Skip to main content

Spring 2015 arrives a year early

Some people hadn't packed their bikes away yet and had been doing a mix of skiing and biking.  I had sold my bikes so instead had been studying for my next IML tests and doing a bit of walking in the autumnal weather that had returned to the northern Alps.

 It was with news that Courmayeur was unable to open is ski pistes, and that the ever Swiss resort of Verbier was even offering reduced price passes as their ski area was so poor that several people were talking about more biking.  I was kindly lent a Mega, 26 inch, but it was superb to be heading out.
Green style!
Five of us actually quite comfortably got our bikes into the back of the Bluebird minibus and headed down to Servoz for several laps of leafy goodness.  Load the van and repeat! We even managed to befriend a dog and take her for a lap in the minibus.  She eventually ran off when she had a chance to escape from Mr G.
Stabby T getting low
Andy
Me!
Me!

Humpage huck!
More Jarno green style

After a stylish Super U carpark lunch where we were treated to such culinary delights as the goat's cheese and banana baguette and turkish delight style chocolate it was time for the classic Merlet track!

You definitely know that you are back in Chamonix Valley after riding in Servoz.  Big rocks, exposure to your side, roots all over the place at awkward angles, and more rocks.  You really have to be on your toe's at all times, in the dry you can try daring lines hopping over a root here and then trying to charge through the next set hoping that your rear wheel doesn't slip out.  And of course there are some switchbacks to contend with too. By the time we got down to les Bossons, everyone was grinning and/or grimacing from close calls on the way down.  Only option was to do another lap!



So what a way to finish November 2014!  There is no snow forecast for a while, people will keep on riding, running and walking.  And I'll keep on studying.
Wheel size debate: 26" is quite possibly dead.  The sweet little Mega I rode was great, the tyres gripped like anything. It felt familiar after a season on a similar, but slightly newer version.  It's still a great bike for around here.  BUT.  The wheels, they are small and you do feel all the bumps and roots more.  And when you try and pump, there is not quite that same zippy acceleration as when you get 27.5" wheels going.

Comments

  1. Unknown30 November 2014 at 19:47

    Agreed 26 is dead.. But that bike looks awesome brushed aluminum from and components, who ever put that bike together must have some style. Long live 27.5.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Being shown around my classic stomping ground

Another chance to be shown around trails.  Not as glamorous as Switzerland, but just as good! Mortimers Forest and Bringewood, Ludlow, Shropshire, England The woods of Mortimers Forest and Bringewood are where I grew up mountain biking so I always love going back.  A few years ago I built a long section of singletrack trail to link in above a much loved piece of trail that had been a staple of rides for many years.  It was my way of giving back to the forest riders and builders. Over the last few years whilst I've been away riding 1000m+ descents my Dad has still been out exploring every corner of these forests.  Sometimes walking with my Mother, other times out on road rides with his Wednesday night Pub Ride group or usually with his main Sunday morning off road group. They are trail connoisseurs, though they might not look it.  They are the type of group that make up every British Forestry carpark on a Sunday morning...
Post a Comment
Read more

What guides do between work in the peak of July

Summer is here, and after fantastic spring riding in Southern France and then all over Valais, Aosta and Haute Savoie with good friends it's been time to get back to summer guiding, taking hikers around the Tour du Mont Blanc circuit.  There's much worse things to do, but with three weeks off the bike I was itching to get back on some trails. With a carefully planned week between tours I was excited and made some plans to hit up some classic lines, and some new stuff too. It's mid July now, so in Chamonix valley you have to think carefully about where to go to miss the crowds, and to avoid going on the bike ban trails (July & August).  Luckily it's still easy to find quiet trails in nearby resorts, or to simply drop round the back of a hill away from the frontside lifts. It went a little like this: Day 1- La Thuile with Wayne of newly qualified French legal mountain bike guiding service  Chamonixmtb.com  . Enduro race venue at it's best, rough and raw. ...
1 comment
Read more

Changing times

Being show around Valais trails for a change People I've been riding with recently have been talking about the Emosson to Martigny trail and how good it is.  Me and Tom had been up there in June to ride the first half of the trail and loved it.  blogged here . So I was keen to get back. I wasn't keen to get up after a late night in Amnesia, but knew that the road climb from Finahut would sort me and Jarno out. 1 1/2 hours spinning wasn't too bad. Luckily the trail is great form the beginning, even if it undulates and you often have to get off your bike for a quick push up.  It still kind of flows, in a 'flow-tech' kind of way. The views looking down towards Martigny and Sion were still great.  The trail really gets going after about 3 kilometres.  Basically from the Emosson the trail traverses North-Eastwards constantly hugging the mountainside to your left, and always with a big drop down to your right.  It's another one ...
Post a Comment
Read more