Mountain Bike Starting Hut Moves up a Gear with British Larch
November 18, 2011
BSW Timber's British larch has been used to create a striking starting hut for the famous mountain bike trail at the Nevis Range on Aonach Mòr, one of Britain's highest mountains, which rises to 4,006 ft at its peak.
Designed by the Forestry Commission's Civil Engineering team, the start hut showcases locally sourced larch and is a focal point for all competitive mountain biking at Fort William, including the recent world championships.
Designed in the shape of an eye, out of which the riders launch themselves onto the downhill course, the start hut was created using vertically laminated timber. This innovative technique has been developed by the Forestry Commission in a number of their award winning designs. It allows the eye-shape to be created using straight pieces of larch no longer than a metre which are then staggered and screwed to each other to create the upper and lower curves.
Eve Johnson, marketing manager, BSW Timber, said: "This project perfectly illustrates the versatility of larch timber. The stunning design of the start hut shows how the product can be used in innovative ways and, what's more, the materials are locally sourced.
"British larch is an ideal option for a wide array of purposes. From residential property, to restaurant frontage and sporting facilities, larch creates a durable and attractive finish.
"As a fully sustainable and durable timber, which is FSC certified, our larch products come with the assurance that they will be long lasting and maintain their striking look in years to come. The Nevis Range start hut supports the natural environment, utilises local materials and will be enjoyed for many years to come."
Graeme White, Senior Project Engineer, Forestry Commission, added: "We like to specify larch for our projects due to its natural durability and quality of its appearance. We recently won an award for the Best Use of Home-grown timber at the Wood Awards for a bridge built from larch. Larch's versatility is clear to see in the mountain bike start hut on the Nevis Range and we're delighted with the result."