I am doing this with a group of 3 friend.
3 off us on cross bikes and 1 on a MTB.
We are staying over in Eastbourne on the Saturday night as well and opted to leaved the car in a pay and display. As mentioned above don’t think it more than a few miles roll down into town at the finish.

Ryanbuildswheels[/url]

Try Ryan at RyanBuilsWheels:

Ian

Very hard event in the conditions. Was very tempted to just do the 50K, especially as the split coincided from me in the worst bit of the rain and thunder. Carried on to do the full distance.
Also running rocket rons and was completely out of control on some of the descents. Luckily only hit one tree!

I did the FOD Wild Board last weekend and the Scott Marathon was way harder. Lot more climbing and of course mud.

I broke my tibia and fibular about 5 years ago in a MTB crash. Also broke across the ankle joint, failed to unclip and turned my foot 180 deg.
I went straight into an external fixator which as mentioned above looked awful but wasn’t too bad to live with. I wasn’t able to weight bear on mine though as the fixator went from knee height and all round my foot. Didn’t mind the pins in my leg and ankle, but had 6 pins through my foot which was really freaky. Also fitted with plates and screws which will never come out.
I started riding on the turbo straight after the external fixator was removed, that was clipped in and had no issues due to float etc. Although I did have to move my cleats a bit as I am sure they put my foot back on straighter that it was originally.
Didn’t feel confident enough to go on the road as I couldn’t unclip as didn’t have the strength in the ankle to turn it properly. Think I first rode off road about 6 months later (very easy stuff) and that was on flats. Never really rode with flats before the accident so found this very strange, but a lot better if you invest in good pedals and decent flat pedal specific shoes. I switch between SPD and flats for off road now but I still ride flats for technical riding now as my ankle has never been quite the same and find SPD’ stiff shoes/clipped in a bit harsh on the ankle.
I did change to Time ATAC pedals for clipping in as found these had a bit more float.
They told me after my accident that it would take about 2 years to get over it and that turned out to be true. But still have limited range of movement in it and it aches after a lot of riding.
However all that said I still do pretty much everything I ever did on the bike and I was surprised how quickly I regained my fitness.

They are great bikes. I owned one for a number of years.
Downside it they are very heavy (as pretty old style design) compared to a new 600cc bike.
Usual checks, but have a good look at the exhuast where the front pipes join the tail section as if it is on its original they rust through there.
Other one I got caught by is the suzuki rear brake. The pin that holds the pad in can rust in place, expecialy so if it has been on the same pads for a while and not serviced.

Better look at the new issue of singletrack as they have reviewed three 160mm travel bikes.

I’ve got a 26” Mega Tr which I bought as a complete bike.
I’ve ridden it locally xc, trail centres afan/Cwmcan and uplifted at BPW, Antur Stiniog and even Whistler.
I like the bike and it is fun to ride but when it get proper rough, fast or steep down I don’t think it is that great.

But I guess for smallish drops, jumps and XC with an emphasis on the downs it would be a good choice.

For the kind of riding it is designed for I find the paint finish isn’t that great as I have a lot of stone chips and I also picked up an impressive dent in the down tube from a rock strike at Stiniog.

Full built mine weighs about 32lbs size small.

Thanks Simon.
Yes, 2 days might make it into to a bit more of mission with no time to stop to enjoy any of it.

I guess 3 might be more realistic.

Nice pics.

Thanks for the reply.

Understand Llanidloes is about half way ish. on route 8. Did did you cycle the southern part you describe in a day?