Nevis Red Route...

[AMacA]

Anyone done it? What did you think?

My wife's going to London next weekend, so that gives me a bit of free time. Having done most of the Seven Stanes red routes I fancied going north, doing Wolftrax again and another one.

So, whats it like? From the stuff I've read online it seems like its quite extreme for a red route - would anyone agree, are there any particularly gnarly bits to watch out for?

The prospect of an uplift is quite tempting, what are the queues like for this?

[subsea99]

did this around 2 weeks ago although only got the 1 run in due to weather but defo gonna head up at some point watch for the wind up top on boardwalk just about had a few off's i would say its more like a black but great fun and well worth it,the gondola wasnt that busy when we were there and no waiting although my mate just about lost his bike on it make sure your seat post is tight as its only a u bolt that seat drops into,gust off wind caught his and just about came off bent all his rear stay and had to get rear mech and chain for it.

did laggan on the fri post fort bill weekend cracking and the slab is the dogs

you wont be dissapointed

cheers

[AMacA]

Thanks for the tips - especially the seat post one, don't fancy seeing my bike crashing off a gondola!

[CC07 PEU]

I did this for the first time back at the start of June and yes it's quite extreme for a red route but I suppose it depends on what you're used to riding. I'm a very experienced mtb'er (not downhill though) and at first I was taken aback at how extreme it was. Once you have done your first run though you will find it fine and will really enjoy it. I managed about four runs in the time we had available and that's when it wasn't too busy.

[waughie]

the world cup xc route is brilliant too. the climb makes the descent even better!

[Johnny Chimpo]

At nevis, do you need to pay every time you go up in the gondola or does the one ticket last you all day?

Really fancy doing the Nevis Red hopefully sooner rather than later!

[Junior Bianno]

You can do single trips or get a day pass - from memory if you do 3 or more trips up a day pass is cheaper.

Personally I didn't rate the red route. Lots and lots of fairly dull boardwalk, and not a great deal else. There are some fun steep twisty bits but not much that make me want to go back for more. Also the bottom is pointless - don't follow the red at the bottom - just pop onto the black. It's also pretty technical in places. Would be a Black pretty much anywhere else. The World Cup Downhill is a different league - much better, but you need some decent travel and big set of kahunas.

I love Laggan though...never get bored of that.

[a11y_m]

I was up on Saturday. Weather was shocking - very wet, heavy rain showers at times, gusty winds up top - but it was still great fun. Only wobbly moment was getting blown off the track attempting a jump near the top of the red course. Only my second time riding the red DH route and I find it very rough for a red route: more like black grade descents at trail centres IMO. But it's still nothing compared to the world cup course...

We'd ridden 3 descents of the red DH, suffered 1 bike failure (my mate's rear mech committed suicide into the spokes...), had lunch then rode the world cup course in heavy rain. Interesting is how I'd describe it. I pushed down two small sections: one I honestly can't see any alternative to hucking the whole thing, and the other I just had a lack-of-confidence moment after having a big slide before it. Had a final 5th descent on the red then called it a day.

Absolutely loved it and now want a proper DH bike . I managed pretty well on my Spicy (160mm at the rear) and one of my mates only has a Spesh FSR with 120mm travel and managed OK. Not ideal to do it on less than a DH bike but also certainly not essential: a local bloke came 4th in the endurance race last weekend on a hardtail no less...

[gingerpaul]

It's nice up there. I didn't ride it but it looked like fun.



If anyone wants the sign blown up just ask and I'll sort it out in a bit.

[Digga]

gingerpaul said:

If anyone wants the sign blown up just ask and I'll sort it out in a bit.

Thanks, but we've all seen them signs before.

It'll say something along the lines of "Mountain biking is dangerous, mkay, it's not our fault. Your home is at risk if you leave the gas on, etc. etc."

Very nice pic though.

[a11y_m]

One of the things about the trails (the red and the world cup) is that the view is absolutely stunning. That's a problem because you don't have a moment to take in the view when you're riding

(not yesterday BTW, this was last year)




And a bigger version of the sign

[R.P.M]

Definitive the most technical 'Red' I have ridden in the UK. We went last sept and had a riot. I would recommend padding up.
A few rubbish shots.
going up


Awesome view from the top


Not bad from the caravan either!

[R.P.M]

For me this video captures the fun and challenges of the red route best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38yKRyTkRvM

[AMacA]

Nevis Red successfully done! What a route, the boardwalk was really good, some reviews slate it but I thought it flowed well with a few tricky bits thrown in. Following that the section down to the forest was full of technical downhills, had to lean right off the back of the bike and hammer on the brakes for a few of the drops. Over the cattle grid and into the forest was very like the top of Glentress coming through Spooky Wood with lots of swooping single track with dips and berms.

All with the added benefit of a Gondola to take you to the top, what more can you ask for!