Had a fantastic trip with them in September 2009 and would love to head back out again. Was only when I got back home that I noticed that I'd cracked my Yeti ASR frame. Taught me for having by far the lightest bike out there that week 
Bike Forum
Bike Verbier - THE best biking trip I've ever had (with pictures)
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Posted 9 months ago #
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I can do two things. The first is to suggest that the easiest way to do this on your own is to ride the trails off the hill at the top of the lift in Verbier. There are a loads of trails down including some really technical red runs and easier blue runs. It's still not as easy to find your way down as say in Morzine, but the trails off of the lift are way better.
The second suggestion is that you get in touch with Lucy and Phil and see if they can let you tag onto the group for a day. This would be by far the best option as almost all of the best stuff we rode would be impossible to access on your own, largely because we used a combination of lifts and a van to access. Plus, telling you where it all is would be beyond me.
One day's guiding riding would be amazing and you would absolutely get your money's worth.
Hi Geetee, thanks for the info. I did actually email and Lucy got back to me but the price was too high for myself and my two friends this time around. I don't know if we could pay to tag along for a days guiding.
Anyways, after a huge amount of map, google earth and video studying I have found the "secret trail" but its a bit further from Verbier than I was hoping.
Could you give any more info about the lift system in Verbier? Are they all open? Do you buy one ticket for all lifts? I was hoping to get the lift up into the back country and then explore the hiking trails.
Cheers,
Tim
Posted 9 months ago # -
tim - my friends and I did four days in Verbier mostly unguided this year, drop me an email (address in profile) if you'd like a couple of pointers.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Phototim - Member
Anyways, after a huge amount of map, google earth and video studying I have found the "secret trail" but its a bit further from Verbier than I was hoping.
Huge amount!?! You probably need a bit of practice!
It took about 15 mins with Google earth and the Swiss LK maps to figure that one out. Looks like there are also another couple of epic options in the area though... Now I've just go to find the time to go and ride them.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Hi Tim - I'm not really the person to ask to be honest; I am sure that either Lucy or Phil can comment on here when they get a moment.
As far as I could tell there are two main lifts operating out of Verbier and you can access a lot of really good trails from those, but none that I would call 'back country', i.e. where you have a real wilderness feel to the ride. There is a third lift/gondala that goes up to the very top and then part way down the other side of the valley, towards the Sion valley. The riding down from there was brilliant but I don't think there is any way back up other than to ride/push.
One of the lifts operates from the valley floor, which is below Verbier by a few hundred metres; the other operates just from Verbier. I think one pass covers both those and the one that goes over the top and down the other side.
What I would say is that if you spent two days or so with Lucy and Phil, I absolutely guarantee that you wouldn't feel short changed, not even if two days accommodation, food (the food is amazing!) and guiding riding cost your a few hundred quid - they really are THAT good. It would be money very well spent!
Posted 9 months ago # -
You can get the cable car back up from La Tzoumas or if you go all the way down (a LONG way down & easy to get lost or die) you can hop on the train from Martigny back to Verbier.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Ive just got back from a couple of days in Verbier. You can keep yourself busy for a few days there without a guide but you will soon see that you are only scratching the surface. The maps of the area are quite poor and signage on the waymarked routes is also poor.
I've seen the videos and the photographs and couldnt find any of those trails. Phototim if you could show/describe me where they are that would be appreciated
The lift geetee1972 desicribes is one lift, with Verbier being the midstation. Plenty of runs off the top of here back down in to Verbier and you can figure out which way to go (left or right)whilst riding up in the lift. Also woth doing for is the Tour du Mont Fort, this links a few of the valleys up
http://www.tdmf.ch/en/main/pro-rider-tour.php
Also probably worth having a piste map as they are easier to understand than the map on the tdmf site. The tourist information in the main square have them or
http://www.verbier.ch/multimedia/docs/2010/11/plan_4Vallees.pdf
Posted 9 months ago # -
a few hours of beer drinking background views condensed:
www.vimeo.com/27684700Posted 9 months ago # -
Thanks for all the lovely comments, pictures and videos. Its great to know you all had a good trip.
The 'secret trail' obviously isn't , we like to call it the 'Hyperventalator'. It is a very sensitive trail though, this is because last summer an unguided group of riders didn't ride carefully through the cows, scared them all silly and one cow had to be put down because of a broken leg. This obviously doesn't help the relationship with bikers and farmers. So, if you do ride it have a great time, you will, but please go carefully through the meadows where the cows are.With regard to guiding, we are aware it is not cheap, however other guides in the area will be charging 180-320 chf per person per day, just for the guiding. If you do want pointing in the right direction we are happy to help if you drop us an email at bikeverbier.com
Posted 9 months ago # -
Huge amount!?! You probably need a bit of practice!
Ok so I was looking in completely the wrong place! I'm not about to post the details of where this trail is though as I'm sure BV would like to keep it at least reasonably quiet given its sensitive nature. I figure those who are willing to spend the time to work out where it is are those that will have the most respect for the trail, the hikers, the farmers and the cows.
Thanks to those who have offered and provided info on the lifts and trails. I will look at all this more closely soon but at the moment I'm on a National express coach and its not so comfortable to type!
I will also add that I am aware that BV are great value and of course it seems they provide an excellent service based on their reviews. For me and my buddies though, a 1 night stay is obviously not an economic way of doing it so we'll get a hostel or something and do a bit of our own exploring. I work with a whole bunch of people who have been riding these areas for years and I have yet to tap into their knowledge so that might help a lot. We're still also thinking of chamonix as well...
Thanks all, nice pictures too by the way!
Posted 9 months ago #
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