My post from the other thread..
I’ve ridden it a few years running on a Meta 5.5 with Pike U-turn airs (140mm front and back) – for SOME sections I would have wanted a bigger bike, but for the vast majority of it I thought my bike was perfect.
I did make a few changes from ‘norm’ – 2.5″ heavy Maxxis High Rollers (tubeless)and stuck a 180mm disc on the rear. Both these (IMHO) are overkill for most of my UK riding, but are reasonably cheap and easily swappable.
I also have a 2×9 and bash, but that’s my norm for the UK.
I wore a full face one year, lid the next. I felt ‘safer’ in the Full face, but did get pretty hot on the extended climbs and more XC sections, so on balance would wear a lid (giro zen) again, but take the FF for bike park fun!
Enjoy it – it’s brilliant fun, and is a bit of a challenge to complete – you do need to crack on with it to finish (no mincing)!
DrP