Fort william DH first timer

Date: 12/05/08
Location: Fort William / Nevis Range/ Anoch moorWell today’s journey started at 6:30am and ended at 12:05pm and the distance covered? 190miles. Now in France or Switzerland I can cover 190 miles in approx two and a half hours so why in this country does it not only take 3 times as long and is also more expensive i.e. fuel, tax etc. Ok travelling moan aside I’m about to ride one of the best DH tracks this side of the hemisphere and I can’t wait, finally I reach Fort William. As you drive through the town of Fort William you can’t help but notice how nice the place is with the town on one side and loch on the other its very welcoming and comfortable. To get to Anoch Moor you head out of Fort William heading for the Nevis range its only a 10min drive from the town centre you pick up signs for the Nevis range and turn of the main road passing the pikeys on the way up to the car park and arriving at the Gondola station. Once I arrived at the gondola station at the Nevis range I was eager to get on the bike, the weather is great the sun is shining the sky has no clouds and its warm what more could you want. I meet up with Steve and Kris who have just finished their second run and after paying my £21 pound multitrip pass we head round the back of the Gondola station to get the bikes on and get up the hill, the first thing I notice is the strange way the bikes go on the lifts, you place the front of the saddle through an eyelet and that’s it so If you go up there make sure your saddle is tight on its a good system though as it allows three bikes on and all three people inside comfortably. The lift up takes about 15min but can be longer if there are bus loads of old people there! Be prepared to sit in the lifts a little longer as they keep slowing, starting and stopping for them getting on and off. Once at the top you walk out of the gondola station and have a 2 min push to the start of the DH track. There is a cafe there and the views from the cafe balcony are amazing on a clear day like today you can also get a good look at the top half of the track from there. The start is a wooden platform raised about 1 meter from the ground and it leads off to one of the best downhill tracks going. The ride down has everything that a world class DH track should have, it has rocks roots fast corners technical corners off camber corners , jumps step downs etc you name it this track has it, its physically demanding and by the time you are half way down you start to realise that this is no normal DH track its full on all the way down and there is no rest bite your arms and shoulders are aching with the constant pounding and your brain is on overdrive trying to pick the lines that well keep you flowing and missing the wheel busting rocks. This track is mental it’s just one thing after another DH mountain biking at its best. Dropping down onto the lower section and into the woods you start to notice you’re getting some forearm pump and braking is becoming less efficient but you have to concentrate as you’re in with the roots n rocks and one mistake here could send you into the realm of gravity assisted free fall. Clear the woods over one last tricky rocky section and your onto the fast section now take a breather turn left then right and get hard on the pedals over the small jumps carrying your speed well hit the hip jump and style it big time drop back down and you’re on the pedals again ready for the 2 table tops over them and pedal hard for the hip/double you can clear it but you have to be going good and commit to it, some people come up short but it’s just a heavy landing and it tests your shocks to the max as I found on my first run. Along the final stretch up high over the jump and onto the elevator a steep section that you need to commit too to get the most fun out off, you must be at 40mph at this point, down the elevator over the jump and land in the bowl which is part of the 4X track two more drop offs and hard on the brakes trying to stop before the metal fence. Job done smile and pat yourself on the back because that’s one of the best DH tracks you will ever ride. The whole ride for a pro would last about 4:50 for a good rider it will take about 5:15 – 6:30 and for anyone else it would just be an achievement finishing such a good track.