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DH Biking Morzine

58 posts & 17 voices | Started 9 months ago by lewismorgan | Latest reply from Stopadoodledoo

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lewismorgan - Member

Am Looking at a weeks DH biking in Morzine next year, am a virgin to the alps and DH biking but i'm dead up for getting into it. Friends say i'm mad and to stick with what i'm good at, but you have to start somehwere ey?
I don't have a bike but am willing to spend the big bucks to ensure i get a decent hire bike out there, and i've seen there is plenty about.

Does anybody know of any cheap diggs out there? Or is it worth going with a package company who will sort it all out for you? I'm not interested in a guide and i'm not really too fussed about going all inclusive!

Posted 9 months ago #
dirtbiker100 - Member

Do you have any bike at all? Is it just you or a group? What riding do you do at the moment?

Personally i'd look at a second hand bike a few months before going and ride that and get used to it (and fix any problems) then sell it when you get home again. If you can get a few of you together (and there is plenty of XC out there that is arguably better than the DH) then a small chalet would be ideal. My friends and I went with http://www.alptitude.com in a 5 bed chalet. My other group of friends (10 of them) went with Flowmtb's budget chalet.

Posted 9 months ago #
lewismorgan - Member

Sir,

I have a 9 speed 4X hardtail race bike and a Gary Fisher Big Sur XC.

I have never invested in a meaty DH bike primarily as there's no point living in Lincolnshire!
I'm fairly ample on a bike and done quite a bit now. Obviously nothing on this scale though. Just back from a trip in the cairngorms.

I will be going with 5 others

I will check em out, cheers!

Posted 9 months ago #
geetee1972 - Member

Do you really want to get in to 'DH' or just have fun riding your bike down hill?

I know it sounds daft but there is a big difference between riding trails tht take in the best dh bits an area has to offer and riding a purpose built DH track.

Oh and you should definitely try to build up to riding DH in the alps. Take in some of the easier UK tracks first.

Posted 9 months ago #
lewismorgan - Member

I want to have a proper crack at DH

Have had some friends ride at Morzine and all have returned saying its incredible. I see it like skiing, there's different grades to practice on until you get good, and thats ho wi will take this.

And DH in the UK? I've done a wee bit at fort william, but nah Morzine is the place for me to try!

Posted 9 months ago #
Andyhilton - Member

Flow mtb and a hire bike. Email Sara or Guy. I'm sure they will sort you out.

Posted 9 months ago #
lewismorgan - Member

will try them, starting to think a package deal might be cheaper!

Posted 9 months ago #
geetee1972 - Member

And DH in the UK? I've done a wee bit at fort william, but nah Morzine is the place for me to try!

Well Fort Bill is hardly beginner territory and by all accounts is easily up to the standards of the Alps.

Sounds like you're on a journey! You'll have lots of fun mate - I've been there myself and would still be there if family and work commitments weren't a more pressing priority for me.

Posted 9 months ago #
hora - Member

What type of riding do you like and how old are you?

If you love singletrack/XC etc I'd personally look at places like Finale Lagure etc. Morzine is great but very expensive now and the main runs have queues etc. I'm looking at Finale Lagure for next year

Posted 9 months ago #
nickf - Member

Go to Morzine, ride the DH runs, then realise how beaten the tracks are, and take the SuperMorzine lift, heading over to Chatel. Much more varied, some super-hard tracks/jumps, and minimal queueing if you go towards the end of August. If you can easily do Ride Humble after a few goes then you're well on your way.

On your way back, the French National DH to Les Lindarets will test you (again, it'll take a few goes) and is a lot of fun.

Posted 9 months ago #
chakaping - Member

With five of you an apartment should work out about £100pppw or less.

You won't need guiding, just follow your nose and ask other people nicely - the best runs are not really signposted.

Torico hired Orange 224s that seemed to be in pretty good shape, I'd probably go to them if I was hiring a bike.

