Fort William Downhill is scary! | Top Chief and World Cup DH with
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Welcome to the Fort William Mountain Bike Trails. Fort William is an insane place. On day 2 of our 2020 Scottish MTB trip we headed to the Nevis Range to ride the trails accessed by the gondola at Fort William... None other than Top Chief and the Fort William World Cup DH course! To ride on a track where the likes of Danny Hart and Greg Minaar have raced is awesome. The Fort William DH course was a real test. Top Chief was so technical.
This was also my third collaboration video with Andrew from McTrail rider. As always a great time was had. It is always fun to try and keep McTrail Rider in sight as he is a really quick lad for sure!
I hope you enjoy this Fort William Mountain Biking video. We rode some different trails the day before so please check out that video also.
If you would like to repeat this route you can download a .gpx file at:
/ strava
This mountain biking MTB / enduro POV video was shot in July 2020. The video was shot on a GoPro Hero 7 mounted on the chin of a Fox Proframe helmet using an R3Pro mount.
All video editing is completed using Filmora Wondershare 9.5.
The bike being ridden is a Bird Aeris AM9, 150mm 29er enduro bike www.bird.bike/... I am a brand ambassador for Bird.
I run MSC Gripper tyres front and rear. These are available from terraventure.c... I am a brand ambassador for MSC.
I am also a brand ambassador for Crow MTB. They make brilliant, eco-conscious MTB apparel. Go check them out at www.crowmounta...
#mtb #fortwilliamdh #topchief
Great to see it from your POV. It comes across just as gnarly on camera as real life! Nice riding - it’s so hard blind when you don’t know what’s behind each rock! Cheers for the mention too, really appreciate it :)
No problem at all. You were flying Laura. I was so pleased you nailed that river gap!
Street Pigeon MTB aw thanks. It’s made my year that gap!
Total respect. The camera just can't show how intimidating that thing is!
Great video and you were up there with fantastic riders!
Those trails are beyond my skill and courage levels, so well done for having the balls for riding them!
Thanks Jimbob. It's a full on place. Definitely the scariest place I've ridden. Think I'll take a DH bike next time and wrap myself in armour! Thanks for taking the time to comment 😁👍
Outstanding, you smashed it... awesome. Thanks for sharing dude
Thanks for watching dude. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it mate : )
Great vid Jamie, glad you liked what we have in the Highlands. There are plenty other amazing trails near by so you have only scratched the surface!!
I bet! Always a good excuse for another visit though 🤣🤙
Fantastic! I think my bike and myself would both end up in bits! 😂
Ha ha. I think a lot do!
Jamie, heading up 2 weekends time. Thank for showing us around👊
No problem 👍 I hope you enjoyed it. Have fun and stay safe!
Excellent work mate!!! Love it your skills are unreal man!!
Thank you 🙌
Good on you mate for doing it, obvious you was way out of you comfort zone but you stayed with it 👍
Thanks mate. Good to push yourself sometimes 👍
I was looking forward to this one, didn't disappoint!
Thanks mate : )
Well ridden Mate. Fair play that is techy. 👍
Thank you. Yeah, it has to be seen to be believed. I won't lie that the whole thing was a shock. I was all up for not riding again after my warmup on Top Chief - that trail was originally graded a red!!!
Great riding and a valuable heads up video for everyday riders, out for a casual thrash. Rode Top Chief and the WC yesterday and agree Top Chief is way more technical and likely to put you OTB, rode past a few pushing the bike down. The WC run is epic until you hit the motorway, then I had to exit stage left!
Brilliant Nick. Thanks for passing on the feedback. It sounds like we had very similar opinions about the courses. I'm keen to head back, albeit with body armour! 🤣
One of best places in Scotland. The new refurbed World Cup track is so much smoother and jumps are bigger!
