One other question – do you have allocated start times for each stage or just head out at when you like?

Thanks BB – sounds manageable!

Thanks Nobeer.

Any idea what length of a ride it would be on race day at Fort William? Or any idea what trails they might use?

Resurrecting this thread – assuming like other events that you can arrive on Sunday and do not ‘need’ to be there on Saturday?

Anyone know how the trails will compare to Valleylujah stuff?

I’ve used Maxxis Minions – DHF and DHR, Shorty, WTB Trail Boss and Vigilante and Schwalbe Hans Dampf and Magic Mary.

As far as I know every tyre mentioned above comes in multiple weights, compounds etc but I’ve liked all the variants I have tried. The WTB combo was probably the fastest rolling and the Minions were OK in the Valleylujah mud last week. They’ve all coped with 100kg+ of dopey rider bashing them into things.

The one tyre I have really hated every time I have tried it was the Ardent….

Thanks Hob Nob – I’ve noticed a lot of DH lads wearing them round here. Are they a decent length? I like a sock that comes fairly high up!?

Those Stumpjumer Evo frames really do look like a good deal!

I have a Smuggler – I know it is slightly over your budget but if you are relentless you could get a deal somewhere! Mine has been great as a 130mm ‘Trail’ bike and survived a few crashes ‘Enduroing’ recently too.

Thanks for all the suggestions. The Ion K Pact were on my radar before ether enduro mag test but haven’t found many real life users! IXS Flow might be enough for me though!

I didn’t get the e-mail about maps either – did it contain any other useful information?

To be honest this is the type of thing i was expecting/hoping for:

2012 was a far easier course though- hardest stage was broon troot. Don’t know about length but it wasn’t physically that hard. 2013 was a big escalation

(it was berm baby berm/electric blue, broon troot, spooky-shallow-rave-hitsquad, then the fort descent IIRC. Oh and 2 bastard timed climbs!)

Well without timed climbs….

Thanks lucky7500 and legend. Looks like I misinterpreted it a fair bit (as have others I’ve been speaking to!)

Really? Thought this was billed as a mellow enduro, a bit less intense than others….

Anyone know what to expect? How many KM do I need to be fit for? How many stages?

Another vote for the Chromag Squarewave XL here. Brilliant grips.

Last fastforward?

Thanks for those pics, that looks brilliant!

ryu1720 that looks great – any more pics? What fork are you running?

There could be a possibility of a demo in Scotland, would likely have to be be nearer the borders to make it practical, much further North than Pitlochry, and its getting towards a long weekend I suspect..preferably nearer ‘Tress/Inners.

Thanks – think that would be a popular option even for some of us northerly folk.

They are fine – wouldn’t call them extreme really in terms of grip or pin ferocity. Plenty of other options that I’d say are comparable as I ‘tested’ a lot of flats recently! I settled on VP Harrier for sheer size of platform, Few of the Spank ones were decent, Canfield Crampons ultra slim, RaceFace Atlas also really good (selling my set if anyone is keen stealth advert…).

Chainline – or anyone else….

Option 3 – are demos in Scotland on the radar at all?

Thanks guys – that Gabba 2 looks quite, em, form fitting? Might not suit me too well….. Off to look at Wiggle.

Thanks tlcsimon but Im a large or X-Large sorry.

That Last does look very nice. Wish i’d seen it at the cheap Kickstartr prices…

Some really good high rise bars out there – only people that find fault with them are the fashion police…. Love my 40 and 50mm rise bars!

Any good deals about on them as hinted at above?

Had the same request a few days ago. Don’t think it was the same user. Seems all ok so far.

Since I can’t find the Mudrides in large I think I’ll take a chance on the Royal Storm ones. Anyone using them?

Thanks guys – surely the whole point of the lever reach adjust is that performance should be unaffected or at least very minimal difference? I’ve tried a few different brands and the actual amount you need to squeeze the lever to get stopping power always increases when the lever reach is lessened – I’d actually expected it to be the opposite and become more sensitive….

I don’t run the Crossmax XL’s but they’ve been on my wish list for quite a while for all the reasons mentioned above – light, stiff, strong..

Be good to know how you get on with them.

Thanks AlexSimon – I can’t get them when I go on to their site in the normal way but can get them on your link! Makes no sense!

Did anyone buy the Zee brakes? Gutted I missed them!

Think you’ll get them on the sweet protection site in any size you want at the moment.

Again i’ve run both on a 29er but also had the Vigilante in 26 and 27.5 previously.

As the others said the 29er version is not quite as good as the others and again i’d agree that if you’re doing 90% natural trails with mud etc then Shorty would be my choice above the Vigilante at this time of year…

Yes gets easier! If you are using the same bikes each time you’ll soon have a pre determined order to put them on and have all the sliders positioned in the right places to save time!

As an additional question – those of you who have an extra ‘extension’ to carry the 3rd or 4th bike how sturdy is it? Easy to fit/removed?

Interested…

VP Harrier’s are great for me. Widest platform I’ve found, think and light!

They sign with trek but the website still has loads of GT logos everywhere….

Would be god to get a Scottish demo day opportunity – long way to go for a demo even if it is much more technical/rigorous than the normal process.

Yeah I thought that no dropper post was a bit odd too. I think £4k is optimistic given its quite niche. Would be tempting at a lower price..

Chromag Juniper – it’s actually a ladies saddle but it’s the most comfortable I’ve found. Older ones very subtle black but newer ones are a bit more colourful.