Mountainbiking DH/FR around fort william/Lochaber/Nevis anyone been??

[Tony200]

Hey people im off to Fort william for a week at the end of the month.

Looking to climb ben nevis with a few mates but the rest of the time will be dedicated to doing some serious downhill and freeriding:)

Just looking for any advice or recommendations were staying in Lochaber which seems to be at the centre of it all.

I know theres the dh cup course but the uplift wont be working until the following week - what a biatch LOL!

But ive heard of wolftrax who run an uplift service.

Just wondering if anyone has any advice or recommendations?

Also has anyone pushed their rig to the summit of ben nevis and rode down?:wack:

Also if anyone wants to join us let me know:thumbs:

[Si]

There is so, so much. I'll point mymate as this thread - he spent a while up there last year.

-Jamie- lives round there too IIRC.

[Stu]

There are loads of tracks over that way both cross country and down hill. You could easily push our bike up Ben Nevis but the route is generally really busy with tourists walking up it so probably not a great idea to try riding it. You could go for the Devil's Staircase which is part of the West Highland Way. Here's a video of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szwlsDGcNE0

Have you had a look through this site?:

http://www.ridefortwilliam.co.uk/

[Tony200]

There is so, so much. I'll point mymate as this thread - he spent a while up there last year.

-Jamie- lives round there too IIRC.

Appreiciated. :thumbs:


You could easily push our bike up Ben Nevis but the route is generally really busy with tourists walking up it so probably not a great idea to try riding it.

Yeah thats what i thought will have to gauge how busy it gets during the week. Last year we climbed snowdon and a couple of blokes took their dh rigs to the summit, i was a bit envious:wack:

Been checking out all the sites and there seems to be no shortage of absolutly awesome trails - thinking i should have booked two weeks:nod:

Just wondering if theres any that people particularly recommend

[dobergoose]

Took my xc bike to the top of Ben Nevis for a magazine article years ago, was a long hike to the top as alot of its too busy/steep to cycle up. Descent was spoiled by the huge amount of people going up and down. Great walk though and if you get a clear day amazing views. The local shop in ft. bill. used to be off-beat bikes, i think they used to do some sort of uplift if not they will know of any other options. Devils staircase as mentioned above used to be one of my favourite xc routes though I was fit then, think of it as a trials course with some nice downhill bits thrown in. Further south Glencoe had built a track a few years ago for the scottish downhill series, not 100% sure what ever came of it but it runs under the chairlift at the white corries ski centre.
Its been years since I done any riding up that way so no doubt things have improved, the local shops should be one of your 1st stops to ask the locals:thumbs:

[Tony200]

The devils staircase looks awesome:thumbs:

Will definetly speak to the locals:nod:

Really looking forward to this now just fingers crossed that we have some good weather

[-Jamie-]

-Jamie- lives round there too IIRC.

:wave:Oh Hai

right, this may turn into a looonng post depending on what i can remember to type at this time of morning :wack:

S Si said, I stay just down he Road from Ft Bill so spent quite a few days up there last season but tbh the track is wrecked and i know i wont be riding up there much this season :indiff:

The Gondola Uplift won't be open until the national Race up there so that weekend is a no go anyway for riding BUT you can still push up the track and i have done a few times over the past few winters, it isn't that bad, We made it all the way to the top in just over 1hr 30mins which isn't that ong when you see what you have to push up :wack: I would go anyway and even just push up the bottoms section of the track up to the WC forest as the top section is just blown out and wrecked and not really worth the push unless your into that sorta thing :p Oh and the DH treack is on Aonoch Mor btw not Ben Nevis, Common mistake ;) I have seen people push up the walkers path on Ben Nevis and ride down before but you have to be pretty careful of walkers.

Laggan does have a uplift service but iIRC it needs a certain amount of people to run, think it was only 4 or 5 the last time i was there but im pretty sure they would do it anyway. Laggan is alright but isn't really proper Dh but is good for sessioning for the day/afternoon whatever. It has been a good year or so since i was last there so it might of changed

Glencoe does indeed have a DH track, it is where the Scottish Champs were held this year but the bad weather will probably made this pretty unrideable and i doubt the chairlift will be running for bikes but your best to phone themup and ask. Again like Ft Bill youy can still push up and is a good laugh with some mates Good thing is they also have a new track planned which should be good :)

That is the Dh trails up here but there is no shortage off XC/All mountain type stuff but that isn't my cup of tea tbh so Would be best to ask at Off Beat Bikes which is located in Ft William on the high street, They will let you in on all the good riding around there.

Since your up here with the Bikes i would highly recommend going to Innerleithen or Ae Forest and book onto one of the Uplifts as they are well worth it :nod: Uplift Scotland is the name of the company :thumbs:

If you have any other questions post them up and i'll do my best to answer them :)

Jamie

[Chavbo]

Stopping off at Ae Forest is a pretty good shout, not too far off the M74 at Dumfries on your way up. Not ridden these places in ages but that was my favourite 10 years ago :wack:

Jamie - is the McTavish Kitchens still open as a dancing? A Quality joint :wack: Heading up for a stag do in May....any titty bars these days? :D

[-Jamie-]

No idea Sam :o

Don't really go to Ft William for the night life :wack:

[dobergoose]

The curry sauce and chips from Ben Fongs is legendary:nod:

[Chavbo]

No no no no, the fish suppers were epic. The batter was amazing! I heard a story about some dude driving all the way to Ft Bill just for a Ben Fong, now who was that again..... :wack:

Bad news though, was shut last time we were up :cry:

[-Jamie-]

Aha, yeah forgot about Ben Fongs not had one is well over a year :(

Just go to McD's now as its easier to sit in the car and order after riding The DH track :wack:

Roadtrip to Ben Fongs anyone? ;)