Fort Bill 5th September - new course

Anonymous
Anonymous Posts: 79,667
edited September 2009 in MTB general
Going to Fort Bill to try that shiny new course they've built...and a general ride about most of the day.

Anyone done the new bit yet? If so what's it like?

Cheers

G

Comments

  • Pete-C
    Pete-C Posts: 353
    Ive been up on 2 trips in the last fortnight, the red run is amazing. The boardwalk is really fast but still sticky so there's no problem in the rain. A few parts havent been thought through well, mainly the slab layout in the middle section, but maybe thats just me. It nicely links up to the real course just below the wallride or you can follow along the fireroad to the bottom. Its good to alternate between the 2 courses, i managed 4 red runs and 3 black runs on monday on my pitch, so its possible to get a fair few runs in
    "Its all fun and games till someone gets hurt, then its hilarious"
    Pitch Comp
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    nice one, we are planning on trying to get as many rides in as possible....cheers
  • lochussie
    lochussie Posts: 276
    The lower route is a bit confusing. After it first crosses the WC track it turns to fireroad, but you don't have to follow this all the way down. You can take a left onto the xc trail, cross over the WC again, and get more single track descent. Def try the WC from the second crossing, it's easier than some of the red.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    lochussie wrote:
    it's easier than some of the red.

    cheers for the reply.

    when you say easier, what do you mean? am up for fast decending, but my bike isn't fit for the proper DH course, nor do I have the protection in case I fall at 40mph..lol
  • lochussie
    lochussie Posts: 276
    Yeah, I didn't risk the whole WC dh on my hardtail. But from where I mentioned it's just steep jumpy dirt. No rocks, big drops or mandatory air. The only exceptions are the two drops at very end, next to car park. Best to check those out before running. I didn't fancy jumping the first on my bike, but you can skip it on the right. They closed the gondolas to bikes due to wind when I was there so sessioned the bottom of WC, great fun. That said, if you're skidding the steep bits, I'd give them a miss.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    lochussie wrote:
    Yeah, I didn't risk the whole WC dh on my hardtail. But from where I mentioned it's just steep jumpy dirt. No rocks, big drops or mandatory air. The only exceptions are the two drops at very end, next to car park. Best to check those out before running. I didn't fancy jumping the first on my bike, but you can skip it on the right. They closed the gondolas to bikes due to wind when I was there so sessioned the bottom of WC, great fun. That said, if you're skidding the steep bits, I'd give them a miss.

    nice, cheers man... hopefully the gondolas will be running, down is always better than up ;)
  • Pete-C
    Pete-C Posts: 353
    lochussie wrote:
    The lower route is a bit confusing. After it first crosses the WC track it turns to fireroad, but you don't have to follow this all the way down. You can take a left onto the xc trail, cross over the WC again, and get more single track descent. Def try the WC from the second crossing, it's easier than some of the red.
    the first crossing is left to right on thisvideo at 4.23 (open fireroad bit after wallride). you can either join on to the DH here or continue along the fireroad. if you carry along the fireroad it crosses the DH once again, from right to left at 5.02 on the video and you have the option to join on here too or continue along the red.
    "Its all fun and games till someone gets hurt, then its hilarious"
    Pitch Comp
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    that's a rider we all wanna be like!! well that and SamHill in the mud that day,,, when he came 3rd...what a rider!
  • Pete-C
    Pete-C Posts: 353
    my mate had put that video on his ipod and we had been watching in the gondola up, but once you are riding it the whole thing goes out your head. I know this might seem like a stupid observation but all the wee bits that he glides over are bloody huge :lol: :oops:
    "Its all fun and games till someone gets hurt, then its hilarious"
    Pitch Comp
  • lochussie
    lochussie Posts: 276
    Pete-C wrote:
    my mate had put that video on his ipod and we had been watching in the gondola up, but once you are riding it the whole thing goes out your head. I know this might seem like a stupid observation but all the wee bits that he glides over are bloody huge :lol: :oops:

    I can't watch the vid at work but if it's the one I think it is then yeah, I was thinking exactly the same before I rode it. Riding the same trails as the pros gives you much more respect for their skills (and balls).
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    CURSES!!!! FortBill trip is now cancelled!!! there is a DH event going on, although the Red XC is still open and being marshalled at the cross over points with the orange DH, we've made the decision not to go and do it when it's totally free... so we are not going to

    http://www.lecht.co.uk/

    i'ts a little closer to me, the skills park looks funny... spot the police cones..pmsl
  • sheepworryingbhoy
    sheepworryingbhoy Posts: 167
    On a similar note has anyone done the new downhill course at the Lecht?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    sheepworryingbhoy wrote:
    On a similar note has anyone done the new downhill course at the Lecht?

    am taking my Giant Trance X5 there, it's not a DH bike but am sure it will be fine (last words? lol)
  • sheepworryingbhoy
    sheepworryingbhoy Posts: 167
    Will look out for your Lecht review/or injury pics which you will no doubt receive loads of sympathy from the forum ..... :)
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    sheepworryingbhoy wrote:
    Will look out for your Lecht review/or injury pics which you will no doubt receive loads of sympathy from the forum ..... :)

    we are going september 5th, just fire along, it's not that far I dont think, 2 hours max by car....

    you seen the pics.. the skills zone looks well funny.. what's the cones for?lol
  • sheepworryingbhoy
    sheepworryingbhoy Posts: 167
    Thanks for offer, but Saturdays are now booked for school football (another great idea I agreed to!)
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    lochussie wrote:
    The lower route is a bit confusing. After it first crosses the WC track it turns to fireroad, but you don't have to follow this all the way down

    That's better signposted now. Though tbh the last bit's still hopelessly s**t.

    Agree with doing the last bit of Off Beat though, just try not to ruin a downhiller's fun while you do. If you go onto Off Beat from the first crossover point it's fairly tough- rocky and rooty- but still perfectly doable for me. Hard work though. If you do this from the second crossover it's just good fast jumpy fun- though you might want to leave before the 4X course! Big jumps and one steep rocky slope which the DH boys jump but which is quite tough to mince.

    Here's a fantastic video...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9ARlglIUTE

    Now, if you watch at 4.22, just after the wallride is where the red crosses Off Beat for the first time. And at 5.00 or so, where he does the new jump, that's the second place it crosses over, as you can see it's easier from there (the "last tabletop" he mentions has a double on it, it's a bit weird). At 5.38 you can see a fork, if you turn right there you avoid the 4X course... I did the 4X once but just didn't like it, not my thing and not really made for XC hardtails!
    Uncompromising extremist
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Oh, I just got a response from the email I sent them when I got back... As suspected the trail just isn't finished...

    "There is still a chunk to do and will hopefully be completed in the next year or 2 but cannot be completed at this time for a number of reasons"

    Also asked about the opening times...

    "Also, due to our lease and agreement we are restricted to our opening times and length of season however we will be looking at extending this in the future."

    So that's all good. I should be really clear here, it doesn't matter at all that it's not finished, it's still a fantastic route and 100% worth the visit for any reasonably skilled and confident rider. When it's finished, it'll just be better.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    nice one Northwind... I think for next time (doing the lecht now) we will hire a van and stay overnight, it's a drive from Aberdeen and seems a waste just for a few hours.

    again, thanks.

    G

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