Getting to Fort William from the Southern Mudlands in one go is of course a bit of a mare of a drive but we finally arrived at our B&B, changed into our bike kit and cycled up the glen to search for some food. We sat outside on the decking overlooking Loch Lochy where I went for the most glorious sunset meal of haddock and chips and a pint of Guinness with Mr M choosing the much healthier option of steak and ale pie and chips and two pints of Guinness……
Friday dawned with yet another cloudless blue sky and we headed out to Nevis Range to check out the event venue. It was strangely quiet as most folks were to be arriving later in the evening so as they had apparently more or less just finished marking out the final touches, we decided that we would amble round the course on foot. The first half of the ten-mile course contained most of the climbing (lots of it and mostly straight into the sun) and also included some lovely single-track like in this shot.
The second half was a real reward for all that climbing and contained most of the technical stuff comprising lots of rocks, roots and boardwalk sections. This meant you were potentially pretty pooped when you came to the bits that demanded the most concentration and leg power but it looked as if it was going to be a fantastic blast to ride and apart from one rock drop that I wasn’t too sure about I was really looking forward to getting stuck in.
Registration that evening was up at the Snow Goose restaurant with a complementary Gondola ride there and back which was amazing as with the weather being so good, the views of the downhill course and the surrounding mountains were spectacular. Whilst I was doing the paperwork Mr M set about sampling Benromach’s uniquely organic single malt, which he promptly declared, was superb and is now top of his birthday list!!
Race day finally dawned and again it looked like it was going to be a hot one. The venue was now packed full with very friendly folks; bikes and ancillary paraphernalia with the general atmosphere so laid back that it just felt like you’d turned up to a massive outdoor party.
The race briefing was an excellent example of everything being perfectly organised but still feeling spontaneous and before we knew it Mr M was kitted up and jostling in the start bunch for the extended first lap. For long events not having too much of a plan is usually quite a good thing as you then get very used to just making it up as you go along as stuff inevitably happens that you don’t expect so we just took it in turns with the rough notion that it would be great if we could get in ten laps of ten miles over ten hours.
It was unbelievable just how quickly the time actually went by and before I knew it I was waiting for Mr M to come in from his fifth lap for me to do my fifth and our final scoring lap. It was at this point there was a rather large rain shower but it had been so roasting hot all day that I think that most people, me included, were rather glad of the soaking! I was rather sad going round on my last lap as it was so much fun and I wanted to carry on some more but then I started to realise that the rain and the balmy evening had brought out Captain Midge and his thirty billion friends who all wanted me for dinner so in the end I was happy to collect our Benromach miniatures and zoom back to the van to cover up all areas of bare skin!!
Here’s the usual “just finished” shot of a soggy me with my awesome Soda (who was actually much better at knowing what lines to take over the rocky stuff than I was) before I dove into the relative safety of the van.
The post event shindig was a pretty cool affair too with live band and much general jollification even in the face of the all out midge offensive!! There was a huge prize mountain to give out and, rather excellently in my opinion, it was distributed to loads of random riders via a spot draw based on your race number with category podiums having some lovely little memento trophies.
The drive back home was an absolute mare too but I’ve managed to blot out the travelling aspect and I just keep daydreaming about what was for me the best MTB road trip for some while. The event organisation was great; the actual course was great and all the folks we met – especially our neighbours in the car park - were great. I now realise that I don’t actually even know their names but if you happen to be out there then I am sure you know who you are.
Next big bridge to cross for me is 24hrs all on my lonesome at Mountain Mayhem, which will most probably be a very different kettle of fish indeed. I’m really looking forward to catching up with folks that I know will be there and it has the added bonus of being less than an hour from home! Jo will be there with the girlsruntoo goodies and she has promised to make sugar bombs so that should keep both Mr M and myself buzzing the whole night through. Stay tuned for more random stuff about 24hr solo shenanigans in my next update……………