Brilliant. I must get back there... Although I'll probably be avoiding tue jumps if they are massive! 🙈
Awesome mate, need to get myself up there for sure! 🤙
It is pretty epic! Thanks mate 👍
Nicely balanced vid, enjoyed it. 👍
Awesome. Glad you enjoued it. Always difficult to edit the really long trails into something interesting 👍
You definitely underestimate yourself a lot! Solid riding man! 💪 loving the last load of vids! 🤙
Thanks man. Yeah, I do struggle with confidence for sure. Im really pleased I did it 👍
Cracking vid. Was thinking of doing these trails later this year. Nope, no chance I'm ready for that 😂
Ha ha. Yup, they are something to behold!
Awesome riding mate. Its good to see a normal rider going down. You did really well. Gonna have to try it out sometime in the future.
Thanks mate. Yeah, I was a bit nervous of putting the video out there in case it looked too slow on the DH. However I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way. A super - intimidating place!
Street Pigeon MTB you did the right thing man. The most off us are average riders who like to push themselves when possible, so it’s always good to see others do the same. If that was me l would’ve been slower than you. Once you start out racing your ego, thats when bad things can happen. Keep up the good work. 🤙🏴
Fort William is on our bucket list :)
Defo. A revisit is on mine!
Absolutely insane boyz n gals .cheers m8 it's a try b4 u die trail n trails thank you 👊🤪
No problem at all! Thanks for the positivity. Defo try before you die... although we might die trying 🤣🙈
Great edit mate. I'm of the same opinion; Top Chief is actually more technical than the world cup track. Scary how fast Lewis Buchanan was hitting that track recently. I had to do the river walk of shame last year too... that river gap is bigger than it looks on camera!
It certainly is! That Lewis video was insane 🙈
Love it Jamie!!
Thanks Julia. One scary place that doesn't take prisoners... as you know too well! Speak soon 😁
Was up there last Friday, awesome place, Top Chief was so physically hard. WC track was even more brutal, but great fun.
Yeah. They sure are a test!
Nice one! Quite tiring just watching that...
Thanks mate 👍
I think I was there just a few days before you guys and literally made a crash course video on Top Chief 😂.
Like you I'd watched loads of videos and it still didn't put across how chunky it was. Glad I went down a 2nd time. If I'd left it after my bump I don't think I'd ever have wanted to go back.
Interesting that you say the top part of the DH track is easier as I would never have thought that looking down from the gondola.😳
Great video and yes, "one more time" is certainly famous last words. Good decision to stop.
Thanks mate. Yeah, the DH is probably less techy at the speed I ride. However it is worth noting that the fast folks go about twice as fast as me. It is a gruelling course for sure. Sorry you took a tumble but glad to hear you are all good 👍
Dude you done amazingly good man I go up every year and don’t think I’ve ever ridden it as well as u.🤟🏻kudos
Thank you. That's very kind of you. I'd like to go back and build up. It would be great to follow people that know it well. You could see what a difference having Andrew in front made 👍
Good rider to follow dude the video make me want to head back up keep them collabs coming 🤟🏻👌
Thanks mate. I will do 👍
Great footage as usual! I’m not sure if it makes me want to go and do it more or has given me the fear a little bit. Keep them coming 🤙
Thanks mate. Worth a trip for sure. Definitely a scary one though 👍
Street Pigeon MTB did you manage Ben Ledi the next day?
No mate. Actually did Beinn Ghlas but I wasn't that happy with the edit so probably not going to release that one 🤣
Street Pigeon MTB fair enough. Both hills are great although I’ve only ever done Beinn Ghlas in crazy winds which made me a bit tentative to say the least. I think Ben Ledi is one of my favourite hills to ride and even has 2 really good descending options to choose from 😀.
Those tracks certainly let you know how well your suspension set up is. I agree with feeling top chief is more nerve wracking than the DH track.
They do test the bike for sure. The new linkage is working so well. Finally the bike is running on point!
Going to Fort William this October but only have an 100 mm hardtail so I will probably stick to the trails at the bottom lol . Great vid btw keep it up
Have fun! And yes, probably avoid the DH track on the 100mm hardtail!
Heading up there in 2 weeks man... absolutely caking it now hahaha!!
