Well, I've ridden the Gap the normal way round and really enjoyed the decent, especially the steps at the top, but I always like trying something new, so bring it on which ever why they like.

When I looked at the times for last year they seemed to range from under 4 hours! to about 8 (for the 100k). Is a regular rider, decent fitness but no ironman, going to come in the middle here, or is everyone pretty damn fit?

Reverse?!?! Jees, OK, that would change things slightly!!

I'm signed up for the 109k'er, can't wait! Haven't done it before, don't know what to expect. Although I have done the Gap before, which the website says is the hardest bit, and I know that's all very doable. Only thing is I've only done 50k off road in a day before and this is twice that :-S I like a challenge!

I know some people like the contis with the black chilli compound and protection stuff, but I'd like to meet anyone who likes the bog standard ones that come on the fives etc.

Yes, forget to add that. Don't just buy online based on a recommendation! Always try it out at LBS, even if you buy online later.

Agree with MrC, go for the Hex.

I was in the same position as you last year, and was recommended the Hex by my LBS. The vents are designed for max air throughput at low speed (for mtb), where as a lot of others have a more streamlined vent system better suited to roadies.

Hex has been really comfortable and a great price.

Don't sit at the top of it looking down! Give yourself a 'run up', not for speed, but just to give you rhythm, and don't think about it. A lot of the time if it was part of a long trail, you would ride it without thinking. It's just because you're looking at it as something on it's own.

I'll agree with a few others regarding the SPDs. Stick with them. I've ridden with them for a while now, and rode the other day with flats and felt completely out of control. They make such a positive difference to your riding. But make sure you have them set loose. From my experience, any problems you get when you're learning are at very low speeds or stationary. You can nearly always just pull your foot off without thinking about it if you need to put it down, and that occurs a lot less then when you're riding flats. Unlike some people here, I don't like crashing, but when I do, I've never (touch wood) had a problem with being stuck in SPDs, you just unclip automattically.

I'm 6'1" and I've got the 09 Pro 20" and it's just right for me. I had a little go on an 18" but felt a bit short.

Before the Five I had an Evo 6 with Toras that I used to lockout whenever I was climbing, but haven't miss it with the Float R's. Totally different ball game those so I wasn't surprised.

Sometimes I think the Talas would be good to wind down on steep climbs, but it hasn't bothered me really.

When I demoed it I remember that they'd taken out the steerer spacers and put them above the stem, dropping the bars a bit. I haven't tried this yet on mine, but would this help on v steep climbs?

If they're not the Black Chilli compound and protection (better sidewalls) stay well clear. No grip and pinch flat galore.

Good point there Dave. I suppose not having been to the alps yet, I want to make sure I'm riding the best trails, but then if they're packed then that's not going to be so great.

My old boss has an apartment in La Plagne which we use in the Winter for boarding, so just thought I might be able to use that at minimal cost, does anyone know what La Plagne is like for mountain biking. I'm more of an XCer but like to challenge myself on climbs and descents. Riding an Orange Five Pro, 140mm.

Thanks guys for some great tips. Think camping might be a great idea, especially if there are good facilities. I kind of thought a car would be a must (either drive over, or rent from Geneva) but I didn't know about these travel passes. I could see it being a lot more hassle to get around though, or is that me just being lazy?

I've noticed this on a few rockshox forks (tora and recon), when the rebound damping is turned up – as coatesy says. Try turning it off (to the turtle) and see if it goes away. I don't think it's a problem.

My mate recently bought a Scott Spark 50 which was just under £1500 and he's really happy with it. It's a great FS XC bike, not huge rear travel but has handled everything he's chucked at it. I would have suggested an Orange 5 S, but the price has just gone up for the 2010 models and it's a bit over your budget (nearly 2k).

What sort of riding will you be doing? XC or DH, or somewhere in between?

What's your budget?

I also just updated the software from 5.1.3 to 5.3.2 to get the Digital Map Shop bit, so I could actually get the top ups. You can download it from the website, but you have to uninstall the current version first.

I originally had the National Parks 1:50,000 that had all the elevation data, but when I bought a 1:25,000 top up the elevation data was missing. I contacted support and they sent me this link:

http://www.memory-map.co.uk/downloads/DMS/dms_gb_os50x.qed

Download it and put it in the same folder as the 1:25,000 map data.

You might need to select the file from Map menu > Elevation Data…

Nothing too bad, but the second to last decending section does get a bit rocky. Not going to fall off many cliffs, although someone in front of me yesterday did topple down a bank and into a bush, but that was slipping on the climb apart from getting wrapped in brambles I think he was ok!

I used to get real bad finger pain after long decents and long rides, and after some recent changes in my riding style it's mostly gone away.

Firstly, if you're two-finger breaking, change to one-finger, and position your leavers so that the crook of the leaver is inline with your index finger. This gives you an extra finger to be gripping the bars with and you don't need to grip so hard.

Secondly, don't ride with your finger over the breaks unless you're actually breaking. I used to have my fingers over the leavers for the whole decent, but you'll find there are usually good sections where you can use that extra finger in the bars.

Thirdly, Get a lot more of your weight back and ride on your feet rather than on your arms. This made the most difference for me, as I felt much more in control especially on steeper decents and when cornering, as well as taking almost all the stress off your arms and hands. Ride on your legs and steer with your arms.

Hope this helps, it worked wonders for me.

Ok, it's not a tool, but I was quite pleased with my recent homemade pivot bolt for my mates Scott:

Bit of garden cane courtesy of Wastwater YHA, whittled down to the right diameter, screwed in nice and tight, and then cut off to length.

It got us back over Hardknott Pass to Bike Treks at Ambleside anyway.

