All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

Initial thoughts, but waiting on a second opinion on rims from my buddy, Dusty, who's doing the work:

I9 Hydras

Stan Flow EX3 alloy hoops (not totally sold on carbon rims for my riding level, but I tend to knock rims out of true so IDK.)

 

You will never have a single issue out of I9s. Heavy, sound good, and durable as shit. I know Hydras are trendy but you could snag a set of Torches for "cheap" and they would be as indestructible

 

Dunno what your budget is but I just picked up a set of the older ENVE hoops laced to i9 Torch hubs for about $700. My i9 legacy hubs aren't dead yet, but since they aren't making parts for them any longer; I felt a little less confident pushing them hard in races.

 

True. I tried looking for torches, and a set of boost hubs in orange were hard to come by in the last couple weeks.

Anyway, just got a word back. Looks like I9 Hydras in orange laced to WTB KOM Tough hoops are in my future.

 

I've been on my We Are One carbon hoops with I9s and they are as true as the day I got them 1.5 years ago. I've smacked the shit out of them on rocks/roots too, never an issue. Lifetime warranty too so never really have to worry about it.

 

What hubs are you on?

Nice, loving those Hydras! I just sprung for a new wheel set too. Not letting the cat out of the bag, but suffice it to say it's going to be the bling of the stable.

 

Yeah unfortunately I'm not flush with extra bike cash or I totally would especially considering WAO made on this side of the Pacific - I try to invest all my cash so it doesn't burn a hole in my pocket

Are I9 legacy pre-torch?

 

Clunker OEM Formula hubs

 

They are...

https://youtu.be/TtEYl_qhguw

 

I’m sure you’re getting a good deal as it sounds like you have a buddy hook up, but you said orange...https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/2682019/

 

Oh yeah, a set of Union hoops has been in my cart for a while. But my riding style and current trails don't really rate carbon hoops. Just hard to justify the extra expense for any reason other than "status symbol". I tried multiple times to convince myself I "need" them, but my inner adult voice keeps kicking in.

 

Damn, other than the system lacing and the rim brand, that's my wheelset. But I'm getting them way cheaper than I9 or that ad wanted. I really liked the 305/310 sets, but I am opposed to the spokes. Proprietary systems suck for road trip maintenance unless you keep specific spares. Last enduro event I went to, a buddy broke a spoke 20 mins before the mass start. Dusty had a pile of J bend spokes in his truck, and we had the tire broken down, spoke replaced, reassembled and ready to go with like 1 min to spare. Dusty's a wizard.

 

Does dusty wanna hook up your internet friend?
PS. We’re internet friends now if we weren’t before

 

Give Hubsessed in Ogden, UT a call. http://www.hubsessedcycleworks.com/wheel-gallery

 

I have run 2.8 rear and 3.0 front which worked fine. But I switched over to Barzo 2.6. The Barzo is a fantastic tire, far better grip than the Chupacabra and RR I use but also very fast rolling. I am coming from steel SS and steel front suspension bikes and I have to say that I love my Jet RDO. It is so fast and allows me to hammer without losing too much efficiency. My back and body also love the bike after a ride too, recovery takes a lot less time and pain.

 

I accept your friend request if you can correctly answer the following rhetorical question:

Who is the King of Corner Canyon?

A. Me
B. Not @paleh0rse
C. All of the above

 

FTFY.

 

C.
Sorry Ollie. You still have the sickest Krampus I’ve seen. That’s gotta count for something.