It was ok apart from chinese light giving up with a couple of dark miles to go. Had to resort to the pavement in part so received a few bollockings.

I did it in 2015, we went out the week before and got a chalet between 8 of us in Alpe d’huez which cost under 200 each. The entry fee was about 90 euro at the time and that got you the lift past for the week before to do other runs there and practice the course. We also went over to Les Deux Alpes for a day which again was cheap on the the lifts.

Qualifying was on the friday (I think) and depending how you did meant you were either were racing on Saturday or the Sunday, The qualification course is different to the main race and considerably shorter. I cannot remember what gets you in what race just that it’s great fun and a great experience.

The riding I enjoyed especially the glacier slide and the technical bits which I did not find that tough its more the number of people trying to get down them. It was incredibly hot as well 40 degrees plus and staying cool was a challenge.

I enjoyed it and am hoping to go back in the next couple of years for hopefully a puncture free performance.

Been looking at the 240’s not loads more than Hope and someway cheaper than the CK.

Pro 4 bearings on 2 sets lasted me 6 months a set on rear and notchy quicker than that. Not sure why tbh just my experience of them.

I bought the brushless FTX Carnage for myself for Christmas as my son did not want one. First go today in not really a suitable place which led to numerous crashes. It’s a lot of fun and very quick (for me) £200 all in.

I have had the rough cut, lyric and 36’s. All good but the lyrics were best for me, easy to set up and felt great. The X fusions were nice but extra offset on them made the bike feel more twitchy so I changed them.

Had to pee on a frozen freehub once, that worked well

My KS did the same at -10, poured tea on it which sorted it and got me going again.

Locked my only car key in my car this morning. Phone, wallet, work bag etc left in car in a lay by. Had got my bike out though so managed to ride the rest of the journey to work.

To offer something different the new mavic deemax look good and may fit the bill. I have crossmax XL and really rate them.

I have a supersix 105, bought from Evans for 1170 with pedals thrown in, feels great to me but that’s only compared to a ribble and old ally trek. Don,t find in uncomfortable at 4 – 5 hours. I am 6 foot on a 56

I have had the 150mm drop one for about 3 weeks, works well enough however there is some fading on the body already which if it gets worse means it will go back. It is a little bit rattley too with a fair bit of play in the head. Only cost 130 though from Winstanleys so reasonably happy for the price.

I did 50 miles there and Mon/wed/fri and was always hungry and to be honest too knackered to work effectively in the afternoons. I did it for a year and now drive half way dump the car and cycle the rest. Works for me as now have the energy to work and ride the mtb at the weekend.

I am just over 6 foot and on a large camber evo but would say I am on the upper limit, feels fine to me with a 60mm stem but if I was any taller I would to xl. Even the XL is not particularly long, great bikes ! A 5 8 bike journalist would want a XXL though

I went for the first time this summer thought it was great, only had about an hour as with the family did the lower red and the black. Thought the black was great fun with some really interesting features found it quite different to the other centres I have done.

I think it’s ok, I have driven from the midlands to ride it, Penmancho 1st then Marin in the afternoon. Prefer it to llandogla to be honest and possibly Cannock as well but that’s mainly down to the surroundings.

I have the view ranger app on my phone which you can get the national parks on for a tenner I think it works ok and gives your location on a map. I found it fairly easy to use and I am totally IT illiterate. I often take a map as well though.

Borrowdale bash is a good route to that’s reasonably easy to navigate and holds up well in the wet.

I have just ordered the latest giant contact from winstanleys, 150mm drop and only £130 gets some reasonable reviews and runs stealth or external. Only 30.9 though (comes with 31.6 shim)

That is nice, makes me very tempted on the n+1 basis.

The 190 miles in was a bit strong, went out before work though, trails were lovely and dry. Did not know it was cycle to work day until looking on here.

I rode up there a couple of weeks ago did the green with my kids which they really enjoyed (except the climbing bit). I then did the lower red and the black. Again there was about 30 odd people there on a week day. I have seen similar numbers at coed brenin, nant Arian on a weekday in the past too. Thought the black trail was great and the red/orange ok. It is pretty short though and you need to do laps which may not encourage people to make a long journey.

I have a 2015 camber evo 29 er ride in the peaks etc and I really rate it, 130mm pike on the front and it’s ace. Did Laggan black on it last week and it felt great. I find it far more entertaining than my former enduro sled. It is a bit less capable on the real rough stuff Alps etc but it’s loads better on the majority of stuff I do. Stumpy is a really nice bike though, think they may have changed the 16 model a bit from mine

I have a camber evo in 29 and it’s a great bike. Quick on pretty much everything and loads of fun, much prefer it to the 160mm enduro wagon I had before. I ride it in the peak and will be taking it to Wales, Scotland etc. I do get through the travel but never really want anymore. I do have the forks at 130.

I have the vibrocore in 760mm, came off a carbon raceface and they feel really good, they just feel less harsh than a normal Ali bar

Drum Hill more of playing in a wood where the chevin can be strung into a route with blackbrook/Ambergate area or link drum hill into the chevin.

1997 GT Zaskar and then a year later a GT LTS DH, I was a student at the time and blew my grant on the bikes 2 years running. Lived off salad cream sandwiches as a result.

Orbea Rallon, airdrop, process 153 (20% off at wiggle the minute).

Him and Dagg are flying !!!

I had one for a little while, well made frame although I found it a bit short think I needed an XL (I am 6 1)

I took a 35k pay cut to 25k when I had my 2nd child in 09 and don’t regret it at all. I realised how much we wasted on pretty much everything really. My wife’s wages have gone up considerably since then (not the difference though) and I just have a great balance being able to take kids to school / pick them up and generally spend more time with them (also loads more opportunity to ride). Depends really if you can live on the new wage and if you can then make a change, you spend a long time at work and you might as well make it as enjoyable as possible.

I have just gone from 2016 36 rc2 on my Orbea to the new lyrics. I just struggled to get them set up right and find RS forks a lot easier.

I have tried purg grids on the rear a few times and always ripped them, butchers on the front were ok. I am still looking for the tough, fast rolling reasonably grippy rear. I like ardent s but have just split a new one of them. Never considered the trail boss before so may have a look at them.

Just. Got some dainese trailskins comfy, light and 45 quid. Took a reasonable off to

I will be there :), going natural routes tomorrow and Saturday so should be nicely knackered for the race, not that I race really anyway just looking forward to riding some new stuff with my mates.

I am on the Hope’s had them about 3 months so far, barely notice them which I am taking to be a good thing. They look good to and show very little heel rub the way they are anodised. They are expensive though.

That Chris Porter is a cheerless …. isn’t he, seems unable to accept any opinion other than his own.

Just under 6 2 on a large orbea rallon which is fine for me with a 45mm stem on, had a large Dune before that which felt great until it snapped. Sat on a large transition patrol and that felt tiny though as did a large bronson.

I am doing the Ben Jones tour of Mont Blanc this year, 23,000 metres of descending, worth a look.

I like the look of them , enjoy :)

you need to be a bit creative with the id thing :) . I don’t agree with such a high charge when you have given so much notice and the demand, maybe 10 quid admin fee.