git clone questions relating to cpio

Hi,

I am running a Linux From Scratch 6.2 system that does not have cpio
installed on it. This means that I can't clone a local repository
unless I install cpio. Is it possible to use a fallback method if cpio
is not present, as there is no NO_CPIO option on make like there is
for OpenSSH, cURL and expat?

Also, I have an external USB hardrive that is mounted onto the virtual
filesystem. Will clones from the USB harddrive (or a USB flash drive
that is mounted) result in a copy being performed, not a hardlink?

Ideally, the hard linking for local clones should be optional. What if
I want to move a repository because, for example, I have imported a
CVS repository and now want to push it to a new bare repository?

- Reece