I would just like to double check to see if running along the main mountain bike track in Manly Dam is considered bad manners.

I went for a run around the circuit with plenty of light left in the afternoon, and there were a few people riding on the track. I kept well out of their way when they passed me (often moving into the bush to make sure I wasnt standing in their chosen line of attack), and when they were bogged on hills or technical sections I only passed them once they had come to a complete stop and dismounted, and with a verbal warning of what I was doing ("Excuse me, sorry").

Tour Divide is a solo, self-supported mountain bike race on all 2,745 miles of ACA's epic Great Divide MTB Route. With an average time-to-completion of three weeks in the saddle, this grand tour is the longest, most challenging MTB race on the planet. It's a contest for the ultra-fit but only if ultra-prepared for myriad contingencies of backcountry biking.

Sounds good, eh?

http://tourdivide.org/

Looking at a couple of forks at the moment in the 140-150 mm zone, and the choice looks like a 454 Pike with 20 mm axle or a Float 32 RLC with 15 mm axle. I'm having trouble getting a clear idea of which fork better suits my needs, and only having ridden the Fox can't make a performance comparison yet. There are sooo many options in forks these days, it's almost as bad as trying to get a mobile phone what rings and takes calls.

I've got Hope II hubs so no problems with axle compatibility.

The bike these would go on has between 5.7" and 5.8" of rear travel and an RP23.

For any of your people out there who like aftermarket add ons for Shimano gear, check it out

http://www.shimano-yumeya.com/