Megavalanche - anyone else doing it?
grumsta
Posts: 994
Just signed up to do the Megavalanche this year - somewhat bricking it but also very excited. Anyone else off here doing it? For those who aren't aware
http://www.avalanchecup.com/mega-avalanche.htmlMegavalanche is a mountainbike downhill marathon style event that mixes gravity-assisted excitement with enduro levels of fitness, guaranteed to test both nerve and physique. The most famous round is run from the French Alps town of Alpe D'Huez, starting on the glaciated summit of the Pic Blanc and descending to the lush meadows of the valley bottom at Allemond, after some 2000 metres down and 30km along.
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I want to do it and have some mates here who are really up for it.
When does the sign on window close?
Heard you need some compulsory protection. I'm also not sure if 140mm travel will be enough...
Does anyone have experience with the mega avalanche?Not really active0 -
Think entry is just open until its full - not sure how many ppl that is or how long it usually takes. Mate of mine has done it a few times and reckons I will be fine on my Pitch - think lots of people do it on stuff like your Zesty.
The entry thing states you need a full face helmet and elbow pads.
DO IT! I've only been mountain biking properly for a year and I'll probably total myself and my bike but never mind, should be fun!
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If I'm financial able to do it then I'll probabbly do it between 2013-2016.0
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Plenty of people bang down it on XC hardtails from what I've read. Just back off a bit if the bike is struggling to cope. There is plently of pedalling to be done by all accounts so having miles of bounce is not going to be helpful on all stages of the course._Ferret_ wrote:I'm also not sure if 140mm travel will be enough...
Does anyone have experience with the mega avalanche?You only need two tools: WD40 and Duck Tape.
If it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.
If it shouldn't move and does, use the tape.0 -
I'll have to buy (or borrow) the protection but it still sounds like a laugh.
What about actually getting to ride the race though?
I heard there are quali groups of about 200 people and only the top 50 get to race. - that leaves a lot of people just watching...Not really active0 -
The qualifying decides which race you get entered into - all on the same course. The top one is on the Sunday for pros and ppl who are really good, think the next one down is on sat which most ppl would hope to get into, then there is the one for 'tramps and smackheads' which hopefully I won't be in.
The entry includes a 4 day lift pass.0 -
The qualifier is around 25-30minutes with 80% DH, 5% uphill and 15% of flat. The main event will take you at least an hour to descend and is approximately 60% DH, 15% uphill and 25% of flat.
Why am I telling you this? The great misconception is that the Megavalanche is a DH race. Realistically it's a DH marathon and a real fine balance during racing between the DH monkeys and the the XC Enduro legs. Therefore whether you are clipped in or riding flats it's a level playing field.
Qualifiying!
Around 8 groups of 200 riders (8 rows of 25 in each group) leave the start every 20 minutes. Getting a good start is the key!
The Main Event is as described above, liking the "SmackHead" description!
In the week you can also enter the Sprint Avalanche and get two timed runs down an amazing course. Definitely for the full on DH bikes this course is a real test and is anywhere between 4-5minutes of foot out, flat out action!
I'll be there, rocking up in the big van in the main pits to help the Brits out.
Make sure you have a full face lid and elbow pads. If your doing the Sprint DH race you will need a back spine board.
Not mandatory but i'd advise bar plugs so you don't core yourself or anybody else.
Cheers.
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Okay,
so I've been looking at the program and there are several races going on - mega promo, mega ladies, mega affinity - I'm guessing these are just the different groups that you get put into from qualifying - yes?
I want to go but only if I get to race the track - it's a long way to go to just watch.
Any advice on accomodation?Not really active0 -
The website is fairly confusing, but my mate who was done it several times assures me that all the races are on the same track, as how I described it above.
You could try emailing them to check - they responded pretty quick to a query I had.
The price include a lift pass too so I think you can go and ride the other trails if you don't want to watch the main event.0 -
I've signed up, only been riding for a short while after a long break, so I am very much on the novice side of things. But if you don't set stupid goals that stretch you, you won't improve very fast. Just hope my (soon to be replaced) Pitch Pro will be up to the task...---
Pitch Pro 20090 -
I am doing it on a Pitch Pro too - my mate who has done it many times reckons it will be fine.0
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Attempted to do it last year (bust my wrist in a silly little fall), doing it again this year.
You don't need a big bike (5-6" would be perfect), no matter how good you are DH, it'll be the uphills that make or break your finish time. You need to be able to pedal!
Wheels and tyres take a hammering. Gravity Dropper/Joplin etc, very worthwhile.
The course isn't *that* technical (nothing harder than you'd find in the Peaks). It's the length that's the killer. (With the exception of the snow, which either you can get your head round or you can't - I couldn't, but then I was a bit nervous about the aforementioned broken wrist)
The atmosphere is fantastic.
