Downhill racing is probably the greatest spectacle in cycling - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Ti bolts, every mechanic's wet dream - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
This Pedros tool kit has just about everything you could need to rebuild a bike contained within it - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
What a delightful pile of bikes to have lying in a corner - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Intense was running these custom For Race Only linkages that dropped the BB by around 15mm and slackened things out by about a degree - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The linkage also drops the travel down to 210mm - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Intense was also running this anti-flat insert in its rear wheels - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Pivot's workshop setup was much more minimal than a lot of other teams - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Only the absolute essentials have made their way into this tidy toolbox - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
I wish my toolbox was half as organised as this - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Pivot is one of the few teams running Industry Nine hubs - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The Torch hubs have a freewheel buzz that's up there with the best - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Staying limber is the key to riding fast and avoiding injury - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
This diminutive Commencal is the ideal whip for the little ripper in your life - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
This mountain rescue buggy used a funky old 24 trials wheel to keep things moving - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
There were a lot of forks being rebuilt in the Fox tent this weekend - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Note the suspiciously luminous fork-condiments in the background of this image - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The Fox mechanics were keen to point out that they usually run a much tighter ship than this. I just caught them at a particularly busy period - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Sure, why not just discard your several run old Fox 40 stancions? - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Fox keeps a ton of spares on hand - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
It's quite amazing how many custom tools Fox has packed into such a small space - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The mechanics also keep every small part you could ever need - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Really, everything! - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The truck is even outfitted with a nitrogen tank if a shock needs a full rebuild - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
A lot of teams are running Rockshox's updated coil offerings this weekend - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Commencal's new 29er was getting a lot of attention in the pits - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The new bike was ridden to 5th place by Remi Thirion - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The high idler bulley on the top of the swingarm keeps pedal kickback in check - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Coil shocks were definitely the favoured choice for this weekend - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
A little bit of customisation goes a long way to making a bike feel truly yours - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Ruffin has chosen this Thomson Masterpiece seatpost over anything from team sponsor Spank - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Commencal produces three different linkages for the Supreme, allowing riders to 'tune' the bikes for each course - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The cockpit comes courtesy of Spank - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
You know you've made it when you've got your own lockrings - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Ruffin was also testing out these prototype tyres from Hutchinson - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The Dudes of Hazzard had maybe the chillest pits of any team - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
This Session 29er, located right next to the entrance gates, was attracting a lot of attention - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
This particular bike was an early prototype that uses an alloy swingarm - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The bike was built around these unnamed Bontrager 29er hoops - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Bontrager's Line Pro bars keep things nice and low at the front - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Curiously, these 29er forks were stickered up as regular 40s - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Another full Pedros toolbox spotted - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
RaceFace's SIXC cranks are among the lightest on the market, yet can still be used on a downhill bike - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Suspension wizard Chris Porter was on hand to spread his wisdom to the Mondraker Factory Racing team - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Goodbye i-Drive, hello shiny single pivot simplicity - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
I took some time to look over this prototype Intense 29er in more depth - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Check out the full story in the related links below! - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The swingarm pivots concentrically around the bottom bracket - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
That Paul Components bottle opener immediately caught our eye in the Canyon tent - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
This must be among the most lush toolboxes out there, with all that Abbey Bike Tools goodness - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
L wrenches are among the most common, 'must have' items for world cup mechanics - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
When was the last time you saw 220mm rotors! - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
I guess any extra stopping power is appreciated on such a high speed course as Fort William - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Like many other teams, Canyon has been experimenting with rim defenders, a CushCore in this case - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
There's no lowly zip ties holding on the number of this fast fellow - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
A citronella candle is a vital bit of kit for the infamously midge infested Fort William - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The Canyon Sender is one of the cleanest looking downhill bikes out there - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Jack Reading must have been watching Seb's latest videos with all that extra weight strapped to his bike - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Reading is said to be working with the aforementioned Chris Porter for these weight experiments - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Extra points for matching the electrical tape to his custom anodized Hope kit - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
I think there's more sensors than there is bike on this Specialized Demo test rig - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Who needs a shock anyway? - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
If I used this sensor, it would just tell me that I use my brakes too much and that I suck at riding downhill - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
A very special bike for a very fast rider - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Aaron Gwin's bike took the centre stage on the YT stand - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The whirr of hard-working pressure washers is a constant at any world cup pits - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
This Pink Polygon was sitting alongside Ale Fayolle's - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
There's all sorts of pink highlights across this bike - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
That's a long ol' limit screw! - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The whole team runs Trickstuff brakes - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Ethirteen has its own 7 speed cassette to go with its LG1R wheels - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The team are even running Trickstuff's own superlight two-part rotors - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Polygon mechanic, Hugues meticulously cleans everything with a compressor - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Alex Fayolle rode this bike, amidst controversy, to first place at last month's round at Lourdes - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Most interestingly, the bike is equipped with a low speed compression lockout - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The shock is fully custom and made by Hugues - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
He runs a fleet of the shocks for the team - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
