Riding not skiing
GOD63
Posts: 2
I am off to France on a skiing holiday from Feb 5th to 12th. However I shall not be skiing! A horrible injury ten years ago has ensured I shall never ski again. Thus I shall be bringing my bike as it is my intention to cycle up and down a few mountains/along some valleys while there. The chalet we are staying in is in Morzine/Avoriaz and while I am 'TV familiar' with the place, I have not visited before.
Thus I wonder whether readers suggest it is impractical for me bring my bike. Is it a hassle to get from chalet to road?Will the snow prove too much of a hindrance? If I do get to the road will the descent to the valley be too dangerous due to snow/ice? (Ascending won't be too much of a problem as I will be ascending quite slowly!!)
Any suggested routes would be greatly appreciated and any general advice would be very helpful also.
By way of context, I have being riding for 25 years, ridden seven Etapes, several sportives a year, ridden across the US but have never been to the Alps in the snow armed only with bike, helmet, shoes and enthusaism. Your comments/guidance/ would be hugely appreciated.
Thus I wonder whether readers suggest it is impractical for me bring my bike. Is it a hassle to get from chalet to road?Will the snow prove too much of a hindrance? If I do get to the road will the descent to the valley be too dangerous due to snow/ice? (Ascending won't be too much of a problem as I will be ascending quite slowly!!)
Any suggested routes would be greatly appreciated and any general advice would be very helpful also.
By way of context, I have being riding for 25 years, ridden seven Etapes, several sportives a year, ridden across the US but have never been to the Alps in the snow armed only with bike, helmet, shoes and enthusaism. Your comments/guidance/ would be hugely appreciated.
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If there is snow around then I'd not risk it - descending plus ice = lots of time off the bike.0
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Not sure I'd want to be cycling in a ski resort in winter full-stop... but I have been to Morzine/Avoriaz three times so I might as well let you know what I know about the place. Assuming you're actually in Morzine (as opposed to Avoriaz, much smaller and perched up on the slope itself), there are two factors which tend to keep the roads fairly clear. First of all, it's reasonably low-lying for a ski resort at around 1,000m IIRC, and secondly it has a fair bit of through-traffic. But then, any recent falls could change the road conditions away from the centre pretty quickly I would've thought.
I'd be well frustrated turning up to Morzine again and not being able to ski. Your call though!0 -
I'm often at the 3 valleys and I also had to ride 1 year due to injury.
The main roads are kept clear at all times, however there can be black ice on them too - When I went I used studded tyres and they worked a treat, some days I got away without them.
But bare in mind that main roads in the slopes only go so high before it becomes snow tracks, that's why owners own beefy 4X4s.0 -
Hello God !
I spend quite a bit of the year in Morzine both winter and summer ( just got back tonight ,after battling my out of a very snowy Morzine this morning)
The cycling there is fab but ,sorry to be negative, it will be a non starter in February .
The two main climbs straight out of town are the Joux-Plane which is closed 3km's up as it forms a blue run in the winter and the Joux-verte which is the road from Morzine up to Avoriaz -this road is kept semi clear but is passable usually only with snow chains in february .If it were clear it would most likely be treacherously icy.
The only road that will probably be fit to ride on would be the road down to Thonon and back but this is a fairly uninspiring main road, as is the one over Les Gets and down to Taninges. Even these have the potential for a lot of black ice.
Cheers bob0
