Heading to FOD in March. BPW on the Sat then FOD dh trails on the Sun.
Never been to FOD and was told the uplift is not worth it, the fire road climb is pretty short and the uplift is mainly queues, not enough capacity. But I think I have seen that they have improved recently?
I went in July with Weeksy. We had day passes so there was no queuing - straight to the front. Really hot day I think and we managed 23km just riding down. 10 runs. Saved us about 2000m climbing I guess... which given I had two kids with me was well worth it.
For me if i'm only going once to a place it makes sense because you can at least try a few tracks and repeat your favourites... rather than just try a few tracks and go home.
I was there a few months ago, no issues with the uplift and barely any queueing. I paid per uplift rather than having a day pass and rode up a few times too, gives the option to session sections and I don't think I paid more than the day pass rate. Lots of people are on ebikes who won't be using the uplift so it shouldn't be oversubscribed.
I am surprised they are making the uplift work financially given how many people on ebikes are flying up the climb there.
Not worth it if you've got an ebike but it's at least double the runs for the day if you don't. You'll get maybe 5 or 6 pedals up (average fitness) vs 10+ on the uplift. It's always been super efficient when I've used it, just waiting at the bottom when I get there - unless I've faffed around sessioning something.
Not worth it if you've got an ebike but it's at least double the runs for the day if you don't. You'll get maybe 5 or 6 pedals up (average fitness) vs 10+ on the uplift. It's always been super efficient when I've used it, just waiting at the bottom when I get there - unless I've faffed around sessioning something.
years ago I was there when one of the busses broke down halfway through the day, they asked for volunteers to get a partial refund.
no issue with that (I think enough people were happy with half their money back when they were already tired) but the important bit was the comment they made which was they consider 15 runs to be a "full day".
Thats pretty much what you get if you do a run and go straight back to the queue with no faffing, fettling or anything (apart from the lunch break)
I think it's great tbh. The hill isn't big but the ride up is just a little bit too steep to be easy, and a little bit too long to attack, after maybe 4 or 5 runs of riding up I was just fed up of it. Ebike would change that of course.
We've always done it as a booked day, and apart from a couple of mechanicals where I've just missed a bus I can't think of really ever waiting much? Full dayers get priority of course then single runners so maybe that's what they were talking about, you do often see the van fill up and leave singles behind.
You look at the height gain and think it can't be worth it but because it's small scale and the road part is so fast, you literally just arrive at the bottom, throw the bike on, and it goes again just a few minutes later. I was really dubious of it til we actually did it, it's uplift buffet and it just kind of works.
Also the connections between the start and end of trails are better than most- no "riding up a bloody horrible hill to get back to the bus" or "bus stops below the top so you have to ride/push up". I mean yeah there's a roll along a road to the trails at the top but it's effortless even on a dh bike.
The new pickup location is a little less good than the old one imo just because you used to be able to park pretty much beside it, super convenient, but it's not a big deal. I do miss those straggly lower trails that they closed (or I think turned into an ebike climb?)
Thanks all. Sounds like it’s worth it.