Whoop! It's quite a place buddy. Let me know what you think 😁
@@streetpigeonmtb will do dude! Will have the GoPro to catch the carnage 🤣
Nice man. I think I'll tune in for that one 🤙
got to you through one of Andy's videos then he's in the one im watching Great video no im subscribed ill be watching more
That's great pal. I really hope you enjoy the vids. I've followed Andrew for ages and been a few rides with him now. He's a good lad. Cheers for the sub and the comment mate 👍
When top chief was first opened (under a different name) it was graded a red XC route!! I remember riding it and meeting riders on hardtails at the first boardwalk section at the top of the trail - they were all terrified and were all walking. Don't know how they got on after that as it just gets more technical after that. Interesting to hear that you thought the world champ DH course wasn't as technical. I've always thought it was harder and not bothered trying it.
I remember that it was a red!!! Insane. If you can ride Top Chief you would be fine on the DH. Go for it!
@Street Pigeon MTB It was red graded when I rode it last, no way has that ever been red grade, glad they up'ed it. Having said that, I had no problem riding Top Chief but the World Cup Down hill scared the beejesus out of me! 🤣
Nice one mate! Did well to commentate down those, I had to concentrate way too much to get words out when I rode there 😂 Probably a good choice to call it when you did, but if you do get a chance to ride them again I found the DH got easier the more speed you could pick up over the rough stuff. Top Chief on the other hand seemed to be awkward no matter what 😂
Thanks dude. I've watched your videos from there a few times now and they are really impressive. Nothing can quite prepare you for how savage they are. We need to head up there so that you can tow me over that river gap!
@@streetpigeonmtb Yeah that would be good, you're more than capable of doing it so a tow in might just give you that extra confidence boost needed to hit it first time 🤙
Thanks mate 👍
From what I remember doing a trail maintenance day up there a couple of years going, they have a lot a red tape to go through to build new trails. They had good ideas to make the dh trail better in the wood section if I remember, but getting permission to do so is really hard.
Really good video, nice to get a better idea of the trails based on normal riders perspective instead of a local who knows its like the back of their hand or a part time racer. The commentry about how rough it is helps more than the video to be honest as the gopro flattens things so much. Keep it up 👍
Thank you 😊
That trail is a goal, although I need much more practice for sure! :D
I kind of want to go back and session it. In real life it scared me though!
Hardest Trail Ive ever ridden, bar none (top chief) - we were of the same opinion, Downhill is easier although "bigger" ... 110% commitment needed ... but what a pair of trails! :)))
Defo!
@@streetpigeonmtb but SO SATISFYING when you get to the bottom in one piece, wooping and a hollerin :))
An excellent video pal how the bikes going I've just ordered a V3 👌
The bike is excellent mate. Best enduro bike I've owned full stop. These have to be some of the best value enduro bikes on the market. When is yours arriving? What colour did you go for?
@@streetpigeonmtb I'm going for raw gloss raw with the red lyrics 160mm the frame is due in November so it'll be a early Christmas present for me 👍
Nice mate. I've always loved the raw/red combo 🤙
Crazy Jamie looks bonkers ive rode with Laura .. shes very committed lol
She is that! I wish I had her courage for sure 🤙
Top video mate, I'll hit that world cup trail sometime just need to buy a full face first.. Good work tho.. 👌
You should! And yes, you should get a full face. Such a scary place!
Watching the whole video thinking what’s it going to take to make this fella swear? 🤣😂
🤣🤣🤣 I love it. Im so pleased you noticed. There were times when trying not to swear was more challenging than controlling the bike!
Street Pigeon MTB few close calls buddy haha😂
Yup! At least you got to see some of my close calls in real life yesterday 🤣
Street Pigeon MTB haha, it was wild, but really well held dude😁🤙🏻
Thanks man. I don't normally hold them so I'm taking it! Catch you on the trails soon mate 👍
I told you it was easier Jamie!! 😀🔥 you'll need to follow me down next time 🤙
You mean TRY to follow you! You coming to GT Sunday?
