BIKE TRACK OPENS

Iain Ferguson

Six years of hard work, fundraising and negotiation came together at the beginning of August with the opening of the Bike Park next to Lochaber High School.

One of the main features is the ‘Pump Track’ of humps and banked curves specially designed to be attractive, challenging and usable by almost all ages and skill levels.

Biking is a popular sport in the area and the opening of the park offers new opportunities to be explored, such as adding it to PE lessons at the school and still on the educational front, working with local groups and businesses in providing courses for school pupils in bike care and maintenance.

Other than the main track, there is a smaller ‘all abilities’ area which is flatter and has been designed to accommodate tricycle and four-wheeled machines ridden by individuals and with assistants, but still giving a lot of fun, with a little bit of excitement thrown in for added enjoyment.

In another phase, which is still under construction, a park of ramps and jumps for skateboarders or BMX riders will soon be ready. Plans are also in place to build a shed or clubhouse for indoor learning and maintenance - other than, of course, giving welcome shelter from Lochaber’s liquid sunshine!

Use of the park is free at all times, although during the school day restrictions will be in place. At all other times it will be open from early morning until around 9.30pm.

After a few short speeches and thanks to the funders who made it possible, the park was officially opened to the public, with an immediate influx of enthusiastic and excited bikers, keen to try out the track for themselves.

Chairman of the group behind the park Gregor Muir said: “Everyone on the committee put in a tremendous amount of work over a long period of time in making this happen.

“On behalf of the group and the entire community, I would like to say thank you for your support in making this happen.

“It is a resource which will see an immense amount of use and be of great benefit far into the future.”

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