We had a great day at the new Red route at Fort William today. The weather was great all day, we managed six runs down, and all six of us really enjoyed the fantastic new route.
Innes
Bike Forum
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Fort William Red
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Posted 2 years ago #
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we are going next week but one.
can't wait.
is it just a red route ie like glentress etc but with uplift or is it a little more demanding?
Posted 2 years ago # -
We were riding the DH track and had a shot, the red run is good fun....the board walk is ok, I didn't think I would like it, but it has some nice little drops to pop off and a few kickers to keep it interesting...the rest of the red is not too technical so you can really hammer it.
It's NOT like the motorways of GT though, they make good use of the existing slab rock and build the track across that...with some centre type trail once you hit the tree line....the best thing about the finish is that you can nail the motorway section of the DH track just after!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I don't know about Glentress, but the new red at Fort William's rocky sections are more technical than Lagan's red routes. It is nice and fast, and a good challenge though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Posted 2 years ago #
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How did you find the boardwalks in the wet?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Inness, the Boardwalk was fine in the wet this afternoon.
As its exposed, the crosswind was a greater challenge.Vorexracing, it is quite a bit more demanding than GT red.
Posted 2 years ago # -
cheers Gents
Posted 2 years ago # -
bruneep did you join the Black as you left the crossing point?
Most of us finished on the red, a few who did the whole of the Black for one run were finishing on the Black each time. If you did, is the bottom black section a lot harder than the red route?
Ticklinjock you must of had quite tough conditions yesterday, there seemed a big difference in conditions from one day to the next.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Its not called the Black. Off Beat DH, graded orange.
Motorway was tables and a step up you can roll and a chute after an avoidable jump. Rolling over the rocks on the 2 drops into the finishing is horrible, its beter to launch off the top.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Went yesterday for the first time with 4 mates.
Really enjoyed it although the wind got up in the afternoon causing some consitnation in my riding the boardwalk (any lightness in the front end meant sideways movement).
First run was undertaken at a gentle speed to get used to the layout with a few stops to regather and scope the line (red arrows and red lines both take you through appropriate routes). Opens out into sandy berms and then onto old track or downhill after stream.
Straight back up and gave it some welly on the 2nd run with crux points:
Tight rocky left corner followed by sandy righthander immediately after, nice rocky section with a couple of small ups that can catch you out, tricky boardwalk (well for me as it was very wet now and not sure if it handled well ps it did handle well btw) with nice sweeping rocky down keeping on the rock for suprisingly good grip. Lunch then some more.Overall, Although boardwalk bores me, I really enjoyed the rock sections and it is more technical than the DH through that bit. I was on 6 inch front and 5 rear and never felt limited at all even managed some speedway down at the end due to a front tyre deflating to just about 0 psi.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Sounds good. Just booked two weeks off work at the end of August so a wee midweek trip up then
Posted 2 years ago # -
I was there a couple of weeks ago, I minced my way down the first run but enjoyed it so bought a multi trip the next day and just kept going. I think I did 6 runs, this was on my Ti Pipedream with 100mm Rebas (hello to the guy who I chatted to at the bottom on a FS Yeti.) I was getting sore arms by the end but I was getting faster and faster each time. I did the bottom Orange/Black DH run because the Red is dull compared to the stuff you just did. The 4X bit at the bottom was good fun!! Have the switchbacks near the start been sorted and rebuilt yet as they were looking a bit tatty a couple of days after they opened..
Posted 2 years ago # -
Went at the weekend and had a great time.
Overall it's a pretty hard red. The long rock sections towards the bottom are harder than most other reds except maybe Dalbeattie. IMO
After the top red you should definately join the DH track as the lower part of the red is very tame and the lower part of the DH track isn't crazy hard.
One of the switchbacks near the top is still a bit of a mud fest and that was in the dry.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Made a visit over the weekend, had great weather on Saturday, managed 5 runs of the red and one of the world cup track. Between the three of us we managed one big stack each, one causing an early retirement and the other two much giggling. The red is definitely a step up in severity from the trail centre norm, its a shame the marked finish to the red following on from crossing the world cup track isn’t of the same quality as the main part of the trail. Though completing the decent on the world cup course is top fun and wiping out on the jumps of the 4 cross course seemed to amuse some of the vulture like tourists waiting at the bottom (what a saviour body armour is)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Im heading there next weekend, its an annual trip, is the Red DH do-able on a 100mm full bouncer?? and is it as much fun as it looks?
I normally spend a full day at laggan on the fun park, is the red downhill a better way to spend the day?
Really looking forward to a week in fort bill!
Posted 2 years ago # -
LMT, Laggan is great but you should definitely go and do the 'red' at Ft William. It's NOT an XC red like Glentress and more black in places with rocks but you'd be able to do it on 100 mm. We had a guy with us on Saturday with 100mm and was doing all of it without armour and a XC helmet no problem. I was on 6.3 inches of travel and all the stuff on but seen guys on hardtails doing it. Only done 2 runs and went to Laggan as they weren't letting anyone back up after 3.45pm and we arrived at 2.15pm.
Get there early and make a day of it. it's great not to have to cycle uphill
I didn't like the boardwalk though, but that's just a mental thing, I prefer rocks.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Being from Birmingham ive never rode any of the boarder trail centers, i really should at some point seeing as every year i drive past them!
Ive taken a trip to Fort William for the last 3 years, the mrs wanted a beach holiday this year but she failed to save the cash so its scotland again!! yippee! we are staying in Spean Bridge so its bikable from there, hoping to get there at 10am and spend a day! and yep would agree the north shore looks a bit dicey in the wet!
Ive ordered some knee pads, as i had a faceplant about 8 weeks ago, serious concussion and a broken tooth, 14 stitches in my face, so mrs has said pads or no biking!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Can't wait to give this a try.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I bought a full face helmet and was glad I did, the drops at the side of the boardwalks are quite big.
It is a great track, I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Aye you'll be fine, hopefully it won't be windy, looks ok in the wet as it's grippy and the boardwalk has paint on it. Just take it easy the first time round , third time you know where most things are and can move it up a gear. The wee rocks are excellent for jumping off and the drops are easy. The last third on the techy section might be a bit tricky so maybe take a wee breather before that. just hang off the back and you'll be ok on 100mm
Wear some armour though, bone into rocks doesn't look good if it goes pear shaped.
Have a great time, we did, it's well worth the travel up
Posted 2 years ago # -
I hesitate to ask this but .. can you ride up to it ?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yeah got a full-facer and some armour - just need to find someone who wants to come and ride it with me.
Posted 2 years ago # -
the boardwalk is fine even when wet.
lmt i did this on my 100mm gt carbon ht flat out no problems.
have they sorted the finish out yet.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Grumm, I'm a billy no mates too so I'd be up for some company.
Posted 2 years ago #
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