(when he actually lost the bolt, we had to make do with an allen key tied through the hole – not quite so nice, but that got us back to the yha)

I have one in the pearl white with silver detail. I think it's an awesome colour for the 5 and wouldn't bother paying the extra for the cosmic.

How about ebay forcing you to enter a frame number when selling a bike or frame, surly the police have a database of frame numbers reported stolen?

Would this work?

Agree with anotherdeadhero, Minion. Highrollers are great too but a bit too draggy for me.

Beware the Mountain Kings! I put Minions on after having an absolute nightmare with the Mountain King 2.2's that came on the bike. I'd stay well clear of them if I were you, pinch flatting multiple times a ride at about 30-35 psi, 40-45 psi and it's like riding on ice! Show them a bit of mud and it's all over! That said, I've heard people say the 2.4's are great, but I haven't tried them.

I've got the same bike (with the float 32's) and I've put Minion 2.35's on it after a nightmare with the MK 2.2's it came with. I tried a HR 2.35 on the back; great grip but a bit draggy for me. Minions are a great tire (came out as top all-rounder in a group test i read last week).

Hope Tech X2's, enough said.

I have the 2.35 60a on my orange 5 and for xc and I think they're great! 100 times better than the conti mountain kings that came on it, yes they don't roll quite as well, but i don't really notice (the mountain kings rolled amazing but when you came to doing down hill or over rocks and roots is was like riding on ice). I tried a high roller on the back and that was a bit more draggy, minions are a great compromise.

TandemJeremy, agreed!

GPS is great and can save you a lot of time if you just want to get out and ride, but always have a map (and compass) and know where you're meant to be going, as they can be misleading at times. Especially with the direction arrow when you're stationary.

I've never had the fortune (or budget) to try one with OS mapping on it. I expect they are great and would cut down on some mistakes, but I would fear people would then not bother with a real map. Then if it goes dead you could be in the sh*t.

My £60 eTrex though is a real asset!

Yeah. You can plot a route and follow it on the gps, so it will give you an arrow pointing in the direction you need to go to the next waypoint, and tell you how far it is etc. There is also a display that shows you the route line, and shows you with an arrow, where you are along it (of off it) and draws a bread crumb trail of where you've been.

And, yes, if you've got an OS map with you as well, it will tell you your grid ref, so you can see exactly where you are.

Only thing about the direction arrows, is that they're based on movement (it doesn't have a compass).

I ride with it in my pocket and take it out every now and then to check I'm on course, but I've just seen you can get a handle bar mount for £12. Think I'll get one!

I use the eTrex and it's great. Nice and simple, reliable and not expensive. If you get yourself Memory Map and a usb cable, you can plot your routes and upload them straight to it. Then when you're out, just follow the waypoints. A life saver, especially when on top of a mountain when the fog's come in and the path's disappeared!
Don't rely on it completely though. You never know when technology, no matter how good it is, decides to stick it's middle finger at you 😉

What is all this PUSHED business???

I take it’s some kind of fine custom tuning… but what does it do? I’ve recently got a Orange 5 (Float R front, Float RP23 rear). Is it just for forx, or rear shox too? First full-sus and I’ve been really happy with it, but could it be better??

If it’s for mtb, I would go with the Giro Hex. I replaced my old Met with one last year and it’s been great. Really light and comfy, and not too pricey (about £50-60 I think). Big vents designed to get the most air through as lower speeds (hence for mtb slow assents). The Zen is also great, and looks a bit better than the Hex, but is nearly a ton, so I wouldn’t bother.

R

Yeah, I don’t think I’d have it blasting away on anything that’s too sketch 😉

Awesome! I’ll give it a shot next time i’m out then! I’ll have to prep a playlist for a week in the lakes at the end of the month.

Think I’ll only have it on for the decents – not a whole lot of chatting going on then anyway.

I’m thinking some dnb would be good (listening to a High Contrast set at the mo).

Playlist ideas…?

this is probably one of the strongest locks you can buy,

roblerner, what lock is it?

All locks are ultimatly just a deterant, but the question is, how likely is it that someone coming to yha will have bolt cutters etc with them…

None of the bus lanes around here (cardiff) seem to have bike signs that I’ve noticed. As I said, they’re not really wide enough for a bus to pass you safely, without pulling out.

I suppose

cycle wherever is safest and least obstructed at any time

is as gooder rule as any.

Main thing that put me off wearing a helmet was that it wasn’t comfortable, so when I got a decent one that fitted right it was a lot better. I would say now though, that I rarely wear a helmet when I’m cycling round town, but I ALWAYS wear it when off road. First time I took my sister mountain biking, she lost the front wheel and dived head first into a rock! Luckily it left an inch deep hold in the helmet, not here head!

Bottom line is for riding on the road I’m lazy and don’t bother, but I wouldn’t dear go off road without one. I’d apply this to my kids too.

Road riding, low change of falling off. Off road, high chance of falling off.

I’m 6’1″ and I’ve recently bought a Five Pro 20″. I demoed it first at Afan, South Wales; the 18″ was just too short across the top.

I’d definitely go for the Orange over the Marin, and 20″ all the way.

I had a pair of these on my new Orange Five, and I have to say I had a nightmare. At about 45 psi they slipped all over the place, like riding on ice when trying to corner on a decent. When I dropped to 35 psi I had 3 pinch flats in one ride (never had one before in my life).

I must say I’m talking about the standard 2.2’s so maybe the 2.4 and/or the Black Chilli compound changes things a lot. They did roll better than any tire I’ve ridden though, and for non technical stuff this was great.

I’d demoed this bike at Afan, and they had ditched these tires and where using Maxxis High Rollers, which where excellent. I’ve now done the same and gone for Maxxis Minion Dh’s which I’m very happy with.