Advice on Trails in French Alps
barnesy1977
Posts: 4
Hi everyone,
I'm hoping to do a few days off-roading, next year, in the French Alps. I'm not familiar with the Alps at all (never been there in sunshine or snow), but I can't seem to work out from websites what the setup is there in terms of MTB. What I mean is, is the only real practical way to do the trails, to do them through one of the many accompanied holiday/adventure groups ?
Reason I ask is that due to work committments I'm not able to commit to being a certain place at a certain time or duration on any of the days I'm there so I need to be completely flexible.
Is it possible to do this, or do I really need to go with one of the groups for reasons I don't know about (such as needing a van lift to the top, the need to know the routes, or safety etc) ?
I'm a competent rider used to riding on my own, and don't have any trouble with UK red or black graded trails.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Many thanks in anticipation :-)
I'm hoping to do a few days off-roading, next year, in the French Alps. I'm not familiar with the Alps at all (never been there in sunshine or snow), but I can't seem to work out from websites what the setup is there in terms of MTB. What I mean is, is the only real practical way to do the trails, to do them through one of the many accompanied holiday/adventure groups ?
Reason I ask is that due to work committments I'm not able to commit to being a certain place at a certain time or duration on any of the days I'm there so I need to be completely flexible.
Is it possible to do this, or do I really need to go with one of the groups for reasons I don't know about (such as needing a van lift to the top, the need to know the routes, or safety etc) ?
I'm a competent rider used to riding on my own, and don't have any trouble with UK red or black graded trails.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Many thanks in anticipation :-)
0
Posts
If you want to do some more exploring, or back country riding, then you may well be better off with a guide.
I would agree with this
There are always loads of people on the DH trails, but I wouldn't go further afield without a guide.
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
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I got a cable car to the top of penken mountain at 2000m and rode down from there by myself, took me about 5 1/2 hrs or so. There are DH routes aplenty if your a nutter but even from the top there are a myriad of AM/XC trails you can explore solo or with a guide.
Obviously the guides there will know more but half the fun for me is following my nose and seeing where it takes me for better or worse
The only thing i would say is that the grading system there is a little different to here, according to the route i followed one day it was a medium grade level 3 trail but once i got goin it was way beyond anything on even a black trail ive experienced at home and im almost ashamed to say but i had to push it around some of the bigger stuff cause if you come off the bike some of the drops are so steep and long you wont stop until mother nature decides you've had enough so be carefull!!!
I only experienced a tiny part of what the alps have to offer but it was enough know im certainly goin back again next year and im taking my own bike next time, i guarantee you will love it
Merida
Austria 2012
If a mountain biker tells you they're ridden in the alps, then you can be almost certain they're talking about the Les Gets area.
(snowboarding might be too, I'll let you know in March
One last thing I forgot to ask, is what times of the year could you reasonably expect to ride the trails there ? I know it will vary from year to year but just an indication would be great. Their website says that the 'summer lifts' there seem to be open from 24th June to 4th Sept, so I'm guessing it's probably between these dates ??
Kind Regards