Chris Pringle

I read their blog 10-11 years ago. They experienced 2-3 major mechanical breakdowns all due to 700c rims they could not source anywhere. Rims were splitting apart along the brake surface. They were on V-brakes. I’ve read about some of the long, steep downhills in that part of the world that can be brutal on rims using V-brakes — rims get overheated then, suddenly, you might come across a cold creek/stream. Eventually, the rims end up splitting. Disc brakes do a much better job in that respect. The rim manufacturer in the U.S. was really supportive with replacements, but there was not much they could do with the shipping ordeals and local customs agencies not wanting/delaying releasing the parts - it was really ridiculous! IIRC, on their last breakdown, one of them flew to Miami to pick up the parts they needed and then flew back to South America to finish their tour. It was a lot easier, faster and cost-effective than waiting weeks in a hotel room for replacement parts to arrive.