@@streetpigeonmtbstop being so modest!😀 sadly not 😓 the bike has had to undergo surgery on the drivechain...😭
No worries! Let me know when you are back on the trails again and we'll get something organised soon!
Epic video and the picture quality is excellent! What camera do you use and do you have any filters on the lens? I’ve recently started a channel myself but getting good picture quality on UA-cam seems to be a dark art.
Hi mate. Yeah, getting good footage takes time! I have a Hero 7 on a chin mount. Windcover to ensure the audio is good. Standard lens, shot in 4K30. I turn GoPro Colour on. During editing I perform a basic colour auto correct. I then apply some basic colour grading 👍 Hope that helps. Just ask if you have any questions.
@@streetpigeonmtb Thanks I appreciate that. Your setup is pretty much the same as mine except I shoot in protune and colour grade myself but it looks like Gopro colour gives you a nice balanced result even in the highlights.
My sons current goal is to ride Fort William. Well beyond my ability as a Mtn Biking dad, but he will be ready soon.
Amazing! I'd like to get back and ride some sections of it for sure.
Just did a weekend up there. Took 4 teenagers (Young Fraser on the old pigeon whyte included) from our tweed valley comfort zone to ride Nevis & the Coe. I agree that top chief is technically more challenging than the DH. HOWEVER........the black DH at Glencoe makes both the Nevis runs look like spooky wood in comparison. It is off the scale mental!!!
Awesome mate. Yeah, I dont think I'd manage the Glencoe Black. We considered it and talked ourselves out of it!
Street Pigeon MTB It’s much shorter but also much steeper, bigger drops, tight corners, bigger rocks & sketchier jumps. I fought my way down it once with much stopping & pondering line choice (there’s only one option at each section/feature really. Anything else is a probable OTB.) oh & when your just about coping meeting 3 red deer stags on the track doesn’t help. I left the young guns to it & stuck to the red after that.
Respect for riding it mate. I love the bravery of the young guns! I hope Fras is still enjoying the old Pigeon machine. I had a lot of good times on that thing. My first proper enduro machine 🤙
Street Pigeon MTB aye they’re fearless. I could hardly watch when my boy did the river gap. Fras is still riding it hard but I think a 29er might be replacing it some time soon. My boys on a privateer 161 29er & another of the lads just got a meta 29er. I think the rocky tracks this weekend showed him how the bigger wheels roll over the chunk better.
It looks smoother when Lewis Buchanan is bombing down it haha
Yeah. TBF I think he barely touches the trail! He's so fast isn't he?!
Street Pigeon MTB yeah super fast! 💨
Aye mate we have a blue run that will be going from the gongola hopefully from. 2021 🤞🤞
That will be insanely fun I am sure. It should also bring in some serious numbers!
@@streetpigeonmtb hopefully it will. But from what it looks like it's gonna be the A line of Scotland 😁
Now we are talking 👍
Looking to head up there next summer i was wondering if I'd be better of renting a dh bike or just using my own bike which is a whyte g170s
I dunno mate. I guess it depends how fast you want to go. The bike I was on is 150mm at the rear and it felt good 👍
@@streetpigeonmtb I usually ride pretty fast ive already replaced rear shock to coil and stronger wheels only had bike 12months might be safe or cheaper with a rental. Fort William looks rough
It is bloody rough!
👍
What was Laura s UA-cam channel? Can’t see it in the description.
Ah no! Did a card not show up on the screen? Search Laura Jane MTB
Ah no! Did a card not show up on the screen? Search Laura Jane MTB
Whats your fastest time on WC track ?
Nae idea because I haven't done a full run! It would be slow though 🤣
What’s the typical gradient on this
I couldn't say. It's not steep though. I'm sure you could locate it on Trailforks or Strava for the average gradient.
I'd say the challenge on these courses are the speed and the amount of rock which adds some proper technical challenges. It is not renowned for it's steepness though.
Looks better at 1.5x ; )
Cheeky! I've heard that if you watch it at 5x I'm a deaf ringer for Danny Hart!