I recently did an interview and photo session with Jamie from Singletrack.com.

Jamie: Just to confirm, how many Xterra race have you done on the Epic 29er?

Conrad: None this year. I raced Sea Otter (Short Track and XC) and Sierra 100. Last year I raced XTERRA Snow Valley on the 29er Stumpy. Because of my accident and surgery on my foot I havent had any "fun XTERRAs" where I could experiment with equipment- every race was a battle for points.

It sounded like you go with the 29er on “less” important Xterra races (which races did you run the 29er?). Instead, you are using the 26-inch, carbon dually for the big events.

Thats right. The main reason for that is the tires. I'm 180 and have a point and shoot riding style, (which favours the 29er) but last year I had a lot of flats in races. Over the off season we did a lot of tire testing with Specialized and worked on a tire with a stronger "Caveman proof" casing. I have been racing those protoypes (only available in 26") all summer and my only flat was a 5 inch nail which went through both sides of the tire. This strong casing tire is in manufacturing right now and it will be available a number of the Specialized XC tread patterns, in 26" and 29". That would allow me to race the 29er with more confidence.

The 29er Epic is alu and still a bit on the porky side- 26lbs compared to my 23.8lbs 26' carbon 26" Epic- However I 'm not much of a weight weenie and I think those few pounds would only be a disadvantage on a seriously climbing course.

Also, is the 29er more of your off-road training rig and the one you pick for technical rides (either race/training/fun?)

I ride the 29er whenever I can. Especially on technical and loose/rocky rides we have here. I ride the 2.20 Captain tires, and have a Command Post on it, so by lowering the saddle 2 or 4 inches, that bike will go just about anywhere.

I use the 26" bike only when I have to test equipment or make sure the bike is race ready.

Without going into specifics, what is the likelihood of you racing a carbon dually 29er in the near future? Or how practical would be to actually race such a rig compared to a 26er?

Chances are pretty good. I'd race a light dual suspension 29er with good suspension and strong tires at 90% of the races.

Specialized riders, like Todd Wells, are racing XC on 29 hardtails. Why haven’t you gone that direction in the big Xterra events?

The last time I rode a hard tail is 2001. Maybe I should give the 29er HT a whirl. Its such a beautiful bike. There are 2 fast and smooth XTERRA courses in the Midwest where I would consider the HT. The reason I favour the dual sus is the fact that I can ride a "relaxed" steady, TT effort which saves energy for the run. ( ie I just stay seated and plow ahead) Of course your body doesnt get a banged up on the full sus as much and you start the run fresher.

You and Ned Overend mixed it up quite a bit on the Xterra circuit in the early 2000s; physically, you two are quite different. What did you learn from him as far as the bike?

In my 1st XTERRA season 2001 I raced on borrowed bikes like this sweet Softride below- I travelled with my own 2nd hand shoes, cheap pedals and new yellow Python tires and tubes. (and speedo and running camel back!) Then I would just borrow a bike for the race. Ned was hot stuff on the XTERRA circuit then (He won Worlds in 98 and 99) obviously we raced each other throughout the season and he watched with amazement my assortment of borrowed bikes. I won most of the races, and the USA Series. Ned then asked me if I wanted to ride for Specialized. I said "sure" , knowing that usually that kind of talk leads to nothing. A week before XTERRA Worlds in Maui there was a brand new Specialized M5 with tubeless tires AND a new helmet AND new shoes on my doorstep. It was like Xmas!

I took the bike to the shop to have it built and when the guys heard the story they said "then you have to read Neds book. "Mountain bike like a Champion" " They gave me the book, and I only started reading it 4 days before Worlds. Realizing it was full of gems, reading the book was a race against the clock. (I had a lot to learn back then)

I took the book to race briefing for Ned to sign and he wrote: "Conrad, dont read this book, you are already too fast." Surely a prized possession.

I won 2001 Worlds by 10minutes. That new bike felt like a motor bike. Obviously we wanted to ink a sponsorship deal, I had no idea what to ask for, so I asked Ned. He said "ask for X", I asked for X and thats what I got.

For a guy with no sponsorship (expect for Oakley) that was a dream come true. Specialized has been a great sponsor since, and I sometimes feel sorry for the other guys who have to ride other brands.

Ned gave me 2 workouts when I asked him how to become a better climber, he said: 3x10' technical hill climbs. Start #1at about race effort and build #2 and 3 even harder. Downhill as fast as you can back to the start. The other was: find a gradual hill of 45 min and alternate between 5 min at AT and 7 min at medium pace- to simulate the varying pitches at Maui XTERRA

I see Ned at some of the events and sometimes at product testing with Specialized (we tested the current Epic in the spring of 08)- what an awesome guy. Also, he has great stories. When he was young he drove to Vegas to become a blackjack dealer, but hated Vegas so much, he drove back to CO the next day.

He is an incredibly down to earth and approachable guy- fans love Ned.

And considering Ned’s living-legend status even then, what was your strategy against him?

Make 3 minutes in the swim, (it may not be enough) and try to not give him more than 2 minutes off the run...

Especially: Whatever you do, dont race Ned at altitude or in the high mountains.