[Closed] Nevis Range Red: 120 Hardtail = death?

It's a good idea to write a will anyway. I did a few goes on my 120mm FS and apart from getting used to it, the bike was fine. A DH bike would be a silly. On a HT? Hope you are feeling strong because its quite rough and full on in places. I rate this in my top five trails I've ridden. Enjoy!

It's great. I'd happily ride it on a 120mm hardtail - better with not too racy geometry ideally. You'll get tired more quickly than on a full suss though.

I'd say its perfect all-mountain bike territory really.

I'll be up anyway for the usual Witches XC & that and never thought my abilities coming along nicely. It would be a shame [i]not[/i] to do.

Feeling fit & strong & used to having the marrow rattled out my bones, being on short travel steel for years.

Not looking to be a hero, couple bits off "get off n push" for sure, but LOOK HOW MUCH FUN IT IS!

Bet there is plenty full on DH rigs on it though...

Unsurprisingly it's steeper than it looks and reasonably relentless for bits of it. There's nothing actually that difficult though. First run or two were slightly intimidating in places (big drop to one side of the board walk at one point) then fine after that. It's ace fun.

Didn't see anyone on full DH bikes - did see a few people walking down stretches of it looking a bit outfaced. I think the red grade is a bit suspect.

Having a go on the World Cup DH course too? 🙂

Grum, if ever I was to set myself up for "pics or it didn't happen" that would be it.

Imagine, a steel hardtail with me in a pisspot & goggles doing the DH a week after the BDS...

No. Shan't!

Well, that's the "red" decided.

Did I mention the singlespeed bit? 🙂

I did it on my Soul the first time, and I wasn't very good back then... Worked out fine, the trail wasn't really quite finished and did have a couple of bits that were a bit harder than designed- tweaked now.

Shouldn't laugh but it was the official opening weekend so the word hadn't got out that it's a wee bit tricky- the mountain was covered in people pushing down the trail, half of them on offbeat hire hardrocks, quite a lot of blood. "It's harder than Newcastleton red!" Yes. Yes it is. Later that weekend Dougie Vipond declined to ride down it in a kilt.

I call it a black and not the easiest black either but you'll be fine I reckon. Not that hard to ride, but if you try and speed up it gets harder quick.

Cheers Northy,

Done.

Theres a bit of vertical boardwalk that looks best of all.

You'll not see many, if any at all, DH rigs on the red, but it's way harder than yer average red. You'll scare the bejesus out yourself on your first run, but after a few, you'll be fine. It's tough going though, and after about 8 runs, arms defo feel it. It's not often you'll descend for 15 minutes constant.

I love it, a brilliant day.

Any links to comedy GoPro footage?

No but on my second run down I got cocky but then came off the boardwalk. Long way down but thankfully in to bog and heather. The rock sections above the forest line need most attention. There are red blobs showing you the simplest line through the slabs. It's a very interesting mentally demanding trail that takes practice to get loose and really flow on. Highly rated and under ridden -I think it's developed a reputation. Just do it.

It's completely getting done. Bit too excited really.

Marmalade sandwiches and a bit of tea halfway down I think ,take in the view, phone my mum & that.

The "red" designation is from a downhill point of view. It is NOT a red in the normal xc sense. Probably more akin to a normal black run, although not in the same legue as Laggan Black.
In terms of a 120 hardtail - no problem. Take your time on the first run, and you will love it. The middle section will batter you senseless if you are a quick rider on a hardtail tho. Run big volume two ply sticky tyres and you should be fine.

Classic Nevis Red vid, not comedy but a nice Cathro crash, showing off...

sangobegger - Member

The "red" designation is from a downhill point of view.

Nope...
[img] [/img]

And from the nevis range website, "Grading - Red XC"

Rubber Queens up front, black chilli and Hans Dampf performance on the rear.

2.4 in both cases.

Big fit lad me, like a good rattle. Pain + adrenaline's what I go home for.

Home being Fort Bill. Better getting mum to take the blood out than the missus :-).

*Edit* I can see my house from there.

Literally like a true Trail Fairie, Northwind.

Just when I couldn't be any more looking forward to it, there you are, showing me that.

Braw.

I rode this back in 2010, on a trek fuel ex7, the old skool one whith 100mm travel front and rear. its still up there as my all time favourite ride. I did feel under shocked at some points but tbh was a great blast, wasn't quite finished at the end but can't wait to go back.

Couple of good offs, one a faceplant onto granite about 11 minutes in, we had 3 decent offs that day, loadsa damage done, but a great day nonetheless.
Red XC? I'd say probably at the toppest end of red grade...... 😆

Red like coca cola is red.

Lagan black, btw, is worth a pop if you are comfy with this. It's considerably scarier.

Good vid northwind . At 2:38 is the bit I took off the woodwork to the right and crashed! Those lads make it look so much fun. Wish I was as good as that.

I'll be having a go at this at the bank holiday weekend on my 120mm inbred, looking forward to it. Getting beat up on a bike is the best way to spend a bank holiday.

Ive ridden it on a dialled alpine with 140mm up front,and it was very doable. The hardest section is the rock section, its steep and I find it to be a killer for arm pump, which is nothing really to do with riding it on a HT. As said above the rock section has some marked dots on it to follow, this shows you a very ridable line. The first time I rode it the dots weren't very visible and I really struggled to pick a line, last year with the dots to follow it was easier.

Take your time on your first couple of runs to get used to it. The boardwalk has potential to pop you off at a one point so take it easy, especially if it is a bit windy.

Unsurprisingly it's steeper than it looks and reasonably relentless for bits of it. There's nothing actually that difficult though. First run or two were slightly intimidating in places (big drop to one side of the board walk at one point) then fine after that. It's ace fun.

Yeah its trail centre black for sure.

The boardwalk is freaky rather than hard, there are a couple of places where you are pointing at the sky as you go round a bend that really freaked me out on the first run. All of it is nice and wide though you just have to get your head round it.

The bedrock sections are again more of a challenge for you head, some of it is pretty steep but the rock is amazingly grippy so you can get away with quite a lot on it

I rode it the first year it opened on an FSR 120mm, My mate road it on a slightly shitty Mongoose hardtail, he was better then me though.

Both of us survived and by the third run we rode pretty much all of it