So, I’m building up an FF29 for general fun and also to use on the upcoming Corrieyairack challenge, which is a mix of road and off road sections. You are allowed to switch wheels (or just tyres) before the 38 mile road section, which seems like an eminently sensibly idea, but I only have one set of 29er wheels. Actually I have no sets at the moment, due to a problem with delivery of my Hope/Arch 29er hoops, which CRC seem to be taking an age to sort. But that’s a different story.

So, what to do? Buying a new set of wheels for one event would be crazy even for me. Buying a second hand set then flogging them afterwards would be fine, but I’d need to find a 20mm front and QR rear, which isn’t too common.

Alternatively I could just ride the road section on 26″ wheels. I have a set of 26″ Hope hoops and some 26″ slick tyres. It looks as though the BB height would drop to around 12″, which is low but probably manageable for a one off ride.

Finally, for the cost of some spokes and a lot of faffing around I could take the 26″ Flow rims off my 26″ Hope hoops and stick on some Open Pro rims (that I have laying around), then run those with proper road tyres.

Or, is there some other option I haven’t considered?

Borrow some off a mate. You won’t break them on the road.

If it was me, I’d buy some 29er slicks and swap them over

How about some fast rolling mtb tyres? how mucky will it be off-road?

Ralphs should do you nicely I’d have thought.

AS it happens I’m going to be putting Ralphs on this build anyway. are you suggesting that I just pump them up a bit at the changeover? Sounds simple enough, but wouldn’t they still be a lot slower than slicks? Not that I’m aiming to be competitive. Just a bit of fun. But it will be a lot more fun if I don’t have to suffer so much on the road section 🙂

I don’t think I know anybody with 20mm axle 29er wheels, but I’ll ask about.

Changing tyres sounds like a bit of a faff, but I guess if I went with tubes rather than tubeless it wouldn’t take that long and I may well appreciate the excuse for a bit of a sit down at the changeover. As long as it’s not pissing down of course.

but wouldn’t they still be a lot slower than slicks? Not that I’m aiming to be competitive. Just a bit of fun. But it will be a lot more fun if I don’t have to suffer so much on the road section

Changing tyres sounds like a bit of a faff, but I guess if I went with tubes rather than tubeless it wouldn’t take that long and I may well appreciate the excuse for a bit of a sit down at the changeover

It’ll be more fun riding bike, pump em right up, I can fair bomb along on Racing ralphs especially on my 29er, time yourself