Video: Lewis Buchanan Takes the KOM on the Glencoe Downhill Track

Jul 21, 2021
by James Smurthwaite  

bigquotesI took a look on Strava to see what the fastest time was down the black route section at Glencoe Mountain and decided I’d give it a go on a timed run. The black section starts just off the main road and the course has changed over the years and yes Strava is not crazy accurate but it’s just some fun at the end of the day! Pretty sure that track is actually a lot slower than it used to be and it’s certainly the gnarliest it’s ever been in my opinion! Enjoy this intense full run, make sure you give it a like, comment below and subscribe if you have not already! Cheers—Lewis Buchanan


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84 Comments
  • 85 1
 Too bike park. Not enough rocks.
  • 10 0
 I was there last summer and of the 15 or so people I saw riding this track there was only maybe 3 who I didn't see pushing down sections of the trail.
  • 37 6
 lol for a minute you nearly got me. Dont often see sarcasm from you yanks
  • 6 0
 @dingus: Totally. I'd say the black run is the toughest course in the UK.
  • 20 4
 @whatisthecolour: There's only 300M yanks but dont often see this much generalization from you Scots.
  • 4 0
 @whatisthecolour: did the macavalanche there a couple of years ago. Was looking at sections of that track as i went up the lift and just assumed it was an old disused, washed out track cause it looked so brutal and un-ridable!
  • 3 0
 @dingus: I was there a few years ago, the trail looked like a river bed to me , some sections totally unridable for my skills..
  • 6 4
 @whatisthecolour: yank on this right here bro
  • 5 1
 lol he said "yank"
  • 1 1
 @mariomtblt: you'd like that wouldn't you?
  • 1 0
 @mi-bike: who let you out the Amazon? Get back in.
  • 23 0
 Riding that track is, by some stretch , the most scared I’ve been on a bike. Go pros really take all the steepness, and rockiness out. Fair play.
  • 4 0
 the rockiness came through loud and clear....that was painful to watch, brutal.
  • 15 0
 "Good evening Sir, would you like your rocks served with rocks, rocks, or rocks?"

"I'll take the rocks please, with a garnish of rocks. Oh, and a basket of extra rocks on the side please. Thank you."
  • 23 0
 Gneiss
  • 10 0
 Don’t take it for granite
  • 5 1
 Marble-ous
  • 5 0
 And my drink will be on the rocks
  • 8 0
 You guys are full of schist.
  • 30 26
 Glad he added....

"yes Strava is not crazy accurate"

Also - to those who think getting KOM's on DH routes means you're the fastest to ever go down it. Nope, it just means you're the fastest of the very small number of DHer's that actually bother with Strava.

Not intended as a critism of you there btw Lewis Buchanan! Props to you still.

Just a general comment!
  • 18 1
 I am surprised you think strava is used by a small number of dh'ers. i would guess the opposite - more and more every day. Just speculation. But the strava bike community numbers dont seem to be going down (PUNNNNNNNN)
  • 6 15
flag RadBartTaylor (Jul 21, 2021 at 7:25) (Below Threshold)
 Exactly...100% of average guys use Strava, 10% of fast guys do (consistently)....
  • 15 0
 usually people who have to say that aren't very fast.
  • 3 0
 @RadBartTaylor: MAN! your numbers are tight! which RCT did you get this info from?!?
  • 10 11
 @RadBartTaylor: you realize most pros have Strava times on their local loops right? They use an alias.

You guys are clueless lmao

Strava is for losers!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 lol the strava version of every kid's defensive retort to questions on "grown-up" subjects back in elementary school
"well if you're not cool enough to know, then I'm not going to answer your question"
  • 8 0
 @nvranka: So you're saying the pros who use it are losers, or they're not losers cause their pros? If your logic were constructed into a boat it would surely sink, and rapidly at that.
  • 6 0
 @jaytdubs: oh buoy
  • 1 0
 @nvranka: Its all good, plus you're right. I use Strava and am definitely a loser.
  • 1 1
 @jaytdubs: lol
  • 2 5
 @nvranka: many don't post the majority of their rides....they know where they stand, peckers don't need to be measured, they know damn well where they stand and if they want accurate timing it sure as $&@( won't be with Strava.
  • 10 4
 Everyone who cares about how fast they are uses Strava. All pros care about how fast they are. Everyone who pushes on and aspires to improve uses Strava. It seems unlikely to me that many people who are capable of taking a KOM don't use Strava. It's a tool to refine your lines, technique and equipment. It's not crazy accurate but it's also not just for losers.
  • 5 0
 hating on strave is cool, + props please.
  • 7 2
 @RadBartTaylor: show us where big bad evil Strava touched you. Lol

You’re shouting into the void about nonsense. Strava is a tool...and a pretty useful one for anyone looking to improve or track their rides/training. That applies to muppet DH4LYFE (well I guess nowadays it’s ENDUROBROs) wannabes and consummate professionals alike.

