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

Comments

Aiguille de la Grande Sassiere 3751m

One of those pure adventure days *warning mega photo post* Ali-venturing as it's been known by over the summer. When Ali from trailAddiction gets grand idea's in his head it always leads to hike-a-bike. Read here on DIRT Mag about a previous mission, its the highest rideable peak in the alps! A special team was organised: A top ten finishing team from the Bivouac Enduro, Mael and Max, Ali, myself and Fred the mountain bike mechanic from Mavic. All keen, all stupid? And then my alarm went off at 04:30. Time to eat and drink as much as possible. I hadn't been up this early since ski touring in refuges last winter. In my tired state I did subconsciously know how to load the bikes onto the trailer, it's easy after doing it everyday all summer. We drove up towards Val d'Isere, then turned left up a singletrack road. It was around 6am, and it was still pitch black. Slowly the sun began to rise: Tignes...

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. ...

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...

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