The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

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

Aosta singletrack

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 no? Unfortunately it seems that plan A for constructing the chair is to create a new access road through the village of Lavancher and then up through the forest to the Lavancher bowl and on to the Plan Joran. Most importantly this will cause huge disruption to the village, which is not designed for lorries and it’s not apparent how they’ll fit past some of the houses. For bikes, the construction will take out the descent from Logan to Lavancher, the only legal way down from the Grand Montets lifts in July and August and, if there’s no way to cycle down, why would you be allowed to take a bike up? For more information check out Eric Lasserre’s blog (there’s an English translation in the “commentaires“ or comments field) http://www.blogdericlasserre.blogspot.fr/2012/06/une-route-camions-pour-la-croix-de.html

If you want to make your voice heard, the next public meeting regarding the proposals is due at the end of the month.

And as for the ugly, that’ll be the weather. Snow to 1800m right now. Still, things are looking better from Thursday at least…..

Brevant, opening for bikes in 4 days...