threat ! hahaha, I'll try make up for it this coming weekend; promise!

I posted some pics of the Greg Minnaar Downhill series a while back.... Another is coming up next weekend (28th) and I'll be there with trusty camera and will with some luck post some photo's from the day.