Posted 9 months ago #
oliverd1981 - Member

Having been a few times this would be my take:

6-7" travel bikes with low/slack geometry are ideal, they'll be decent on the BIg tracks and allow you to access more variety of terain (although I manged to get from one end of the Portes Du Sleil in a day on a big hit...)

Personally i'd look at a second hand bike a few months before going and ride that and get used to it (and fix any problems) then sell it when you get home again.
+1 Excellent advice, although if you 4X bike is burly enough you might get away with frame, forks and bigger disc rotors

Morzine is nice and Central, but Chatel arguably has quicker access to some nicer tracks.

Hire bikes are mainly trashed. unless you're willing to pay absolute top dollar. You do get decent support from some of the hire shops, but you might be sat at the shop half your holiday.

Big Brakes are your friend.

Taking a bike with you is a bit of a pain, but knowing that it's in good shape, that it's setup just how you like it, and having the right spares is priceless.

If 5 or 6 of you can find a suitable van to share, and enough time off you might find driving economical, it's going to be tough with fewer people than that. Same with a chalet, self catering is very economical if there are a few of you and you stock up on food and beer before you head into the mountains. A half board Chalet will make it feel more like a holiday, the support and information most reputable companies offer may be useful to a first time visitor.

You'll suffer the fact that there are now less and less Geneva flights in the summer, Liverpool is probably your best bet from Lincs.

Don't forget to factor in the cost of airport transfers and insurance.

You've got to bear in mind that although the total cost can be quite high, it is a holiday and you will get more lift assisted riding in in a week than you probably would in a year in the UK, If you look how much it costs per day to go yo Wales or FT. Bill, Portes Du Soliel might well work out just as cheap.

Posted 9 months ago #
Hob Nob - Member

Morzine is only beaten up if you are too scared to ride off the main lines. There are countless 'locals' trails you can ride to your hearts content if you drop off the main lines.

Rather than hiring, buy a bike on ebay a few weeks before - ride it, sort the niggles and sell it when you get back. You probably won't lose any money, rather than spunking 70+ Euro's a day on a DH bike out there.

Posted 9 months ago #
5lab - Member

yeah it costs about £60 a day for rental - for £400 I would rather buy a bike in the UK (personally I'd get something more play oriented than a full dh bike, as its more versatile when you get back) then if you've not got on with it, flog it, if you have, then keep it.

There's a bunch of websites offering accomodation, its dead cheap. I've never had guiding so can't speak to that side of things.

Fort Bill DH track is about the level of most of the tracks in that area of the alps. there's a few steeper trails that are more tech (Champery world cup springs to mind, and a couple of the chatel double blacks)

Posted 9 months ago #
nickf - Member

Morzine is only beaten up if you are too scared to ride off the main lines. There are countless 'locals' trails you can ride to your hearts content if you drop off the main lines.

Interestingly, having been out there last week, and having ridden several of the 'secret' tracks, I can confirm that they're ALL trashed. Not just my view - a pro rider (just missed out on being picked for Champery) who lives out there tells me that he's never seen it so badly worn.

Posted 9 months ago #
hora - Member

I'd also say buy a used frame, use it and sell it afterwards. At least you'll know its exact condition before you take it and you wont owe anyone anything if anything breaks (other than wear and tear components).

In addition, what if you have a heavy night and decide not to ride part of a day (or heaven forbid) abit of a fall where you come off/need a rest. A hire bike is a taxi cab running regardless of how much you ride and do you really know if the shock/fork is running tip-top?

Posted 9 months ago #
chakaping - Member

The tracks down from the Super Morzine lifts were riding great back in July - but hasn't there been a three-week deluge since?

Some friends who were out a couple of weeks ago said there was very little that was fun to ride.

