Alps advice needed - what to wear?

wacker

Going to Les Arcs with Trailaddiction in a couple of weeks and was wanting to know what the weather is generally like up in the Alps this time of year. Is short sleeved riding tops or can it be quite cool?, Also on a night time is shorts and T's or jeans and a long sleeved top. I don't want to pack loads of stuff so any advice greatly appreciated.

Anonymous

keep checking the MSN weather thing or, alternatively, if you're using Vista's sidebar, try the weather gadget. It will let you keep an eye on the conditions in real time, so you can get an idea what to expect.
Past few days it's been between 20-30degrees C, with occasional showers.

Splasher

Remember that the Alps are mountains - sounds obvious I know.

That means the temperature falls by 0.6 degrees C for evey 100m of altitude. So in the valleys with the sun shining, the temperature will typically be 25 but get off the telecabine at 2500m and it's fallen to 16 So a thin layer you can pull on and off is good to carry.

The other thing about mountains is that the weather can change very quickly. So even though it's beautiful as you head out in the morning, still check the forecast because hot weather in the mountains mixed with precipitation coming over later in the day leads to thunder storms which are very dangerous in the high mountains.

mcbazza

Sound advice from Splasher, there.

I always try to wear 'just enough'*. And that goes for MTB'ing as well as snowboarding.
I'll often have another layer in my backpack, and when MTB'ing, a Gore-Tex paclite, too.

* 'just enough' when MTB'ing in the mountains takes the average temperature into account. Therefore, I'll be sweating like a bastid at the bottom, chilly-ish at the top, and just about right around the mid-mountain!!

Last year in Morzine/Les Gets we got away with short-sleeved tops and baggies every day. But, we were wearing a lot of protective gear (pads, full-face, pressure suits, etc), as well. Evenings are definately shorts, sandles/flip-flops, vests or T's.

This year we are flying (instead of driving), so will be travelling ultra-light. I'll probably have enough clothes for 4 days, and will be hand-washing (or going smelly) for the rest of the time!

papasmurf.

usually short sleeves with a packlite in the pack for and heavy down pours

Anonymous

I always prefer to be slightly under-dressed when on the bike. I don;t mind being a little bit cold, but I can't stand being even a little too hot. (I think it's a welsh/Celtic/Red head thing )

Anonymous

oh, and remember that, if you're prone to getting sunburn, then you will suffer almightily in the mountains. It may feel cool and fresh, but your skin will be getting frazzled.

papasmurf.

yeah always carry a sunscreen in my pack. Nothing worse then looking like a package holiday brit all red.

mcbazza

Forgot to mention the sunblock!!
Yep, higher you go, quicker you burn.

If, like me, you wear pads, you'll cr*p yourself when you come to take your pads off, and see bright white skin under the straps. You'll think you've been burnt. But, it's just a clean patch of skin on an anotherwise dirty/dusty leg!!
But, deffo carry some sunblock. The sweat wears it off.

I'm trying to remember the name of that turqouise lake where the locals go to sunbathe. One day we rode down to it, pulled up, stripped off, and caught some rays. Me being of Irish DNA, had to slap on the spf20.

MTB+beer+sunshine=great living

saxabar

I've been out here for the last couple of weeks and only worn a jacket once, cos it was bucketing down. Temps haven't dipped under 20 degrees so pack light. Factor 30 for me!

Father Faff

If you're going high don't forget an oxygen cylinder and one piece down jacket with thermal boots and bloody thick gloves. In fact thinking about this has anyone yet cycled down Mt Everest?

wacker

Cheers everyone for the advice it's greatly appreciated. This is my first trip to the Alps and I can't wait, even the family holiday has been put on hold (I'm not the most popular person in my household at the moment). But hey, 6 blokes, 6 bikes and one big mountain side to come down who can argue with that?

craker

I'm just back from Morzine / Les Gets - fantastic downhill madness on a hardtail that's come back worse for wear (like me...)

Our weather was lovely and sunny (= hot) by morning -> lots of sunblock, by afternoon thunder & heavy rain was gathering in some valleys (Avoriaz) but we didn't get rained on. The weather can be confined by valley.

If you're in full body armour you'll be warm (& secure), it might get chilly on a lift in the afternoons if dark clouds come over but I can't imagine it ever getting cold. + you're only a blast to the bottom. A really compact waterproof / windproof might be just the thing in your pack.

It was chillier in the evenings, ie long sleeved top for sitting around the campsite, cruising the bars (you'd better prepared for 6 euros a grande bier).

Enjoy.

Anonymous

spf 20 and factor 30?
bloody lucky bar stewards. I need factor 50 may as well be wearing a fire-suit!

Anonymous

spf 20 and factor 30?
bloody lucky bar stewards. I need factor 50 may as well be wearing a fire-suit!