Thanks for all the advice about cycling the c2c. Did it last week in 3.5 days on my lovely old c16r rigid single speed with a mate on a 2000 mount vision. I spent the first day wishing I had gears and bouncy bits but after that it was fine. How I laughed when people said the main problem was spinning out, but trying to keep up with gears on road was spinnier than I care for. I am a convert to big northern rocks! Thanks again all.