never done this one before and entered for Sept 2011 …….. what would you recommend, full suss or hardtail?

Whatever you choose, own it with a set of Bombers.

hardtail as usually a fair bit of road.

If I do it this year it will be on a rigid 29er 😉

A brompton would suffice tbh, beast, where did it get that name. I rename it the “Bunny”

fatbike, unicycle or cross bike – any of which must be 650b

hhhmmmmm ……. quite a range.

I’d heard the gap road bit was a bit of a slog and pretty rocky.
Might make a visit one weekend before the event to check it out.

thanks

steve

Do you have specific bikes for comparison?

Its do’able on just about anything. Someone did it on a folding shopper last year or the year before !!! He wasn’t last either. But its more fun on a proper mtb. Cross bikes are ok, but not so much fun on the rockier bits. My weapon of choice is a lightweight xc full susser with fast rolling tyres. 😀

thanks Taxi25
HarYuken … mines a Taurine but have the option of a loaned 575 ….. comfy but maybe a bit too much?

Are you doing the long route?

I did it last year on an Anthem X with a fairly light build and it was good (RP23 pro pedal for the road sections).

The hardest parts of the Gap climb have now been smoothed out, so full suss traction not so much of an issue (unless it is wet)

There are a couple of rocky descents from memory.

I think a 575 may be overkill but you may want the traction on the steeper climbs if it is wet but I think the Taurine would be the better choice between those 2 bikes, mainly due to the amount of road.

The fast guys out front would probably be on something more like a Taurine than a 575. Whatever you ride, fast rolling tyres are my tip for the Beast, plenty of road and only a couple of realy rocky bits that you’ll have to watch them on.

Brilliant, thanks taxi25, HarYuken

looks like its the Taurine then

Done it on both, the main issue is the front forks rather than a spring on the back.

I have 1 bike so will be using that.

Do you mean this guy…

[/url] Shopper bike. by Ambrose Hearne, on Flickr[/img]

that is pretty cool …….. wish I had the balls …….. and the lungs!
Lungs for the bike, balls for the Lycra!! …… still, less of my personal problems. 😆

I remember seeing that guy on the start line.

I thought the sandwiches in the box on his rear rack were a nice touch.