The Nevis Range Mountain Experience, host venue for the multi award winning UK round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, has today (Sunday 26 July 2020), announced that their successful partnership with Trek Bikes will be extended for another year. The Fort William based mountain resort reopened on Wednesday 15 July 2020 after the Covid-19 outbreak forced them to close over the past months.

 

In the past 12 months Nevis Range and Trek have worked together on a number of initiatives to encourage and develop mountain biking, at all levels, at Nevis Range continuing the journey towards being one of the world’s leading Trek mountain bike destinations.  Both partners are keen to develop these projects further, with new initiatives and events scheduled to be announced in the coming months.

 

Chris O’Brien, Nevis Range’s CEO, said: “Despite all of the challenges and tough decisions we are having to make as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is still a mood of cautious optimism amongst the team. Whilst many of our projects have been cancelled due to funding pressures and a catastrophic loss of revenue, we are continuing with our Blue Bike Track new blue graded, uplift accessible, trail and hope to have that open in May 2021.”

 

“As lockdown restrictions have eased, the company’s Trail Building team have been able to get back to work on this exciting new project which will be a massively attractive new addition to the resort’s extensive network of mountain bike trails. The cross-country trail will allow less confident riders to head higher up Aonach Mor and enjoy views as far as the Isle of Skye.”

 

“Last weekend saw over 50 volunteers turn out to help Nevis Range get ready to launch the new bike season, and with the upturn in demand for bikes that has been seen during lockdown, I’m hoping we can see some of those new rides on our downhill tracks over this next few weeks. Bike season ticket sales and uplift day tickets are selling well, so here’s hoping for a fantastic, if shorter, summer season!”

 

“Whilst we don’t yet know what racing may look like over the coming months, we do know that despite everything there will be more people riding our trails than ever before, and I really want to thank Trek for their continued support!”

 

The potent, self-confident collaboration with Trek continues to cement both Scotland’s status as a centre of excellence in mountain biking and Nevis Range’s reputation as a world leading mountain bike downhill and cross-country trail centre and international event venue.

 

In the last year Trek have supplied Nevis Range with a fleet of mountain bikes, including a number of e-bikes.  The-bikes, in particular, have been vital to the track maintenance team allowing them to quickly reach locations on tracks and trails that are inaccessible to larger vehicles, helping to improve trail maintenance and development on all 60km of tracks and trails at the venue.

 

Trek will continue to support Mikayla Parton, Nevis Range’s sponsored downhill and enduro rider on the UK and international race scene.  The investment will also be used in the design and development of new exciting downhill features and future trail design.  The trail centre’s Blue Bike Track, new Blue cross country downhill route, is due to open in May 2021.

Trek Bicycle, a global leader in the design and manufacture of bicycles and related products, began in 1976 with a mission to build the best bikes in the world. Over 40 years later, the brand’s commitment to relentless innovation, while honouring this founding principle, means that every Trek bike is built to enhance the quality of the ride, and is backed by a history of performance, durability, innovation and precision engineering.

 

 Jez Loftus, Trek’s UK Media and PR Specialist, said: “We’ve seen strong growth in demand since March and it continues. It’s put pressure on availability but we’re working hard to ensure we have enough bikes arriving in the months ahead.

 

“Its’s great to see so many people turning to cycling for exercise, health and transport. We believe it a simple solution for some of the world’s complex problems.

 

“Nevis Range are the perfect partner for Trek and there’s plenty more coming for 2020 and beyond”

 

Ends

 

Media Contact:

Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: [email protected]| M: 07913 951717

 

Notes to Editors:

 

Nevis Range Website – http://www.nevisrange.co.uk/

Nevis Range on Twitter – https://twitter.com/TheNevisRange

Nevis Range on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/nevisrange/

Nevis Range on Facebook –  https://www.facebook.com/NevisRange/

 

The Nevis Range Mountain Experience lies 7 miles north of Fort William, and south of Spean Bridge.  It was opened in 1989 to develop a skiing/tourism facility on the mountain of Aonach Mor in the shadow of Ben Nevis. The development was undertaken due to a demand for skiing in Scotland that was inadequately served by existing facilities.

 

Nevis Range Mountain Experience is a year-round mountain resort comprising:

• All year-round mountain gondola visitor attraction
• Winter snowsports area with equipment hire and Snowsports School.
• All year-round mountain biking with 48km of cross-country mountain biking as well as a downhill mountain bike trails with gondola access.  Home to a round of the Mountain Bike World Cup
• Self-service Snowgoose restaurant & bar (gondola top station) and Pinemarten café bar (gondola base station) serving locally served produce prepared on site.
• Mountain walks to scenic viewpoints
• Forest walks
• Gift shop

 

The Nevis Range Mountain Gondola, unique in Britain, was originally constructed to transport skiers and snowboarders to the slopes.  Today, the gondola whisks some 200,000 visitors each year to 650m where they can eat at the Snowgoose restaurant, enjoy a drink at the bar, walk out to the mountain viewpoints, or simply enjoy the stunning highland scenery.  The gondola is also widely used by hillwalkers, climbers, paragliders and hang gliders on their journey to the clouds.  There are 74 Gondolas in total and each one takes up to 6 adults.

 

Nevis Range has significantly diversified, creating a world-class downhill mountain bike track together with a series of world-renowned cross-country mountain bike trails in the Leanachan Forest.  As a result the venue has hosted UK and international mountain bike events including several award-winning rounds of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup since 2002 and a UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 2007.