Monthly Archives: June 2012

Escape from the valley

Posted on 24th June 2012

The trails straight above Chamonix are amazing, but generally steep and tech, with roots and rocks abounding. After some pretty wet weather had passed through it seemed a better idea to ride some more flowing singletrack whilst the rocks and roots dried out. We headed down the valley past Vaudagne and out to Servoz to start the long road climb up to the Lac Vert car park. The views help take your mind off the legs and the promise of a rest at the fountain in the middle of the road at Le Mont keeps you going. Alas, the fountain … [Read full post]

Posted in Chamonix ride , tagged , ,

Beaucoup de neiges

Posted on 20th June 2012

Almost all the bike uplift is now running in the Chamonix valley, with just the Vallorcine and Grand Montets telecabines left to open on the 30th June. Pretty much all the walking trails off the lifts are clear of trees and the “Elfe Secret” track at Flegere was nearly clear on Monday and should be clear by now.

There is a wee fly in the ointment though, whilst the Brevant telecabine and Index chairlift are running, bikes aren’t being allowed on for just now as there’s too much snow to ride! The lifties reckon the Index will be open for … [Read full post]

Posted in Trail conditions , tagged

Chamonix Bike Book 2012 & interview

Posted on 16th June 2012

4 years after the last update of the Chamonix Bike Guide, a.k.a. the “green book” Tom Wilson-North and collaborator Angus Patterson have created an all new 168 page, all colour version. Want to know more about the book, the author, biking in Chamonix or just looking to kill 10 minutes?

Read on.

So, how long have you been here and how did you end up in Chamonix

I’ve been in Chamonix since 2006, and believe it or not, before I got here I hadn’t been on a bike for a good ten years. Biking was something new; I’d come to … [Read full post]

Posted in Interview , tagged

Summer’s back

Posted on 15th June 2012

Summer has returned to the valley, so before it got here I was keen to get one more day of being wet, cold and miserable in and headed down to Les Houches for a few laps on the Bellevue lift.

With the change in lift operating company, the Les Houches bike park is no more (for this year….) so the north shore shenanigans that used to start the marked bike runs have gone. Fortunately the rest of the courses is still in place, and the hill is just as slippery in the wet as it used to be.

Some of … [Read full post]

Posted in Trail conditions , tagged

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Posted on 12th June 2012

Start with the good news. Ever fancied checking out the riding in Pila, La Thuile or Valtournenche-Cervinia but the drive’s too far for a day and the lift pass just a bit too much? Well, the Aosta tourist board have heard your cries and initiated the “free ride free day”. Free hotel, free lift pass and free lessons on the 29th & 30th June, follow the links… http://www.iloveaosta.co.uk/2012/05/la-thuile/ride-free-in-the-aosta-valley-this-summer

For the bad, Compagnie du Mont Blanc are upgrading the old Plan Joran chair at Grand Montets, good news for everyone who’s had oil dripped on their lovely goretex gear … [Read full post]

Posted in Trail conditions

Welcome to the Chamonix Bike Blog!

Posted on 9th June 2012

This blog has been playing on my mind for a while now, as I flicked through the assorted skiing and climbing blogs where Chamonix’s community posts conditions and ideas for all to share and wondered why there wasn’t a similar thing happening for bikes. Hopefully this is the start…..

Today seems as good a day as any to launch, with the bike uplift season starting in Chamonix as the Bellevue gondola in Les Houches and the Tramway du Mont-Blanc in St Gervais open. Together these give more than enough trails to keep us busy till more lifts open next weekend.… [Read full post]

Posted in Trail conditions