Old trails, new riding

Le Tour Balcon and Merlet

I think 26 Inch is dead. Or is it just 2014 Season mountain bikes in general that are so good? I've ridden a rocket ship today that kept speed on some of the roughest trails in Chamonix Valley. Sure Jared Graves would still be much faster than me on his 26", but I had fun scaring myself on a "trail bike".

An old girl meets a new girl in the Massif

This is the beginning of my fourth summer in Cham and I started on a classic trail down from Le Tour towards Argentiere, the Petit Balcon Nord. There's still a few patches of snow around, but mostly the trails are dry buff, and fast, but that's cos of the bike right?

Just before dropping down at the crossroads above Argentiere I decided to turn left. There are a few trails up there I've not ever ridden. I've meant to get up there however the right time has eluded me.

My new Nukeproof Mega AM Pro 275 is longer than my downhill bike so the trail back down with about 20 switchbacks was perfect training. Enduro roll's around the corner's of yet another perfect Chamonix trail that you have to search out!

Switchback training in the fall line

Pre enduro roll around the corner

Switchbacking by the neve (hard-snow)

Grand Montets closed for skiing on Sunday and rather surprisingly (i.e: efficiently) for Compagnie du Mont Blanc, they've already got the builders in to start work building the new Gondola.

All the old chairs lined up in the GM carpark, which way up?

After a weekend away ski touring it was a bit of a struggle up to Merlet this afternoon. I utilised that big 42tooth on the back. Wow, the descent was amazing, but that was the bike right? Well yes and no. The Merlet descent into Chamonix is a real classic featuring fast rooty and rock sections, some switchbacks and loamy straights. Though the bigger 27.5" wheels did skip over the rocks and roots much better than my DH bike does. Not once did I feel it stalled due to my bad line choices. The Mega is just a bit longer than I'm used too so my corning is a bit slow. A good time to overtake me on the inside!

Cham trail ribbon

Cham tech

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