Is Morzine > Avoriaz realistic for a beginner?

prhymeate

I've been to Morzine twice before but that was for downhill, strangely enough someone on these forums posted one of my photos claiming it to be a picture of them, but that's another story.

I only started road cycling 6 months ago and am still very much a beginner but I am planning to take my road bike with me when I go again this summer. I have ridden down from Avoriaz on the road so I know the route but something tells me it'll be tougher going in the other direction. Is it a realistic target to try and ride from Morzine to Avoriaz for a beginner? I'm expecting I will have to stop more than once along the way. Does anyone that has ridden the route have any advice? Thanks

durhamwasp

IMO most people who do some cycling/exercise should be able to get up a 14km climb, so i would say you will be fine.
Looking at the profile it averages 6% http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?qryMountainID=5680 which isn't too bad, and as you say, have a couple of stops and enjoy the view.
Good luck and enjoy!

pdstsp

Its a great climb and perfectly doable so long as you don't go all guns blazing. The first 8 or nine km are typical alpine steady 8-9% and the last 3 or 4 are very gentle at less than 5%. Get in a nice easy rhythm at the bottom and concentrate on getting up, you can always see how fast you can do it on the second ascent.
Another route up is the Joux Verte from Montriond which is lovely climb - easy followed by steep between Ardent and Les Lindarets and an easy top section bringing you out near Avoriaz with the descent on the Morzine Avoriaz road which is in very good condition.

prhymeate

Cheers guys, sounds good. I had read that it was mostly 6% but all I remember from the couple of times that I've ridden down it is that the thought of going up seemed impossible. I wasn't aware of the second route, I'll be there for a week so if all goes well then I will try both. Fingers crossed for good weather!

banditvic

Done it a fair few times on a mountain bike (full suspension) the worst problem I found is heat and carrying enough water. There are a couple of water butt type things on the climb, which are a godsend in hot weather. Took about an hour and 15 mins. I think the pros do it in about 35mins.

prhymeate

banditvic wrote:

Done it a fair few times on a mountain bike (full suspension) the worst problem I found is heat and carrying enough water. There are a couple of water butt type things on the climb, which are a godsend in hot weather. Took about an hour and 15 mins. I think the pros do it in about 35mins.

on a mountain bike with full suspension?! sheesh, that's almost more impressive than the pro times considering you were only 40mins behind. I'd be ecstatic with that.

I didn't notice the water butts on the way down but it's good to know they are there.

banditvic

In all honesty I think it is easier on a mountain bike, you don't run out of gears. Last time we rode up it was a couple of years ago, the Tour had finished at Avoriaz on the Sunday and this was Monday the rest day. We cycled up and most of the Tour riders were doing the climb, obviously taking very easy, about the same speed as us. A most memorable day. If you want to stay in Avoriaz let me know I have an apartment there, but I would say Morzine is a better base if you like a lot of night life.

prhymeate

banditvic wrote:

In all honesty I think it is easier on a mountain bike, you don't run out of gears. Last time we rode up it was a couple of years ago, the Tour had finished at Avoriaz on the Sunday and this was Monday the rest day. We cycled up and most of the Tour riders were doing the climb, obviously taking very easy, about the same speed as us. A most memorable day. If you want to stay in Avoriaz let me know I have an apartment there, but I would say Morzine is a better base if you like a lot of night life.

I'll be renting a dh bike for one or two days so maybe I'll try riding up it on that too. Are there any other nice local rides that don't involve a lot of climbing that you would recommend? I'm going with a group of friends, some of which don't ride at all. We plan on going to lake Geneva but other than that we don't have anything set in stone.

We already have a chalet booked in Morzine so we are set for this year thanks. I think Avoriaz would be too quiet for us during the summer but I'd love to go in the winter. It'd be great to see the contrast and I've never been skiing before either.

bobhitch

evening , I spend a lot of time in Morzine both summer and winter and My chalet is in the town centre about 100metres fromm the official start point of the climb. The climb is very manageable for anyone with the will to get up there !! Just take it easy and enjoy the ride .
If you fancy racing up then there is a time trial held at the beginning of august up the climb -I managed it in a tad over 49 minutes last year
The area is great for road biking and it may be worth looking at www.velovation.co.uk -I have ridden with Mark a few times and he arranges some great day rides out of Morzine with full support .

cheers bob

prhymeate

I think that must be close to where we stayed the last two times. It was a friend of a friends apartment, just by the library and stumbling distance from bar robinson. This time we are going at the end of June so won't be there in time for the time trial, which would be way out of my league anyway. Thanks for the velovation link though, it looks like a handy resource.