Family cycling in the Alps next summer

othello

We are looking at going to the Alps next summer for our family holiday, and I'm looking for any tips/advice about the best locations for cycling.

My children will be 8.5 and 7 and are proficient cyclists (they are members of a local club, and race track, MTB, cyclocross etc). I'm thinking we would take our MTBs and make use of the bike parks and ski lifts, rather than taking their road bikes. But we would want a bike park with a good range of ability trails -- going somewhere with all red/black graded wouldn't be ideal, but then we want something more than pan flat 'family' trails. Any suggestions?

Any recommendations on accommodation would be good too of course

kitersteve

My opinion as a dad who is in a similar position. I ride Track, road MTB and DH once a year in the Alps. My son is 9 and rides Track, CX, road and occasional MTB. My advice for one do it all spot is Les Deux Alpes near Bourg d'oisons/Alpe D'Huez. Not sure what you are considering staying in to give best advice. L2Alpes has extensive trails for all abilities and a skate/bike part as well as a massive dirt park with all sorts of wooden structures and jumps. Also an easy skills park. As for other activities, climbing wall, ice skating, archery, trampolining, golf, luge, mountain boards, quad biking, downhill go karting, swiimming pool, sunbathing/swimming lake, crazy golf, tennis, beach football, volleyball, MTB pump track .......get the idea! My lad tended to spend all his time in the evening in the bike/skate park and watching the dirt jumping which is next to it. Lads doing backlops, 360 etc etc always a crowd watching . If you are into road biking take your road bike. I did Galibier, Alpe D'Huez Glandon and Croix de Fer all rideable from Les 2 Alpes. My son also did Alpe D'Huez on his 9 1/2 yr "birthday". I have some You Tube videos of us cycling in the area let me know if you want the links. Weather is normally very good in summer and its best to do the cycling in the morning before it gets to hot. Even my non cycling wife likes it. Also a good downhill road ride down to Bourg down a back lane spectacular views for a day out and then you can ride back to a place called Venosc with minimal uphill before you take the ski lift with bikes back to Les 2 Alpes. Did that with some non riding friends who we went with. Any more info dont hesitate to come back. Might see you there!

othello

Wow, thank you that is really useful!

Sounds like there is loads to do. Both our children are of the 'very active' variety and constantly want activities. Don't think we would run out of activities.

I think we would look to stay in a chalet/hotel/something rather than camp, as I bet we will be loaded with bike gear If you do have links to those videos I would love to see them.

I think the only tricky decision would be what type of bike to take

kitersteve

http://youtu.be/CCHwRj5VTSk Alpe Dhuez climb with my son only 30 seconds long
http://youtu.be/71YhWl5tV0w skip to 1.02 to 2.18 which is all Les Deux Alpes riding

Regards Steve

Tom Butcher

Nice. Was thinking of taking mine down the Newcastle track next year - is there an age limit on freewheelers do you know - mine are 11 and they only have 'cross bikes.

kitersteve

Highly recommend it. 6pm tip 7pm on a Thursday night. Any bike will do, most are probably on MTB's so a cross bike certainly not a problem. If they are 11 also consider Monday night track training. They have hire bikes for a couple of quid just need to swap the pedals if you have your own clips/pedals. My lad did it last year aged 9 and loved it. Are they in a cross league? West mids?

othello

kitersteve wrote:

http://youtu.be/CCHwRj5VTSk Alpe Dhuez climb with my son only 30 seconds long
http://youtu.be/71YhWl5tV0w skip to 1.02 to 2.18 which is all Les Deux Alpes riding

Regards Steve

excellent, thanks for posting those links.