24 solosit first time here. Finished 14th and didn't stop for a kip or anything so proper happy with that. Top 10 could have been on but as the sun came up, the night had taken its toll and I had nothing left in the tank.

Massive thanks to everyone trackside and on course shouting encouragement as I plodded around at a snail's pace towards the end. I was no 17 in the twin six jerseys on the Whyte E-120 (in case you could tell under the mud) wearing his pain face.

Had some very knocky F120s sent in to Loco the week before bonty 24/12, got them back in time and they survived the hellish mudbath perfectly – go Loco!

He'll correct me if I'm wrong here but it was some control washer type thing in the rebound that was faulty causing a knock between compression ending and rebound starting – not a shop job and a relief to get it sorted so quick!

Any one catch rider 17 slogging around non-stop? 🙂

So much packing to do… Not even almost ready.

Ooooofff… going to be a loooong 24-hours…

The rain's back! 😮

Glorious up here in Bristol, how's things down there?

Forecast seems to improve all the time, let's hope tomorrow's showers aren't up to much!

Is the course staying pretty firm then? Bristol is getting a lot of rain but the ground seems to just guzzle it up and it's dries so quickly – same there?

I've all but resigned to fact that the 2.1 Small block 8s are going to swapped for the 2.1 high rollers.

(What tyres… :P)

Yup 24 solo debut here. Looking forward to it! Just ordered waterproof shorts and leg warmers so you can thank me for the dry race later!

Also fundraising for CLIC if anyone fancies donating a few quid 🙂

http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/garyrides24

Leave him alone, it's just guy love… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL4L4Uv5rf0

What Elaine said! Spread the jam and then heap the cream on as thick as you dare.

Om nom..

I think the big mistake was the bike, a top end Scott would have bee more believable as a troll.

The Pronghorn might look wrong but it's a bloody belter! Had one for a month, made me feel like a legend!

Hecklers seem pretty short – some of you are suggesting they measure them slightly different.

I'm thinking of getting my wife one next year for when she's ready to ride again post Baby. At 5'6" her Myka FSR is too small for her with it's 55cm eff top tube. The Medium Heckler is quoted as being 56cm eff top tube – seems quite short…

I suppose the biggest problem with her Myka is not just the shortness but that coupled with how low the stack height is – it's not really giving her any confidence to tackle new things.

(We're beginning to think that women specific geometry goes out the window if you're over 5'4" or something…)

I wear a Cervelo jersey and jersey only, plain bibs/socks etc. But I ride a Cervelo… is that ok? Just thought I'd check.

I generally think if you want to wear a team jersey then fine. I even think if you want to wear a yellow jersey fine. Generally if you're in full kit, or a green/polka jersey, you better be quick and good.

Don't know why the green/polka bothers me though, maybe it's the yellow just says you like cycling, the other two are making some sort of statement about how good you think you are…

I only got two years out of mine but it did see a stupid amount of action, mostly wet.

As mentioned, gently start to left rear of bike from back of saddle, if you feel knocking they need doing. Pivot bearings, mine were probably gone before I actually felt anything.

He'll podium for sure.

Um, about the thudbuster…

1.3lbs by my calcs for a thudbuster. Assuming a large or XL 456 is getting on for 6lbs (my 16" is about 5.6lbs) then you're talking 7.3lbs – a Five frame, shock and regular seatpost, along with many other 140mm FS frames is lighter than that.

Five removes the need for a "Winter Bike" too.

I like the Energy trail, real test of how good an allround MTBer you – if you're technically good but unfit you'll be slow. If you're fit but technically poor you'll be slow. Gotta be able to nail both – really satisfying if you've got to the end really going for it and not blown up.

Most of the time I cross the river after the broadwalk and start to blow up on the little climb up – reminds me I could be a little bit fitter each time 🙂

Paying the credit cards off.

About half the machines in our office are iMacs, one went back with a dodgy disk but otherwise they're aout the most reliable thing in the building.

Wouldn't entertain buying anything else myself.

The larger sized ones have much better quality screens as well as being simply bigger. If you can stretch to the 27" then do so if you're working with graphics of any sort. Mine is a 24 which has been replaced by the 27 but the boss has a 27 and both blow away the 20" we have in quality.

Oh wow, ==, old programming habit, haven't worked as a software dev for years!

I normally get one injury that puts me out for a few weeks per year. It's normally coming into spring, the first bit of dry riding, over enthusiasm and finding new limits after riding winter slop.

This year I've been ok but I've been training for a 24 so been super sensible. Last year was a busted hand, year before was shoulder sprain.

I can cope with that level of risk and I've gotten vastly better in the last two years despite mostly taking calculated risks. A skills coach will tell you that getting faster and finding new limits doesn't need to == crashing and injuries.

Twentyfour12 although not sure about looking forward afterall… 🙂

Go and demo them, but if you genuinely don't know which one you ought to get it's probably the Five pro that you need IMO…

There's being capable and fun and then there's being overbiked and being overbiked is no fun…

The Five pro is very capable but rarely do you feel overbiked, even in the flat woodland of Bristol it's a hoot, yet I'll quite happily do Cwmcarn DH on it.

I love the Five but unless you're getting the most out of it, IE going big, the ST4 is actually a better ride…

If I needed a race bike I would happily put up the with the looks of a Pronghorn for sure.

Strange for Kenda to publish incorrect weights, every one I've had has been less than quoted…

Yorkshire Rose on head tube of 456 Summer Season, I think On One might be using it on everything now…

Normally midday and yes it's on.

Some of it is process as well I think.

If you go for QR and a standard colour it's cheaper as they make these up in bulk ready to build up. I think Maxle and different colours are made to order so cost more.

Get with teh programme grandad

750mm or go home is it? 😆

Is 710mm no longer wide then? 🙄

Normal 10 speed chains should be compatible but there is a special Dyna-sys chain which is directional and has special grooves to help shifting…

Depends, if we're talking Shimano Dyna-sys stuff, Shimano changed the actuation ratio for 10-speed so I think possibly the mechs aren't compatible.

I've got 10 speed XT and there is no 10 speed specific front shifter, it's just a regular 9-speed, which makes me think there wouldn't be a 10 speed mech if the nine speed one was compatible.

£800 – entry level Genesis Altitude or similar.

Assuming it fits the Bell Sweep is bloody exceptional. Bell Sequence is also nice if you want something less racy looking.

Giro Athlon is pretty good also.