We can all agree anyone who thinks KOMs are the end all is daft...but those are far from the only people using the app lol.
  • 5 0
 ITT: People that give too many f*cks on both sides, when this topic really should occupy 0% of your brain.
  • 1 0
 @nvranka: nonsense like why Loris, Aaron, Sam and many other don't use it?
  • 3 0
 @pbfan08: Yup. It should occupy 0% of anyone's brain especially because its inaccurate as hell. I ran a couple tests this year with dual devices and saw crazy variable results, the worst being a full minute split on a 2 min dh segment. According to Strava I've ridden over 80mph, uphill in switchbacks. Hell half the climbs at one of my local spots are KOM'd by 3000 watt adaptive eMTB. I can't even be mad.
  • 1 0
 @pbfan08: truth!!! although, strava does have a large impact on cycling across the spectrum - it is a large piece of motivation to get out for some, provides mapping for others, ...promotes a, b, c, d, e, f line formations...
  • 5 0
 I'm confused. Why does the clock only start at the junction?
Doesn't the Strava segment that's 2:22 start at the beginning of the video?
The segment from the fireroad down KOM is 1:48 afaics
  • 5 0
 I think you are correct:
KOM is 2:22 - Glencoe Black DH: www.strava.com/segments/1725534
KOM is 1:48 - Glencoe Black From Fire Road: www.strava.com/segments/20960110

Based on the timer posted in the video, he timed the "from Fire Road" route which has a KOM of 1:48, he got 2:06.10. It took him 28 sec to drop into the shorter route...so for Glencoe Black DH...he likely got 2:50.

Since article is on the KOM, seems reasonable to point this out; but I don't want to diminish the insanity of this run. Still badass, I could not come anywhere close to this....my bike and I would be in pieces on the side of the trail halfway down.
  • 5 1
 So he doesn't have the KOM then based on the strava segments.
  • 1 0
 @mtb-scotland: correct
  • 1 0
 @SATN-XC: Yeah - I agree about not diminishing the run - it looks amazing. It's likely that the track is a completely different surface compared to 2017 too. But I just thought that claiming the KOM for clicks without actually uploading to Strava is a bit off, even though we all know Strava is inaccurate, tracks change, etc.
  • 6 1
 Nice to see glencoe has utilised it’s covid downtime and put a lot of work into the track …
  • 1 0
 Probably why they were recently looking to hire people for trail maintenance
  • 6 0
 I like the part with the rocks.
  • 4 0
 This was on his Norco Range..
  • 4 0
 Good warm up for Hardline!
  • 3 0
 That's a rough ole looking track
  • 4 4
 bloody heck it wasnt even 0.5sec....that is an absolute slaughter of the previous KOM. The noises from his brakes probably sound the same as the guy that got notification Lewis was on track that day
  • 4 1
 The track is rougher than a badger's arse.
  • 3 0
 Look. He was probably on a 29er.
  • 3 0
 Surprised those new TRP brakes started making all that noise
  • 14 0
 No, he was being chased by a walrus.
  • 2 0
 @chakaping: brilliant
  • 2 0
 2.29 that is literally ZERO margin for error - commitment 101 I salute you sir
  • 2 0
 My kind of video, no "B" roll, just straight to the business!

Looks like a SICK course.
  • 3 0
 Jesus christ, thats just a washed out trench of boulders!!
  • 1 0
 Does anyone know why the image becomes blocky/blurry every 5 seconds. I see that with a lot of POV videos on Youtube. Does he gopro do that?
  • 1 0
 It's just youtube's video compression, there's not much that can be done to avoid it
  • 1 0
 @GordonU: if you are on your phone, switch to desktop mode(bottom of the page) then it brings up the desktop version of YouTube and you can change the playback quality
  • 2 0
 Jeez, I was getting arm pump just watching
  • 2 0
 What, Strava isn't accurate???????? ;-) Crazy run by the way!
  • 19 0
 I find that it's only accurate when I get a little cup or crown for a section, the rest of the time it tends to record my start time early.
  • 2 0
 Proper rocky technical downhill.
  • 2 0
 A very good advert for Hypersmooth. better than the actual GoPro ads
  • 1 0
 I took a KOM on a local double black DH run last week, and, AND I got it on video. Can I be on the front page?
  • 2 1
 Those brakes are literally sounding like they are being slaughtered!
  • 1 1
 That noise is from the overhead ski lift cables I think! ?....maybe not?
  • 3 0
 Pretty sure the noise was from mountain sea lions there.
  • 2 4
 Its a pretty quick run (around my race speed and Lewis is much much faster than me) but Mat Walker did it from the top in around that time at champs a couple of years back.
Scary as the top is over 30s up the hill!
  • 1 1
 lol
  • 2 1
 holy rowdy track! its forbidden to ride like that!
  • 1 0
 Jeez that track looks rough AF!
  • 1 0
 Utter insanity! Thanks for sharing.
  • 1 0
 Sounds like he's being chased by an angry Walrus.
  • 1 0
 Poor wheels being punished.
  • 1 0
 Damn, and he did it a a single crown!
  • 1 0
 That's a rough one
  • 1 0
 Nice potatoes field....
  • 1 0
 Flying!
  • 1 2
 Where are the trees
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