Posted 9 months ago #
Stopadoodledoo - Member

nickf - Member

Interestingly, having been out there last week, and having ridden several of the 'secret' tracks, I can confirm that they're ALL trashed. Not just my view - a pro rider (just missed out on being picked for Champery) who lives out there tells me that he's never seen it so badly worn

They weren't two weeks ago, although they are a lot wider and more rutted than they were last year. Most aren't secret any more though; in fact you'd have to be blind to miss the ones on Pleney. Anyway, even blown out, they are still better than the main Pleney and Chavannes runs.

Best track out there was Porridge in my opinion.

Posted 9 months ago #
hora - Member

I liked Run of the Mill but alot of it was waaaay above my talent/comfort zone!!

Posted 9 months ago #
Stopadoodledoo - Member

chakaping - Member
Some friends who were out a couple of weeks ago said there was very little that was fun to ride

Your friends didn't look hard enough, or don't like steep stuff.

Posted 9 months ago #
chakaping - Member

Loved porridge. And run of the mill. And the track that starts just up and left from the Suoper Morzine lift (what's that called again?)

Your friends didn't look hard enough, or don't like steep stuff.

I don't know how hard they looked but they do like it steep. What holds up well in the wet out there then?

Posted 9 months ago #
Stopadoodledoo - Member

We just call that one Super Morzine - really original name but I suppose (apart from the waste of time that is Zig Zags), that is all that was there at one point. In fact, when we first found it ten years ago, we called it the Singletrack of DEATH (due to the number of crashes) and rode it over and over again.

Run Of The Mill, Russell's Backyard, Singletrack of DEATH and Tennis Courts are all spot on in the wet, as is DA at the top of Super Morzine. I couldn't persuade anyone to ride Porridge with me in the wet and didn't fancy heading down on my own.

Posted 9 months ago #
lewismorgan - Member

What kind of price will i be lookinga t for an adequate DH bike out there though?

Posted 9 months ago #
Stopadoodledoo - Member

Have a look on Pinkbike and the like. There were a few half-decent looking Iron Horse Sundays and the like on there a couple of months back for about a grand.

Don't write off the DH tracks in the UK either. Sure, they may not have the height, especially when compared to the main Pleney / Chavannes / etc. runs. As an example (and maybe not a fair one as it is a fantastic track), I would rather ride Rheola than Chavannes any day of the week.

Posted 9 months ago #
5lab - Member

you don't even have to spend a grand. For £750 you can pick up a 3 year old patriot\stinky\pitch with 7" forks and a 1x9 drivetrain. bleed the brakes, buy a *load* of pads from superstar (i've gone through 2 sets of front pads a day in france when its muddy before) and go riding

this sorta thing would be fine (no relation to me, just the first thing i found in the classifieds)

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-kona-stinky-3

Posted 9 months ago #
ahwiles - Member

i honestly believe that uk trails are better, we just don't have chair-lifts.

and if you go to scotland, the access rights are better too.

practically every decent bit of single track around morzine has a 'no vtt' sign on it now.

Posted 9 months ago #
Stopadoodledoo - Member

Most of the decent cheeky trails in Morzine are build by British seasonaires; the main tracks are built by the French and are constructed with longevity in mind rather than technical interest and flow, which is why the cheeky stuff is great and the main runs are shit. In my opinion.

Posted 9 months ago #
5lab - Member

i don't even think you can say the french tracks are built well from a longevity perspective. They have no armouring at all, and as a result are perenially f**ked from braking bumps. Compare that to canadian tracks, which wear far far better, and you'll see the differences

Posted 9 months ago #
hora - Member

Matey once told me (after his trip to Whistler) that Canadian riders avoid A line etc if theres been rain to preserve the track?

Is this true?

Posted 9 months ago #
legend - Member

Locals all do the same with morzine 'secret' tracks, stops them from getting ****. Of course, folk out for their 2 week ego massage tend not to follow suit......... myself included

Posted 9 months ago #
nickf - Member

They have no armouring at all, and as a result are perenially f**ked from braking bumps

True enough, which is why I head over to Chatel more often than not. Maybe it's less traffic, maybe it's the way the trails are built, but the Swiss trails are far nicer to ride.

