Chamonix Bike Blog

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Flegere

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 the re-instated track is just a wee bitty lacking compared to the original….

Still, it’s not all bad news. The Tramway du Mont Blanc, starting from Le Fayet now has it’s last tram at 1730 rather than 1540, giving more time to do some of the many trails down from Les Houches, Servoz & Plaine Joux and get back with some more DH rather than just taking the train.

Perhaps more usefully, the bike bus returns from the 7^th July till 31^st August. Full timetables here: http://www.chamonix.name/pdf/chambus.pdf but if clicking a link is too much for you, here’s the details:

07/07/2012
Crisortunity….

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 with walkers it’s difficult to get any real flow.

If you want to stay in the valley, there’s still plenty of trails open for bikes, enough keep anyone visiting busy for a few days at least. The Chamonix Bike Guide has written an excellent summary of these trails here: http://www.chamonixbikeguide.com/2012/06/july-august-bike-ban-whats-rideable.html

As for the other option, trying some new trails, well, why not? Here’s some links to some bike friendly uplift within 1hr (well, 1hr ish) of Chamonix. Should keep us busy for 2 months…..

Portes du Soleil: http://en.portesdusoleil.com/mountain-bike-trekking.html

Grand Massif: http://www.grand-massif.com/ete/appreciez_vtt.php

Portes du Mont blanc: http://www.combloux.com/fr/activites/ete/la-montagne/vtt.html

Verbier: http://www.verbierbikepark.ch/

La Thuile: http://www.lathuile.net/datapage.asp?id=191&l=3

Pila: http://www.pilaturismo.it/en/index.cfm/mountain-bike.html

And if you’re not wanting to spend the money on a lift pass (you spent it all on the Chamonix pass?) then a bit further afield is Saas Fee and Tignes, both with FREE uplift this summer!

05/07/2012
Escape from the valley

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 is no more, so remember to fill up the water bottle in Servoz!

The descent of Les Trois Gouillies was as good as ever, though possibly a bit slippier than ideal for those who were dropping the trail for the first time…. There’s a plethora of trails to choose from, the new Chamonix Bike Book give probably the best line if you’re not sure where you’re going.

From the old Servoz road we kept going down to Chedde and Le Fayet for a coffee before catching the train back up to Chamonix. The various free passes for transport don’t work after Servoz, so make sure you get your ticket before getting on the train, it’s much cheaper!

Back in Chamonix the increased bike traffic is helping to clear the worst of the winter’s loose rocks off the bike trails making things a bit more consistent, although you still canny take your bike up the Index chair due the amount of snow still up there.

24/06/2012
Beaucoup de neiges

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 bikes next week, hopefully the trails from the top of Brevant will be passable soon too. Till then, it’s time to get as much natural riding in as possible before the bike ban starts on the 1st July!

20/06/2012
Chamonix Bike Book 2012 & interview

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 Chamonix for snowboarding and the winter scene, and as the snow melted the snowboard shop I’d got a job in started filling up with bikes. As soon as I bought my first proper bike, an old Big Hit, and started riding it…well, I was hooked.

What gave you the inspiration for the 1st book?

I wrote the first book, Mountain Bike Guide – Chamonix Mont Blanc in 2008.. So I’d spent two years hunting trails before I wrote that. You wouldn’t believe the hours I spent pushing up dead-end jeep tracks, climbing down massive great ladders set in the rock and walking my bike down impossibly steep switchbacks.

How does this one differ from the original, more rides or a new style?

The Chamonix Bike Book is an entirely new concept. There’s no repetition, a complete change of format, more rides, more pictures, enormous IGN maps and a whole selection of road bike rides too. We set out to create the start point for any biking adventure in the Chamonix valley. So many bikers come here every summer, for their hard-earned week away bombing singletrack in the Alps. Too many end up like me in my first summer here, completely lost with a crappy map in my hand, having a below-average time while the locals are all ripping killer trails just a ridgeline away.

Is there going to be more updates as time goes on, pdf bonus rides or a website?

Invariably things will change – trails will evolve, more will open, others will close. Important updates will be posted on our forthcoming site thechamonixbikebook.com, but I guess by about 2015 an updated book will come out.

Favourite ride in the book?

Simple, Hugh’s Way. Hugh is an old mate of mine who worked as a guide for MBMB.co.uk for a summer about five years ago. At that time we were just looking for long, cruisey, singletrack – not too techy, just full of character and flow. He showed me his way of getting down to St Gervais from the Prarion – by the end of the summer we’d decide how to go down, we always ended up going his way down, hence the name. It’s not dated a bit.

Bike ban, good thing for chamonix or not?

The bike ban isn’t going away anytime soon – in fact probably the opposite – so it’s just one of those things we have to live with. On balance I think it’s a good thing – it stops the trails becoming too brake-bumpy, and reduces the chances of bikers mangling hikers during the busy times. It also encourages bikers to come here out of season, which is good for the shops and hoteliers.

Now you’ve conquered the Chamonix guide book world, what’s next?

I’m happy, thanks. The objective of the Chamonix Bike Book is not to make money, it’s to help people enjoy this place to its full potential. Doing a guidebook anywhere else would mean having to spend quality riding time away from Chamonix, which I’m not up for!

Any shout outs to the massive!?

Yes, all the people who had the faith to advertise in the book. We really went to town on it – foil embossing, waterproof cover, the works. If it wasn’t for Zero G, POC, Yeti Lodge, Ice & Orange, Freshtraxxx, Snostation, The Kitsch’Inn, The Jekyll, Boax, Freeze, Premer Chalet Construction and The Ski Factory, we’d not have been able to turn this idea into reality. And every local biker in the valley – the riders here have dedication & passion you just don’t find elsewhere.

TEN QUICK QUESTIONS

Flatties or Spuds? Flatties

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Lycra or baggies? Lycra for the road, baggies for MTB

Dogs or cats? Both!

Full bounce or hardtail? Full bouncer! 160mm trail bike, perfect CHX rig

Beer or wine? Beer

Lift access or earn your turns? The older I get, the more I’m earning them

Ski or snowboard? Snowboard

Kylie or Danni? Both!

Poco loco or Midnight Express? Poco, Berger ham & goat’s cheese sarnie, nom

Cheers Tom.

So there you go, all you need to do now is rush out to either Zero G, POC or Maison de la Presse to get your hands on a copy, or check out thechamonixbikebook.com website once it goes live….and if that’s not got your interest, here’s a wee video from thechamonixcollective of one of the new trails in the book, especially for anyone who thinks there’s no flowing tree lined singletrack in Chamonix!

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16/06/2012