TwentyFour12 24hr MTB Race

I think the organisers avoid going too technical on endurance courses, as tiredness takes a few casualties already

Only so many paramedics at a race

It has been 20 years since I rode an endurance course. If it's like Olympic XC techy progression, I'm expecting to need a huck bike...

There's usually get an A and B lines on anything particularly techy, with the B line being easier but slower. Even the World Cup races have those

It has been 20 years since I rode an endurance course

At least you'll be on a more modern, capable bike this time

oh...

At least this has disc brakes.

My previous 24hr team rides were on alu hardtail w/ Vee brakes and steel rigid SS w/ Vee brakes. Look at this bad boy... it used the drilled out cassette as spacers and the RD as a tensioner :D #bodgetastic

Look at this bad boy

I'm guessing that's from before you met Scherrit

Never done any MTB fitting actually (quelle surprise). Probably something to consider before a solo 24hr.

Nah

Correct answer. Whatever fit issues I have can be resolved in real-time with Beer™

If I was ever silly enough to do one of these again, I think I'd use a suspension fork, as riding rigid gave me no real opportunity to switch off mentally. It would have been nice to relax and recover a bit more on the descents

I think I've tried before to find 26" suspension forks and basically gave up as anything decent costs more than the whole bike.

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/which-rigid-forks-for-26-inbred/

https://www.mtbr.com/threads/on-one-inbred-and-fork-travel.609453/

https://muddymoles.org.uk/bikes/on-one-inbred-2003-geometry

100mm Rockshox w/ remote lockout for £150
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232223925744

probably not worth buying. Maybe borrow the ones off the Kona?

If not, I'd just get a fatter front tyre

the Kona?

When I used that GT SS above in the Aussie 24 I had one of those Tioga DH tyres up front (2.3 I think was "massive" at the time). I was probably still running it at stupid high pressures because 'fat fuck' + tubes

Wonder how fat I can go on the front? Are there any good 26" tyres these days? 2.4 or 2.6 maybe?

the Kona?

The full sus, or is that in another country now?

I had one of those Tioga DH tyres up front

That would be a short cut to hating life

I sold/donated that.

Yeah, found another blog comment - "Not only did I refit the slicks to the GTSS, after running 2.3″ Tioga Factory DH since the Kona 24hr, making it so fast it pedals itself up the hills.. "

What's on there at the moment?

Maxxis Ardent are a decent sized 2.4 and are fairly fast rolling. Not so good in epic mud, but the tyres that are good in the slop would be painfully draggy if it was dry

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/maxxis-ardent-mountain-bike-tyre-exo-tr-/rp-prod149591?gs=1&sku=sku545413&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=base&gclid=CjwKCAjwxOCRBhA8EiwA0X8hi06kvzkZSxnFlEyfA6lJt2uKLltetxtw1VKaJjW4RNH6BN5vZYLRBBoCv8AQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have two forks you can choose from. Donation to charity is all I'd ask for.

Will get details later, unless Pete remembers what they were.. will post steerer lengths here later anyway.

unless Pete remembers what they were

Marzocchi Marathon S ( coil spring ) 2004, with 105mm of travel

and

Marzocchi X-Fly ( air spring ) 2002, with 100mm of travel

No space left in my brain for useful information. Just this shit

I think they're Geox BarroMarathon 26x2.3 setup tubeless by original owner @el_presidente

Nice.

I think I still have a set of Racing Ralphs somewhere. Can't remember what width they are.

26 x 2.6 DH tyre for maximum misery? 1420g of fun!
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/schwalbe-magic-mary-evo-super-downhill-mtb-tyre/rp-prod202923

Ah yes. The x-flys are a particularly nice ride.

Lemme know.

That's mighty kind of you.

Assuming they both fit the bike and both work ok, which of these would you choose from and why?

Marzocchi Marathon S ( coil spring ) 2004, with 105mm of travel
Marzocchi X-Fly ( air spring ) 2002, with 100mm of travel