off to Fort William In April

Anonymous
Anonymous Posts: 79,666
edited March 2009 in MTB general
hey all.. am off to Fortwilliam in April for a weekend with the girlfirend. Anyone know of a decent helpfull MTB shop? That will do bike hire?

Obviously I don't wanna frighten her too much with the championship course :-)

Any help guys... I don't know that area at all.

Cheers

GmanUK101

Comments

  • BoardinBob
    BoardinBob Posts: 697
    Haven't used them myself but Off Beat Bikes are usually recommended

    http://www.offbeatbikes.co.uk/hire.asp
  • padonbike
    padonbike Posts: 46
    you May also want to consider Wolftrax at Laggan, which is about 40miles from Fort William near Kinghussie.
    Bike hire and good Blue starter trial and nice red trail too.
    aspra nella virtu', dolce nel sacrificio
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    hey gman....

    yip...offbeatbikes or neviscycles....

    neviscycles has a place on the left as you enter the nevis range, whilst offbeat are either in town or at the gondola station.

    The WC XC course is a short (8.5k) red and is a lot of fun....there are loads more trails to ride than just the DH as well.

    The have been building a new red DH route, but not sure if that is open yet.

    As above, laggan is pretty good too, but a fair wee trek from the fort.
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • BoardinBob
    BoardinBob Posts: 697
    Does anyone know if the new red DH route is still only going to be suitable for a DH bike or would a run of the mill 5" travel full susser be ok?
  • marinman1
    marinman1 Posts: 262
    im doing the red run on my hardtail with 100mm of travel in the summer regardless so i hope it will be fine, if it isnt i will accept full blame for my stupidity
  • mitchgixer6
    mitchgixer6 Posts: 729
    Plenty of decent routes round about Fort Bill. After doing the 10 under the Ben there last year, I can fully recommend the Witches Trail which starts at the Annoch Mor visitor centre. Signposted off the A82 just North of Fort Bill. Details here

    http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6NLEYH

    Enjoy the trails!
  • BoardinBob
    BoardinBob Posts: 697
    I'm doing the 10 under the ben solo this year :oops:
  • Animal100
    Animal100 Posts: 55
    After a disastrous trip at christmas, I'll be back in July. After all the years I have been going I still have'nt tried any of the trails near the Nevis range, this year will be different though. Cant wait.

    I can vouch for Offbeat bikes, good bunch of helpfull people.
  • mitchgixer6
    mitchgixer6 Posts: 729
    BoardinBob wrote:
    I'm doing the 10 under the ben solo this year :oops:

    Nutter! A pair is tough enough for me. Good luck! :D
  • paulrockliffe
    paulrockliffe Posts: 64
    I rode the WC DH on a hardtail and also on an XC full susser with a piece of wood for a rear v-brake pad and didn't die, so it's all possible!

    Re the bike shops, I can't recommend off-beat or the bike shop at the Nevis Range (run by the same people), they charged me 50% over the odds for parts on a new free-wheel and then added £20 on to the labour charge for 'emergency' service, total was £50 for replacing a free-wheel. They knew I wanted to ride the DH all day so had me over a barrel, then still took 2.5 hours for this emergency service!

    They also hired my mate a bike to do the DH course, a £150 giant with no damping, then charged him £40 when a rail popped out of the seat! I even saw them pop it into a vice to put the seat back together then hire it out again. Barstards.
  • tlw1
    tlw1 Posts: 22,184
    I am going there for a week with the wife & kids in April.

    Think I am only taking the hardtail, was going to avoid the downhill course but this thread is changing my mind!

    Slight thread drift, any must do's with a couple of kids aged 2 & 4?
  • grumsta
    grumsta Posts: 994
    Hmm having seen the DH course up close I think I would def prefer to do it on a proper DH bike (not ridden it though). There are some biiiig jumps to be doing on an xc hardtail or whatever. Might try it on my Pitch - def interested in the new red DH course.

    I went in Jan when it wasn't open - did the 10 under the Ben course, which was ok, bit too much dull fire-road and featureless singletrack for my liking. Had a few really good bits though.
  • counterculture
    counterculture Posts: 507
    matthew h wrote:
    Slight thread drift, any must do's with a couple of kids aged 2 & 4?

    leave them at home with someone you trust and hit the juicer after a day up the hills
    i spent all me money on whisky and beer!!!
  • tlw1
    tlw1 Posts: 22,184
    counterculture wrote:
    matthew h wrote:
    Slight thread drift, any must do's with a couple of kids aged 2 & 4?

    leave them at home with someone you trust and hit the juicer after a day up the hills

    Don't worry the kids would always rather go to the pub than a cafe!
  • 97wilewa01
    97wilewa01 Posts: 43
    mitchgixer6 wrote:
    BoardinBob wrote:
    I'm doing the 10 under the ben solo this year :oops:


    Im also doing 10 utb this year, it the first time, any advice from u seasoned riders??
    Orange St4-Reba SL-FullXT
  • mitchgixer6
    mitchgixer6 Posts: 729
    97wilewa01 wrote:
    mitchgixer6 wrote:
    BoardinBob wrote:
    I'm doing the 10 under the ben solo this year :oops:


    Im also doing 10 utb this year, it the first time, any advice from u seasoned riders??

    Are you doing it solo or as part of a team?
  • schmako
    schmako Posts: 1,982
    Take spares. The bike shops in fort bill are brutally priced. Xc course isn't too hard there. DH is fun, but maybe not for the lady.
    Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 750
    Orange Patriot 66 FR
    Clubroost XC-4 (retired)
    Pinkbike
    My Biking Videos

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