Le Mole & Dirt Magazine trail in one day

Shuttle crew day

The day started early with 2.C temperatures, Autumn is here then?

With the trailer loaded we set off on the 1 hour drive half way up Le Mole hoping we would break out of the clouds. No luck, 5.C and 50 metre visibility greated us at the carpark.

We set off, cold legged, and with mixed feelings about what was ahead. Luckily after the first big effort we broke out and the views alone were worth the struggle!

It wasn't cold at the top, we even broke into a sweat on the way up and the views were still majestic in every direction, 360 degree's. Coming up we could feel how dry and hard packed the descent would be. We were all excited, and after a few photo's by Humpo, warp speed was engaged. The noise of tyres scrabbling for grip as you come into a corner is both scary and magically energising.

As we hit the tree line, we also entered the mist level and it got dark and slippery. Those of dressed in black to look " enduro " and cool disappeared. At one point even a right corner disappeared, but luckily to mine and Humpo's luck there was a safe run out. Lower down the grip came back, as did the higher speeds in the dark loamy forest. Positions changed down the descent as somebody over shot one corner, and several well worn cut corner's were be spotted, and taken by the second place rider. The final part is sooooo fast and smooth we were giggling by the bottom!

Me and Wayne from Chamvan went back up to retrieve the van whilst the others went round to the supermarket to make monstrous lunch time baguettes before lap two;

Dirt Magazine ridgeline. A bit shorter, at only 1000 metres descent and boy does it go fast due to sustained steepness. Savoie flow-tech, made better by being able to drive almost to the top of it through les Brasses ski area.

On reaching the top we were just out of the clouds, le Mole was looking majestic, and very high. Great to be looking back at it after descending 1500 metres off it!

And bam! Hold on tight! The first bit is steep, really, now don't let go of those brakes because you think you've made it onto the smooth line...there are two big compressions near the bottom of the chute... After that go for it, hold on tight, but look as far ahead as possible to enjoy the flow tech challenge.

MANY THANKS to CHAMVAN for uplifting us.

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