The Alps
Seagull
Posts: 2,814
Just got back from the Alps, legs are wrecked.
Les Arcs / La Plange is a great area for biking, trail were like North Yorkshire singletrack with loads of added switchbacks and a big increase in the length of the downhill sections.
BikeVillage was great and I can definately recommend them for a biking holiday. The food was excellent, and the accomodation was comfortable enough. Location was fantastic, right in the valley between the two ski resorts. The holiday they offer is definately XC biased, there was no ski lifts going last week and there was some big climbs, and big distances covered. You would need a decent level of fitness and technical ability before going out there if you want to get much out of the holiday. My week covered 116 miles and 5700 meters of climb in 5 rides. Just to show how bad the group I was cycling with was, Sam who runs the place guided us using his singlespeed! I think my 5" full susser was great for this holiday, it wasn't downhill biased and carting something bigger hitting up the hills wouldn't have been much fun.
As for the big question a few few weeks back - tyres - I used Panaracer Cinders and found that they were a drag on the big climbs, but very grippy on the singletrack, especially as the surface was similar to that found around here. I would say a better rolling tyre would be better, but the guys out there on Panaracer Razors / Schwalbe Racing Ralphs struggled with the front wheel washing out. There were lots of wet roots and rocks to contend with. I wish i'd had something like a Fire XC on the back and Cinder on the front.
The bottom line, get surfing for that biking holiday in the Alps![:)]
my photos NYM biking routes My full Suss My Hardtail
Les Arcs / La Plange is a great area for biking, trail were like North Yorkshire singletrack with loads of added switchbacks and a big increase in the length of the downhill sections.
BikeVillage was great and I can definately recommend them for a biking holiday. The food was excellent, and the accomodation was comfortable enough. Location was fantastic, right in the valley between the two ski resorts. The holiday they offer is definately XC biased, there was no ski lifts going last week and there was some big climbs, and big distances covered. You would need a decent level of fitness and technical ability before going out there if you want to get much out of the holiday. My week covered 116 miles and 5700 meters of climb in 5 rides. Just to show how bad the group I was cycling with was, Sam who runs the place guided us using his singlespeed! I think my 5" full susser was great for this holiday, it wasn't downhill biased and carting something bigger hitting up the hills wouldn't have been much fun.
As for the big question a few few weeks back - tyres - I used Panaracer Cinders and found that they were a drag on the big climbs, but very grippy on the singletrack, especially as the surface was similar to that found around here. I would say a better rolling tyre would be better, but the guys out there on Panaracer Razors / Schwalbe Racing Ralphs struggled with the front wheel washing out. There were lots of wet roots and rocks to contend with. I wish i'd had something like a Fire XC on the back and Cinder on the front.
The bottom line, get surfing for that biking holiday in the Alps![:)]
my photos NYM biking routes My full Suss My Hardtail
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Comments
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Legs are wrecked how?
also a good call on the tyres is a albert or a fat albert.
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Legs wrecked through 5700m of climb in 5 rides over 6 days. I found it hard work.
When do you go out there Fozzy? Weather at the moment is mainly hot (very hot at times like over 33degC), but it rained on several nights making for slippy trails and interesting mountain stream crossings for the next day. Pack your seal skins and waterproof. I'd also have some long sleeve thermals / gillets in your pack as well as it got cold at height.
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<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Seagull</i>
Legs wrecked through 5700m of climb in 5 rides over 6 days. I found it hard work.
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You do know that 5700m is 5.7km= 3 and a Half Miles?
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If you mean thats a short distance, then i'm talking about vertical climb. 3.5 miles straight up is a fair old way in my book.
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I wouldnt go to the alps unless the lifts were running, dont get me wrong they are amazing, although i feel the major point of going to the alps is the lifts.
Seagull, dont listen to these guys three and half mile vert is a good weeks distance, and in them temperactures hard work, after five days of hard riding i bet its not just your legs that are wrecking [:D]0 -
I hadn't realised that the lifts wouldn't be running when I booked for June, won't make that mistake again. The climbs aren't too bad though, you do enjoy the descents when you've worked hard for them. My fitness has improved as well so thats no bad thing.
Tom, it was 116 miles of biking to get that much climb. More miles if you include cycling to the swimming lake in the afternoon to enjoy sunbathing amongst all of the topless ladies[}:)]
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Did somebody say something about topless ladies, i mean lots of climbing [:p]
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