Posted 9 months ago #
Hob Nob - Member

It's not just a case of armouring, it's a case of crap trail design.

As you get all & sundry down some trails, the differing abilities and as a result, levels of braking vary hugely. if you look at the subtle differences in trail designs, a lot of the stuff is designed to slow you naturally into the corners, rather than honking on the brakes at every available opportunity.

None of the cheeky tracks are ruined by brake bumps, because people who ride a lot of DH ride differently, and the others who don't tend to ride them once, sh*t themselves and then stick to the main lines.

The problem is, catering for such a wide level of abilities. The other issue is in the likes of Whistler, the penny has dropped about MTB providing a valuable income stream in the summer months. In the case of the PDS, it's still seen as an inconvenience to them.

If they keep having dire winters though, it will only serve to improve the summers as they have to look for other income sources.

Posted 9 months ago #
hora - Member

OP do a few uplift days or tracks here in the UK first before deciding/see if you like it. You can book upto 3weeks before the date(s) you want to go anyway if you are flexible on dates.

Better to see if you'd like it first as there are loads of holidays out there to do.

Stopa above rates Spain and everyone I've spoken to loves where they've been. Plus I don't think you'll be charged 5euros+ for a pint or 10euros for a burger.

OP theres alot I'll roll etc here in the UK but I was abit there. Its also bloody expensive now. I bet theres better to be had in other places.

I only rode the top section of Pleney before peeling off (as I hate it) and I was surprised to see the very top section of Monte Cherie closed to bikes as I really liked that. The long ridge/traverse from along the top of Monte Cherie (due to the above) is also closed which is annoying as I really liked that. There are some good new editions off the top of Chavannes but some of those (red) runs are still evil when the mud is greasy.

Posted 9 months ago #
Stopadoodledoo - Member

Hob Nob - Member
It's not just a case of armouring, it's a case of crap trail design.

As you get all & sundry down some trails, the differing abilities and as a result, levels of braking vary hugely. if you look at the subtle differences in trail designs, a lot of the stuff is designed to slow you naturally into the corners, rather than honking on the brakes at every available opportunity.

None of the cheeky tracks are ruined by brake bumps, because people who ride a lot of DH ride differently, and the others who don't tend to ride them once, sh*t themselves and then stick to the main lines

Couldn't agree more mate.

Spain (specifically Malaga area) is fantastic although very different in nature to the Portes Du Soleil (rockier, not as steep, nowhere near as busy). Wouldn't recommend it for someone wanting to try DH out for the first time though as some of the trails are proper techy and there are no other options to cut off onto if you get phased by trails such as 911 and Ojen.

Posted 9 months ago #
Stopadoodledoo - Member

hora - Member
OP theres alot I'll roll etc here in the UK but I was a bit gay there. Its also bloody expensive now. I bet theres better to be had in other places.

Depends on what you want really.
If you like the big motorway DH tracks then Les 2 Alpes has more of them, they have more of a height drop, the lifts are all close together and they aren't quite as cut up as Morzine. Bugger all singletrack there, though (and what makes Morzine good, apart from the cheeky stuff, is the singletrack that is fun on a DH bike, but doesn't really require one).
If you like mile after mile of downhill Alpine singletrack, Les Arcs or Alpe D'Huez are fantastic. Not been to the former but the latter also has a couple of motorway DH tracks although the one down to the DMC lift in Alpe D'Hu gets more braking bumps than the Morzine ones (and isn't as good).
If you like your stunt ramps and mile long lift queues, then Pre La Joux (Chatel) near Morzine is your place.
If you like steep, loose, cheeky stuff that's like the old Dragons DH tracks on steroids, it's Morzine.
If you like riding utter shit, then go to La Grave.

Posted 9 months ago #