Ironically following on from the Parenting Fails thread I’m thinking of taking mini-likefood to Fort William for the world cup weekend.

He’s 7 and a super keen mtber. I’m a middle aged super keen mtber. Both of us will want to ride while we’re there.

Any suggestions/advice? Is this a crap idea?

Variables:

It’s a 9 hour drive.
It might rain.
We’ll be camping.
We’ll need to be back Sunday night for school on the Monday.

The website isn’t live yet so I’ve no idea what type of activities/events will be going on around the actual race.

Thanks in advance.

Fab idea I have done it twice with my son. 1st year b&b, 2nd year ended camping in Glen Coe, My son had a great time on both days, met all the stars of downhill, made some new friends at the camp site, would love to do again when we get the chance before he is too old! I live in Manchester, so left school with him eat 3.30 arriving 9.30ish. Sunday evening left the event around 5pm arriving home 11.30 ish from memory…long weekend but priceless if you make the effort.

Im not sure about getting any riding in, but as an event i’d recommend it, saw loads of families there last year and pretty happy. However the traffic jam southbound by loch lomand was not fun, it will be a long journey and yiu will get home late, but kids sleep in the car.

Definitelyworth going, get a gondola ticket too, the kids in front of me in the queue shared the gondola woth greg minaar and aaron gwin!

Do it.

My suggestion, having done it several times in the past, would be on the Sunday to park further up the A82 toward Spean Bridge and cycle in on the morning – make a quick getaway as soon as you can and head up toward Dalwhinnie and jointhe A9 there and head south. It will be a few miles up as they cone off any parking lay-bys and forest access entrances, etc., but you’ll avoid the jam through Fort William itself and then Glencoe.

What are your options like for flying up ? We flew from Bristol to Inverness then hired a car for the remainder of the journey up to Fort William , driving mostly alongside Loch Ness. Worked out a lot cheaper too ( depends on your MPG of course) and a lot more enjoyable than a long drive.

Train?

It’s a brilliant few days, your kid will love it. You get really up close and personal to the racing and the riders – our friends kids and ours all met Steve Pete, Tracey Mosley, Ratboy, Danny Mac and more all just wandering around the pits. There’s completions, and pits handing out ‘old’ gear to kids who ask nicely…. The racing atmosphere is fabulous, there is practice and 4x too.

Downers! Get a wet midgey day and it can be challenging, but nothing a dose of Smidge, a headnet and small tarp cannot solve.

Great idea! went last year but took the daughter out of school on the Friday so we didn’t have to rush there. We only went on the Saturday so home in plenty of time, not an option for your son to pull a sicky on the Monday? if its a 9 hour drive after the finals he’ll be knackered for school the next day anyway?

We had a great day but it was scorching no idea what it’ll be like if its pouring but I can imagine it’ll still be a good weekend away.

Mega, thanks everyone. Some good tips.

I’ll post photos!

In the same boat… 1st time this year for myself and transporter jnr but staying in Spean Bridge instead of camping.. Bring it on

The midgies are mingin in the trees so just go higher up, ive taken my son up numerous times from having to bribe him with ice cold coke and big mac to stop the tears as its pretty knackering to walk to the top of the run for wee legs then sneak back down on the gondola. Now hes much older either has a gf or a mate to spectate with i walk up Annoch mor and Beag if its clear to see Ben Nevis and the surrounding views along with seeing a few of the downhillers. You always go home tired from a weekend at Annoch mor

One of the better weekends in the year to have to be working 😀

I have to Asses a Duke of Edinburgh Silver Exped that weekend this year – including eldest_OAB in the group.
He is already planning routes around Ft William it seems…

We got the gondola up and then spent about 3 hours walking down, experiencing various weather patterns before hitting the midges about 2/3 of the way down. Itchy little buggers

Are we seriously recommending a child take an unauthorised day off school to watch a mountain bike race?

This thread belongs in the parenting fails thread surely!! 😉

I’ve thought about going a couple of times, but I’m assuming the normal 3 hr trip from Edinburgh is far longer due to traffic. Also, doubt you’ll get any riding fitted in, won’t all the trails be closed?

The downhill and red route will be closed over the weekend. Most of the Witches Trails XC will be open, except for a small section at the start/finish.
And plenty of other routes you can find in the forest.

Laggan is not too far away

I’d forget the riding, just spend the whole time taking the event in. It’s brilliant.

Other advice if you are taking a child for the first time to FW..
– B&B if it can be afforded does reduce risk of weather spoiling the weekend. 2nd year I camped and ended up mopping out the tent, however plus side was my lad made some great friends socialising on the sat PM and put his device down!
– Get the gondola ticket…its great fun and will reduce the physical side of the weekend for little legs.
– Take some good water proofs and wellies.
– Try and make the two days (Sat and Sun). We use the Sat to meet racers, watch the shows, look at the trade tents, catch qualifying. With Sunday once you have got up and walked down and made it to a safe seat in the grandstand the racing will be well underway.
– As indicated on other posts, trying to fit riding in as well is not really possible so just focus on enjoying the event.
– Stay for the proper trophy presentations (time permitting) as the crowds disperse you can get children / podium photos and catch the racers for the last time.

I have done it twice now before he got to the awkward teens, when exams, attendance and school get more important and don’t regret it. It’s a long weekend but great fun in some amazing scenery.

The other bonus about a gondola ticket is if the weather isn’t that great you could just do laps 🙂 Think its roughly 10 minutes either way.