Rode the top part of that a route a few weeks ago as training for the off road London to Brigton later this year. Tts was very muddy on the North downs around Shere.
Did this ride many years ago on my Tufftraxs with ridged forks. The climb up from Black Sail is a real challenge more of a scramble with bike on shoulders in places. The desent the otherside into Wasdale more than makes up fo it
Also if its an old frame check the state of the pivot bearings. They can be a bit of a pain to change especially the one between the linkage and seat tube. The frame also uses an non standard size rear shock
Is it still beading? Wash in soap flakes or something like Nixwax tech wash. Do not use detergent of softerner. Then either tumble dry of iorn. If its still not beading after that then it need treating with a reproofer
Well if you work for a large consultancy starting with the letter A the big skill is conviencing your client that no then dont just need you but will required another 5 just like you at £1000 a day.
I had this with a RP2 where the pro pedal stoped working. Turned out I had a scored air can and a leaky main seal with nitrogen getting into the oil and cavitating.
There were a lot of problems with the early 29’s and I think Giant pulled them in the end. Not sure I would want a bike that i would have to return to the US is something went wrong.