I was thinking of goin to Fort William in the summer and wondered if anyone is up for coming with me to help pay for a massive petrol bill and have a good ride!
Girls are especially welcome.
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 Do you mean the downhill track with the gondala?
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 Great idea!
I was thinking of doing the same myself.
When are you thinking of? summer is a looooonnnnggggg way off. I wouldn't mind getting a trip in in spring - march/april "ish" what do you think?
An ideal weekend would be a day exploring the areas trails and a day hammering (or getting hammered by) the downhill. Gondolas? mmm, nice.
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 I'll be going up at some point in the summer. Not too sure when yet, but I don't think the Gondolas start up before about May. The earlier you go, the better. I went for the avalanche cup in late summer, and got eaten by midges! Apparently they're not too bad earlier in the year.
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 I have a mate who used to live in the area and he said that the only sort of riding was the all-day out for miles and back in, however since the dh track has been opened, I believe there have been some XC-ish trails opened around it as well...
Would be up for it, as I live in Stirling it's only a 2 hour drive...
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There's meant to be quite a bit of XC on the lower slopes, with a few waymarked trails. I think MBR did an article on it a few months back. I'll see if I can dig it out. What's wrong with an all day XC ride anyway? (I can't believe I just said that!)
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Absolutely nowt wrong with an all-day XC ride (that's my bag anyway!!!).
I forgot to add that I don't do the DH thing (although I will ride the course for a laugh!).
Also I've stopped reading the bike mags as they all seem to be full of the same tat...christ, just turned 25 and I sound like my gandfather!!! Victor Meldrew here I come...grrrr...
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Victor Mildew surely at this time of year in Scotland
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I do XC and DH, so I'm up for whatever type of ride comes along. The whole chairlift to the top thing is too good to miss out on though. I think it's about £15 for a day pass. I'm too lazy to do XC all the time, so it'll have to be at least 1 day on the downhill course. The DH is just about rideable on a cross country bike, but the top half might be a bit sketchy. How do you feel about hundreds of braking bumps?
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David, my sentiments entirely. If the lifts don't open 'til May, this may be one to organize later.
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Not entirely sure about the lift's opening date. It's either march, april or may. I think it'd be best to sort a date out fairly soon though, cos a big trip'll be impossible to organise at short notice. There's a few people from round here that I know want to go up, so I'll see when they're free.
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The course is open from may to September. There is an artical about it the the December 2000 MBUK p118.
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may is a good time to go to Fort William anyway, weather wise and midge wise.
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 don't be too sure on those midges Tony
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maybe i've been lucky Lloyd, but i've (nearly) always had good luck at the beginning of May with the midges.
remind me never to bivvy (self catering) again on Skye in july/august!
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