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Hi guys, me and some mates plan to do 10 under the Ben in May and we're interested to know a few things:
1) I know the route changes year to year, but can anyone tell me the general type of track it's likely to be.... steep hills up and down, or more rolling x-country, a lot of techinical stuff?
2) What's the general standard like, we're entering in a three, we'll do a fair bit of training but we're not the fittest bunch?
3) Should we camp on-site?
Long fireroads, some really muddy bits, some nice singletrack, a really steep singletrack climb, some really muddy and rooty technical downhill that you'll probably have to walk because everyone in front will be and block your way, some rocky steps and some hellish undulating singletrack that would probably be quite nice if you only had to ride it once and wasn't right at the end when your brain already thinks you have finished!
There are no facilities on site really so it's roughing it a bit plus it's just a hard standing so uncomfy and a nightmare to get pegs in.
Sounds bad doesn't it but I'll be doing it and camping again!
If you want to do well get the roadwork in, its probably 70% fireroad with 30% singletrack and mud
lets pray for sunshine, and warmth, and then the course will be fine
Worth mentioning, I think, that the "official" route which is waymarked at Nevis Range is pretty different from the race route they used when I did it, and massively better. There's a lot of fireroad, which is probably good for racing but there were some pretty hilarious descents- bits of the world cup XC route, bits that hadn't been built at all but just flagged out across the forest floor and ridden in on the day, which turned into skating rinks... Lots of variety.