Author Archives: chamonixbikeblog

2 shades of grey

Posted on 28th July 2012

There’s a few techniques used locally to deal with the bike ban. You can ignore it, you can give up on the mountain bike, you can stick to the man-made trails and you can go elsewhere. You can also have a look at the Arrete du Maire, try and find a loophole, and hope for the best.

The arrete lists 12 exceptions to the July & August bike ban, most of which are listed in the official Chamonix bike map (which you can also get a paper copy from the tourist info and bike shops around town) but there’s 2 … [Read full post]

Posted in Chamonix ride , tagged ,

First chair, last col – Les Portes du Mont Blanc

Posted on 19th July 2012

Tuesday seemed to be a popular day for getting out of Chamonix. Groups were heading to Pila, La Thuile and the road cols of the Aravais. True to our Scottish roots, Lorne & I chose to make the 45 minute drive to the area with the cheapest lift pass, the Portes du Mont Blanc. 12.50euro for a day pass still represents a fair outlay in Irn Bru mind, so we were there for the 1st bin and rode till they closed the lifts on us.

So what was the riding like? Very different to Chamonix. A break down of … [Read full post]

Posted in Road trip , tagged , , ,

Le VTT et les Vaches…

Posted on 11th July 2012

Whilst bikes seem to be getting discouraged in some areas of the valley, they’re looking more and more welcome up at Le Tour.  There’s some sort of link in the alps where the more suitable the terrain is for cows, the more bikes are welcomed.  After all, Morzine is known locally as the mountain for the cows.

As the trains aren’t running from Vallorcine this summer (more information here: http://www.thechamonixbikebook.com/news/2012-the-year-there-wasnt-a-train/ if you’ve not already heard)we had to wait for the Vallorcine gondola to finally open at the start of July before the full potential of Le Tour could be enjoyed … [Read full post]

Posted in Trail conditions , tagged , ,

Flegere

Posted on 7th July 2012

The bike tracks at Flegere were never going to win any awards or become cult favourites but they still make for a good workout in quality surroundings, so I was pretty disappointed to find out that the bike racks aren’t going to be put on the Index chairlift for the rest of the summer. The liftie didn’t think it was the end of VTT above 1900m, but certainly we’ve lost the 2 tracks that drop the 700m vert from the top.

To make matters worse, there’s been forestry work about 1/3 of the way down the remaining bike track and … [Read full post]

Posted in Trail conditions , tagged

Crisortunity….

Posted on 5th July 2012

Pop culture has it that the Chinese have the same word for crisis as opportunity (they don’t, but it makes for an easy intro to the blog if we pretend they do). The idea that a forced change, whilst unwelcome, can be for the better. It’s much the same just now in Chamonix with the start of the July & August bike ban. No one wants to stop riding the trails they enjoy, but it’s good to be made to think outside the box a little and try some new places too. That and the trails are generally that hoaching … [Read full post]

Posted in Trail conditions , tagged

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