[Closed] Tour De Ben Nevis anyone?

Done it once, it was fine but the special stages were a bit odd. The inaugural one, with the mahoosive river crossing! Spare pair of socks change on far bank FTW.

[img] ?oh=75357ccdcc4199f4ac87e43280d13c67&oe=54D08E55[/img]

I just enjoyed the big day out in the hills TBH.

Waterproof socks for after the river crossing. Wet shoes, dry feet 🙂 But don't put them on right after the river crossing because there's a small burn to cross 100 yards further on doh!

Hmm. I look at that picture and just think, that looks absolutely rubbish 😆 But I think I might like the rest of it.

A few of us heading over. It's a great day out in the countryside :).

If you do it main bit of advice is don't get too demoralised in the hike-a-bike section. It seems to go on for ever and has about 10 false summits - but once you're over it, the average speeds go up substantially.

The first year I remember trying to work out if I'd be home before dark on my way up the hill at 1m/h. 30 minutes later, I was doing 30m/h down the land rover tracks on the other side :).

That looks like the crossing right by Luibelt ruin, it's a lot easier about 200 metres upstream unless of course you are required to cross at that point. Depending on river level you can just about get across dryfoot. That river can get pretty high as it drains a large area.

They moved the crossing further upstream after the first year. Not to the extent that you can get across dry - but it's ankle/calf-deep rather than thigh-deep.

(The crossing point is taped/marked though I'm not sure anyone would create a fuss if you went further upstream).

Done it twice, 2011& 2013, was tempted again this year but have got a road race on same day. Took me a week to recover from both but I was doing my best to motor on, it's a pretty brutal day out and the special stages are a good mix and make it a lot more interesting! Not sure I'd bother changing socks even if I was plodding. Reckon something like an Anthem would be the perfect bike.

I'll be there giving it my first go. If I can get somewhere about the middle of the pack I'll be happy. Actually I'll be happy just to finish it.

Black and white Cube AMS 130 sl, black and white Fox Flux helmet if anyone wants to say hello....... 🙂

It's a very bumpy ride. Land Rover tracks are tough going, even on the flat.
My Genesis 26" hardtail wasn't the right bike - you'll want rear suspension.

The fatigue from the bumpiness killed the ride for me - I was ****ed

I'm stuffing the porridge down at the moment ready to roll out the door at 9am. Only entered yesterday as I happen to already be in Fort William this weekend with the bike, and thought it rude not to.

I may regret this tomorrow.

That hurt. Personally I think it was actually just that little bit too hard to be enjoyable. Plus £50 and you don't even get a t-shirt?

In the end, I could not be bothered. Maybe next year!

Did you feel like sitting down and having a little cry after the 732nd false flat on the hike a bike 😛 I bloody did the first time I did it! Good feeling finishing though eh, I love the brutality of it but it does take a few days before you convince yourself you've enjoyed it...

Even more annoying apparently I'm a DNF because the thingy didn't register my start of Stage 2. And I wasn't the only one according to the chappy...

I'm missing the dib at the start of stage 2 as well. In hindsight I really enjoyed the brutality again, despite leaving some skin on the Kinlochleven descent and creasing my rear rim, so I'm still pretty happy.

Third time doing the event on a hardtail, but very seriously considering full sus for next year...

Yep, i did it and i doubt i will do it again, nothing against the event particularly but i am not a big fan of riding 60km on fire roads. Really loved the descent to Kinlochleven but not much else. 😉

Oh can anyone point me in the direction of the results?

Results just aren't posted yet mactheknife. They'll appear on sportident here when they do come up and no fuss will link to them from the tour de ben nevis page swell once they're loaded.
http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2014/TourDeBenNevis/

I enjoyed it again this year - the driest these roads/trails etc have ever been - strange not having massive lochans to pedal through on the fire roads like usual.

What's not to like (for me). A day in the mountains, chatting to a whole variety of folk going through the same experience, a couple of blasts down descents (though it is awry difficult to pass on Stage 1 if the rider in front has their own head down (understandably)). Blue Crane at the end was great fun.

And then a night in the local establishments ...

All good 🙂

I loved it, only my second race (Glenlivet earlier this year being my first) and I thought it was well organised, well run and a great trail. The scenery was stunning and the weather played along (I actually found it a bit warm in places).
I found people bunched up quite badly on the descent into Kinlochleven, I found myself running up quickly on a few stationary riders who hadn't moved to the side. The climbs were daunting but not overly taxing. The hike-a-bike section was a bit demoralising after the 3 or 4 false summits but the descent off the back of the hill was great.
The Blue Crane was fun but I think I'd prefer to do it fresh (rather than at the end of 40+ miles) as I found myself not concentrating as much as I probably should have.
Beer and food later on was much appreciated......... 🙂
I suspect this might become a regular feature for me.

What's not to like?
[img] ?oh=4e7b4b9a223875c66d9cee105bd497b9&oe=54D06BFC[/img]

What's not to like?

My feelings exactly. Great pic arachnidlover.

arachnidlover - Member

What's not to like?

Is that not the climb up past mamore lodge? I've found a fair amount to not like...

scoobmw - Member
My feelings exactly. Great pic arachnidlover.

Northwind - Member
Is that not the climb up past mamore lodge? I've found a fair amount to not like...

It is indeed the jeep trail climb up from Mamore lodge (hotel), it's a bit of a slog but I quite enjoyed it and the views from the top were all the reward I needed.

The bit up to the deer gate is probably the most unpleasant part of the whole round, it's only a short section though.

I missed it this year but did it last and want to do it again. Not the most technical but neither is the IoM end to end or Mary Townley loop and out of those 3 similar events this is probably the best/most fun.

Results are up but not really. Anyone see anything other than a list of entrants?

I'd quite like to see the photos, the photogs where placed very well at the end I thought.

Why didn't i enjoy it? yes the event takes place in fantastic scenery and i loved that side but bimbling around 60 odd Km of landrover track is not my idea of mountain biking, no matter how amazing the scenery. A couple of great descents were included but in all fairness its just not my type of riding.

Full results and results excluding Stage 2 are up.

[url= http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2014/TourDeBenNevis/ ]http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2014/TourDeBenNevis/[/url]