Riding every month of the year

Since April last year (2016) through to now in 2017 I have ridden my bike every month of the year. This is something that I have not done in about 6 or 7 years since moving out to the Alps on a more full time basis. It shouldn't actually happen. In previous "winter" periods I have packed away the bike and got the ski's out for at least a 4 month period. This theme seems to be changing, once the domain of southern French alps, even in the Northern Alps you can ride year round. Up here a huge emphasis is put on communities & businesses to make a big income during the winter. How will this change.

Yes, there will be big snowy winters, but the frequency of them will decline. The Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in Switzerland have written many reports, here are links to two:

Less snow and a shorter ski season in the Alps

Climate change is shortening the snow season due to earlier spring snowmelt

It might sound nice to ride dry dusty trails in April wearing just shorts and a t-shirt, it is, and it's the future perhaps. What will summers bring? More long periods of rain storms, or more extreme heat... or both???

Here's some "winter" riding photo's: many thanks to Lorne for some crackers:

Steep skiing, please let it continue alongside riding singletrack...

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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.

Provence Posing

Early spring road trip with Team NL The Dutchies had work to finish before they'd start the mammoth 14 hour drive from under the sea to herb filled mountainsides. Work for us guys in the Alps is more seasonal & temporary, as it is for some Easyjet pilots which meant that the native English speakers left for 'The South' a day earlier. Digne les Bains was the rendezvous location for Saturday night but this meant going so close to Gap and Lac Serre Poncon. The lure of a trail in the Haute Alpes ( the northern most department in the Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur Region ) was too much. 3 of us wild camped lake side with giddy excitement for what lay ahead. Rob & Ben knew each other from ski touring & paragliding, but had never ridden together, nor had Ben ever met team NL. Rob and I briefed him on the impending fun. In the morning, a classic was called upon to give Ben his first taste of Southern singletrack. Mont Colombus, and a few hours later aft

Servoz storm destruction

Deep in Servoz below the Fiz 75% of trail is ok. But where it is washed away is really bad. Click here for photos What rode was as good as ever for this begining/end of season trail 1hour & half pedal from Serviz village.

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