It was also nice to see an EXT Arma HBC shock among the sea of Fox and Rockshox this weekend - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
We can confirm there was lots of riding and partying this weekend, though we can't speak for the amount of sleep - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The team was also running a prototype fork that they were unwilling to give any details about - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
So we'll just have to admire this Argyle disruptive 'camo' for the time being - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The far end of the pits is deep with the most amazingly committed weekender privateers - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Ohlins had all of its golden goodies on show - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
We'll take two of everything, please - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
A good old game of hammer a nail into a stump? - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Portage is everything - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
This Santa Cruz Stigmata was probably the nicest turbo bike of the lot at Fort William - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
These prototype Schwalbe tyres were hiding in plain sight - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Unsurprisingly, Schwalbe remained tight-lipped about the new rubber. What we can tell you is that they're made from the brand's Addix compound and look like a great all-round tread - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
This M16 is looking a little less resplendent after a muddy timed training - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Bergamont was also showing off its new 29er this weekend - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The bike is built around a 1x7 SRAM XO DH drivetrain - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Colour matched shocks! Very bling - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The team use Magura MT8 brakes - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The split seat tube accomodates the low placement of the shock - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
A well loved perch for a shiny new bike - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
SunRingle supply the hubs - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The gear cable is neatly routed through the downtube - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Bergamont was unable to run SunRingle's 29er rims as the pinned joints wouldn't seal well enough - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
So they've had to borrow these DT hoops for the weekend - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
A closer look at the linkage - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Bergamont is one of the few teams running Manitou's Dorado forks - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Cheese grater-like grips to cope with the muddy conditions - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
An Oor Jimmy hat is a vital purchase for those not native to my homeland - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Special trackside transport for the currently broken Gee Atherton - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
A little bit of national pride by the 4X track - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
A lot of brands, Crank Brothers included, are on hand on race-day to help keep things running smoothly - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Fizik was showing off its new 29er specific saddle at Fort William - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The original prototype is just a Gobi with a big chunk chopped out of the back of it - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Chris King is still testing its Boost 110 front hub - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The same bike as this took Minnaar to the win this weekend - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The current generation of the Saint drivetrain is one the most longstanding in the downhill circuit - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
This diminutive little mech puts up with a lot abuse - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The cutout stops the rear tyre from buzzing the saddle when bottoming out - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Chris King produced this BuzzWorks offset headset specifically for the V10 29er - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
And anodized this linkage to match - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The venerable mallet is by far the most popular pedal on the world cup circuit - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
2017 is shaping up to be a great season for Lucas Shaw - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The ENVE Minaar bar makes up the cockpit of choice for Santa Cruz Syndicate - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The team is running these ENVE M90 rims, one of the few carbon downhill hoops out there - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The team also has the best pit-whips - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
After a wild weekend of racing, rain, sun, midges, vuvuzelas and beer, I’m pleased to present you with our most mega Fort William gallery to date.
With over 110 photos showcasing the very best results from my weekend of plundering the pits, hassling mechanics and disturbing focussed riders, I've papped everything from the best prototype bikes, tyres, shocks and forks to the finest headwear and toolboxes, there’s something here for every downhill nerd to enjoy.
The new bike was ridden to 5th place by Remi Thirion - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
As expected, there was a healthy showing of wagon-wheels from teams both big and small this weekend.
With the win taken — rather decidedly as well — by Greg Minnaar on a V10 29er, we can only expect to see more 29ers throughout the rest of the season.
Custom and prototype suspension
The shock is fully custom and made by Hugues - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
There were a number of interesting suspension set ups in the pits this year.
So we'll just have to admire this Argyle disruptive 'camo' for the time being - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
From Alex Fayolle’s fully custom shock, which included a ‘lockout’, to some seriously trick looking prototype EXT Arma kit, it was refreshing to see some variety among the usual sea of Fox and Rockshox.
Jack Reading must have been watching Seb's latest videos with all that extra weight strapped to his bike - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Jack Reading must have recently watched Seb’s latest video as we spotted him experimenting with adding additional weight to his, already relatively portly, Nicolai Maschinen in an effort to ‘calm’ the ride of the bike on the vicious, rocky track.
Reading is said to be working with the aforementioned Chris Porter for these weight experiments - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
We were also impressed by his dedication to colour coordination, matching the tape that attached the lead to the frame to his custom anodised Hope kit.
Sexy toolboxes
Pivot's workshop setup was much more minimal than a lot of other teams - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
And of course, no pits roundup would be complete without a look at some seriously lust-worthy toolboxes.
That Paul Components bottle opener immediately caught our eye in the Canyon tent - Jack Luke / Immediate MediaThis must be among the most lush toolboxes out there, with all that Abbey Bike Tools goodness - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
The Canyon tent was without doubt the most impressive, and we spotted the most delightful Abbey Bike Tools toolkit there.
Downhill racing is probably the greatest spectacle in cycling - Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Here’s to all the riders, mechanics, team crews, organisers, volunteers and fans that continue to make Fort William one of the best spectacles in cycling.
There are loads more images in the gallery above - click through and enjoy!
Jack Luke is the deputy editor at BikeRadar and has been fettling with bikes for his whole life. Always in search of the hippest new niche in cycling, Jack is a self-confessed gravel dork, fixie-botherer, tandem-evangelist and hill climb try hard.
Jack thinks nothing of bikepacking after work to sleep in a ditch or taking on a daft challenge for the BikeRadar YouTube channel. He is also a regular contributor to the BikeRadar podcast. With a near encyclopaedic knowledge of cycling tech, ranging from the most esoteric retro niche to the most cutting-edge modern kit, Jack takes pride in his ability to seek out stories that would otherwise go unreported. He is also particularly fond of tan-wall tyres, dynamo lights, cup and cone bearings, and skids. Jack has been writing about and testing bikes for more than eight years now, has a background working in bike shops for years before that, and is regularly found riding a mix of weird and wonderful machines. Jack can also often be seen zooming about with his partner aboard their beloved tandem.
Height: 181cm
Bike size: 56cm/Large
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