| May 31st - June 2nd - UCI DH world cup, Fort William |
| This weekend saw the Northbay crew take the long haul upto Bonny Fort Billy, in the Scottish Highlands for the Tissot UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. In attendance we're Neilly B, Danny C, Mike'Kingy'King, Robbie'gonna take you to a gay bar' S, And the latest member of the Northbay Crew, Nick. Things started stupidily early, like 5:30 in the morning stupidily to be precise, with Neilly B rolling over to Heaton to pick up DC, with mike in close convoy. After some confusion and Neilly B forgetting how to count (i'm blaming the early start!) DC was finally found, and it was off to Fort Bill! Woo Hoo! It's somewhat of a tradition on these trips to have, shall we say, a somewhat unorthodox juke box! In this case 'the greatest air guitar album in the world...ever!'. With classic hits as 'Smoke on the water', 'Walk this way' and ' down down' by Status Quo, the trip just flew by! .......not! Five and a half hours later we finally reached Fort Bill, and after locating our campsite, the 'Lochy holiday park', it was time to pitch the tents, and break open the cool box, for some much deserved alcoholic refreshment (thus setting the tone for the rest of the weekend!) With tent and awning pitched, and Rob finally turning up, it was time to head upto the Nevis Ranges to watch some World class Mountain bike action!!!!! |
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| The Northbay crew |
| Arrival One of the best bits about watching MTBs is seing the pit area, with all the lovely shiny bikes, all the faces from the magazines, and also all the lovely girlies! Fort Bill didn't dissapoint! With banners, flags, wavy bits, and some rather cool two wheel exotica! With bearings firmly found it was off to explore the trade village, and ogle some of the dream bikes on show! |
| Unfortunatley we soon remebered how little cash we had, so decided to sack it off before we grew too deprerssed. ITV North weather guru, Mr Bob'skitey bits' Johnson', had promised us a solar eclipse, at 16:40pm. So with no further faff it was up to the top of Anarch Mor, in the very handy gondola to view the solar spectacular. |
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| The view from the Gondola |
| On arrival at the summit, the sun was blazing, with meerly a wisp of wind clinching through the still highland air.....however, by the time we reached or vantage point on the top of the mountain, the sun was nowhere to be seen, the wing was howling round the trussocks, and i was hungry!! The solar vidual lasted untill about five o'clock, when the common concensus was 'bollocks to this'! So it was back down in the gondola |
| Leaving a small methane induced whole in the ozone layer, where we had been perched. Bob Johnson hang your head...no eclipse! |
| The 4X |
| For those of you that aren't firmilular with the concept of 4X, i will describe. Basically, think BMX racing but on bigger bikes, with less riders, on a bigger course, which goes downhill rather than on the flat! And thats it! Mountain bike mags will have you believe that it is the furtur of mountain biking! Well if thats the case, the sports in Trouble! 4X is great watched from the comfort of your homely sofa, but as a spectator it sucks big time! You can see nothing but the back of other peoples heads, untill the racing gets to you, then you can see blurred race jerseys for about 2 seconds, and thats it! No we do not like 4X! Taking nothing away from the skill of the riders or work put in by the event staff, cos i'm sure it was great, but i couldn't see it! |
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| Kingy - " I'm gonna get that Bob Johnson"! |
| Back to the campsite After the 4X, the only thing anyone could think about was food. Well except DC, who was quite content trumping like a trooper at worringly frequent intevals! On the menu was a fantastic array of cuisin, from ravioli for Mr Chapman, Canned, yes that right in a can!burgers for Rob and Nick, and spicy Fajitas for Me and Mike (well i am a chef afterall!!) With food out the way it was time to plan the evening. This proved a challenge, with us all feeling slightly light headed due to midge induced loss of blood! Scottish Midges! gotta love'em! In a bid to get away from the mini draculas it was decided into town for a few bevvies was the only alternative! So after a quick de-pong, it was off to sample the delights of Fort Bill! Well all except Mike and DC, who were being big girls, and playing the " I'm too tired" card! Big girls! |
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| Rob pissed and snow capped Nevis |
| As it turned out, Fort William was actually a little further than we had reckoned, during the drive in. Infact it was about a mile further! Doh! So after about 45 minutes of brisk amble, drawn only by the promised cold beer, we arrived in the Fort. Fort Willam is, if truth be known, a bit of a hole, complete with the most foul church in the whole of Scotland. Needless to say then, that the pubs also leave alot to be desired! This was demonstrated by the fact it tooks us 30mins to find a pub we could actually get in, then another 20mins to get served! So after one bottle it was back to Lochy. |
| Words and pics N.B and D.C |