Originally Posted by pinky
I'd venture he switched to low-profile rims with alloy brake surfaces. Those deep dishes are probably ADAs which weren't holy renowned for perfect braking surfaces especially back when carbon brake pads weren't really much better than cork. Maybe even a clincher so he has less chance of melting the glue off the rim.
that would be my guess. the wheel he went up on might have been too sketchy to descend on. were the uphill only lightweights around then?