The best of 3 countries, including the best trail of the year

Major and minor hits around the greater Mont Blanc region of Aosta Italy, Valais Switzerland and Savoie France. Tomorrow I head to the souther French Alps, and then onto Finale Ligure.

Swiss flow

I spent a few days ticking off classic trails in using the le Tour lifts before they closed. It's good to see tyre tracks on the descent into le Buet. And I even tried a descent I had previously not done above Chatelard. It was very Swiss, fun and fast. How do the Valaisan's cut such good footpaths?

Barage d'Emosson behind

Aosta delivered with more good's high up near the Beccca France. It took us about 5 hours to climb nearly 2000m. Luckily there was a refuge near the top for a drink break. The descent was worth every minute of suffering with views over the Grand Paradiso Parc, high singletrack lead into almost never ending larch needle covered singletrack that begged you to go fast and then gripped you round every tight corner. We of course finished with delicious pizza, despite getting ripped off for drinks in Courmayeur.

Grippy needles?

BEST TRAIL OF THE YEAR?

I don't actually have any photo's of what are possibly my two favourite trails of the year, but let me tell you; Somewhere in the beech and spruce tree's above Pussy(!)/Moutiers lays untouched footpaths with a magic carpet surface of fallen leaves, that are slowly getting shaped into perfect berms and fast straights. Sessoning down these trails with fast riders was such a blast, bwaaaaaap! trailAddiction Ali, Lapierre mechanic Fred, chømage Max and Scottish Nash, thank you!

Not in the woods, but heading to them from the back of Val Morel

Winter then tried to stop us in Switzerland but Cross Road Cycles' Mael kept us going, and it was well worth the cold winds for spectacular views and nice singletrack from the Col du Grand Saint Bernard down to Osierers.

STUNNING CONTRASTS!

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...

Search This Blog