200 people head to head into the first corner on the qualifier was simply awesome.
Do it.0 -
I've just signed up for my third time, Guy's on his 4th!
Lots of fun and great atmosphere. You can ride loads - when you're not racing there's loads of other trails to ride so you def won't spend a week hanging around watching others ride. And you'll see people on all kinds of bikes, last year I had a SC heckler which was pretty perfect.
Other thing to remember is you need a race license or a doctor's note to say you're ok to race - it's a french rule in order to race. Your BC license is fine though. And when you register you can choose the length liftpass you want.
See you there.....0 -
grumsta - yeah my mates said the same, although I am tempted to upgrade the wheels and possibly the forks (the former being the bigger priority).
From what I have been told one of the biggest buggars is your fingers/wrists from all the breaking. Worth getting one of those little hand excersiser things to build them up.
And you need a glove with a spoon tapped to it to eat at the bottom ---
Pitch Pro 20090 -
JonEdwards wrote:Attempted to do it last year (bust my wrist in a silly little fall), doing it again this year.
You don't need a big bike (5-6" would be perfect), no matter how good you are DH, it'll be the uphills that make or break your finish time. You need to be able to pedal!
My mates sold his full DH bike after last year because he was so slow on the flat and ups he lots lots of ground, he did the qualifier on this elsworth 6" and is going to do the whole thing on that this year.---
Pitch Pro 20090 -
what's the deal with camping?
I read somewhere that it was prohibited?!Not really active0 -
Some people camp under the main lift but there are no facilities, toilet/showers etc.
There is also a campsite at the finish line at the bottom of the mountain so a drive and couple of lifts to the top (start line).
Alternatively, you can book an apartment or chalet in Alpe D'huez though most want Saturday to Saturday bookings which doesn't time nicely with the race.
The perfect solution is to book a room in a chalet with Its All Downhill where this is not a problem.
www.itsalldownhill.co.uk for further info.
They can also provide transfers from Geneva airport if required.0 -
I'm doing it this year...
Giant Reign 1 with DHX 4 AIR, Mavic 317's with pro 2 hubs, I HAVE NO FORKS NEED HELP!!!
Sold my Fox Float 32's as they overheated and dies on a test run in Italy (I'm not loaded, my old man lives there).
looking at coil pikes or u turn domains. 160mm Fox 36's seem overkill for when I get home?
HELP!!
PS 07779624040 if you want an alpine beer over there.
PPS. I'm not a bad mechanic and loading my bike box with spares if anyone is really stuck and skint (like me)0 -
Anyone got any recommendations for insurance?0
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grumsta wrote:Anyone got any recommendations for insurance?
"Hello, is that the insurance people? I'd like life and critical injuries cover for one week so I can go and ride a bicycle down a glacier and off a mountain in The World's Most Extreme Race (TM). Hello? Hello?"Uncompromising extremist0 -
For travel insurance that includes race cover and will get you off the mountain by helicopter if necessary (hoping noone will need it) try www.insureandgo.co.uk. If you book insurance, you can then phone up to get 3 days race cover for a few pounds more. We do it every year.
I think you can set up personal accident cover quite quickly and that can give you some money for something as small as a broken wrist. For life cover, you'll need cover that can be set up immediately which can be done so long as you don't need extra underwriting which can cause a delay in the start and so the cover may not be "on risk" straight away.0 -
Im heading again this year.
We have a chalet booked in Oz en Osians stations. Which is just beside the finish of the sprint dh, and where the lift to the mega qualifying is.
I'll be doing it on a commencal supreme with a single chain ring... A dual ring may be better for the actual mega itself, but im doing it for the fun - not the position i finish. The fireroad climb wont be too much fun ha.
Im told this year that the mega course will be more downhilly than normal, hopefully with less uphill sections.
Not long to go now either, we're heading to morzine for 10 days before to prepare ourselves :P0 -
Not long to go now :shock: :twisted:
We're heading to Morzine too, on the 3rd.
I sold my Pitch and now doing it on a Lapierre Spicy, when in France eh!
Grumsta: Someone suggested Dog Tag to me!? (for insurance)---
Pitch Pro 20090 -
Northwind wrote:grumsta wrote:Anyone got any recommendations for insurance?
"Hello, is that the insurance people? I'd like life and critical injuries cover for one week so I can go and ride a bicycle down a glacier and off a mountain in The World's Most Extreme Race (TM). Hello? Hello?" ---
Pitch Pro 20090 -
I thought there would be a bit more discussion going on about this, only a few weeks to go now.
I'm heading to France in a week to get acclimatized (to drinking beer so high up). ---
Pitch Pro 20090
