Mountain bike event being held at the Nevis Centre

OVER the years Fort William Mountain Festival has hosted some of the bike industry’s biggest names at its bike nights – and it’s about to do it again.

I Want To Ride My Bicycle on Saturday February 20 at the Nevis Centre, in the town includes talks from Aneela ‘the bothy queen’ McKenna, Crawford Carrick Anderson, Chris Ball and Julia Hobson.

Keen to explore the idea that mountain biking is much more than racing world cups or riding dirt jumps, this year’s festival aims to celebrate the great outdoors, highlighting the wonderful environment and the fantastic opportunities for travel across the globe on a mountain bike.

Nikki Stafford, of the Fort William Mountain Festival organising committee, said: ‘The brief for the 2016 bike night is much more about celebrating the lifestyle and the sheer pleasure of mountain biking. Living and working in the Outdoor Capital of the UK and a super keen mountain biker myself, I am very much looking forward to the event and hope to be inspired for my next adventure.’

Aneela McKenna will host the evening. She is an avid mountain biker, partner of Go Where Scotland, and Juliana Bicycles brand ambassador while Crawford Carrick Anderson is no stranger to the Outdoor Capital of the UK.

World- renowned Carrick Anderson, a former British team skier, has skied at Nevis Range. He helped in the early design off the world-renowned mountain bike downhill course and went on to compete as a downhill racer, making it into the world top 10 in the rankings.

Carrick Anderson’s talents extend to the world of motor sport where he also successfully participated in motorbike Enduro and trials, regularly taking part in the Scottish Six Days Trial.

Chris Ball is a global adventurer and part of the team behind the Enduro World Series (EWS) and the man who started Dirt School. Ball has also worked for the UCI, was a downhill racer and is passionate about mountain biking. He also enjoys a variety of other outdoor activities including climbing and skiing and, most recently, a bit of sailing. And last, but not least, Julia Hobson lives the dream. She is a mountain bike guide in Scotland and abroad and, like McKenna, is also a Juliana brand ambassador.

As a racer, Hobson has competed some of the big races; she has cycled John o’ Groats to Lands End off road, and is a well ‘kent’ face in the Outdoor Capital.

Saturday February 20 also sees the return of the very popular No Fuss Runduro Event which will see runners enjoy the mountain bike Enduro format on the trails around Fort William and Glen Nevis.

Find out more at: http:// www. mountainfestival.co.uk/