He looks radsicawsum who ever he is.
Mate whoever he is he is so rad to the power of max I came three times just watching the video 
Are you going again this year?
Bike Forum
Morzine dilemma
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Posted 4 months ago #
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Take the Blur, you are used to it. I've ridden there on my Reign which was fine. Most of the riding is not full DH anyway, by all means rent one for a day or more. Riding a DH is fun and a new experience as they have a different feel and motion. Friends rented both DH and long travel AM in Les Gets last year and the bikes were decent quality although not top of the line brands.
A Jedi day is an excellent idea (I took a session in Dec) and far better use of your money than a DH bike. Also buy spare brake pads and some body armour, I rode most of the time in my normal lid but a full face is a good idea. A chain device is a good idea too. The bike will get beaten up relative to normal UK riding not least as with the lifts your doing so many more runs than riding up.
For an AM excursion go for lunch in Mont Caly, one very French place with stunning views. Accessible from Les Gets with red or black options back to village
Have fun.
Posted 4 months ago # -
i didnt want to get into this.. i know you dont have to go far to have fun and there are bigger jumps and cooler people than me in the uk
i just wanted to share my thoughts on something that lots ask. all i was saying is that it doesnt matter what you ride out there or anywhere, as long as you have fun. that pic is us having fun.. no more no less...and i still cant upload pics hahaha
Posted 4 months ago # -
I'll use this opportunity to plug the Bullit frame and Boxxers I'm selling
email in profile if interested for pics etc.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Are you going again this year?
Not sure if I'll still have a job in a few months so not booked yet.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Stu - been there myself in 2009 (made redundant three months before the birth of my first son!) Fingers crossed for you mate. If the worst does happen, just make sure you keep riding the bike. It will keep you sane, but hopefully it won't come to that.
Posted 4 months ago # -
The Blur LT is absolutely fine for anything in the PdS IMHO, except in my case, perhaps, the Champéry WC in the wet: I would've like about 5 deg less head angle. Having said that I cracked the bottom bracket shell on the 2nd trip.
Not sure about someone who posted above about Pikes dying on long runs? Mine were fine each time I took 'em out there.
Braking bumps are the death of speed of the shorter travel bikes though - you just get thrown around all over the bloody place.
Posted 4 months ago # -
AndyRT:
We bought a full guide when out in PDS last summer. It is called Portes Du Soleil 53 MTB Routes. It is really good and grades all rides on difficulty etc. Also a section on bike parks.
I think it is printed by Vtopo, website listed is http://www.vtopo.com, maybe you can order one from there. If not buy one when you get there..
Hope that helps
SimonePosted 4 months ago # -
Posted 4 months ago #
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Also found this one but it's from 2005 so not sure how current it would be.
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&cp=8&gs_id=n&xhr=t&q=bike+fax&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1680&bih=869&wrapid=tljp1325763067461012&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=852349790521604160&sa=X&ei=JIoFT9SgCcKu8QOY58HIAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CIQBEPMCMAQ#Posted 4 months ago # -
I rode in the alps on my heckler a few years ago and it was ok, rode it last year on my bullit and was better, hopefully going out this year with a 224 and think that will be the right bike. However we only tend to do the DH runs hence the DH bike! Plus I ride my DH in the UK too so its not like its going to waste.
I like the idea of getting a (cheap 2nd hand) bigger bike to go out there as it means you don't have to mess with your UK trail bike as stuff can easily get broken in and enroute to the alps! More suspension and bigger brakes made the 2nd trip far more enjoyable for me as my hands and arms took a bit less of a beating. As a result I could rider faster for longer compared to when I was on my trail bike.
Who knows if you get a DH bike you may well use it a fair bit in the UK too!
Posted 4 months ago # -
I get GW's point, if you don't ride DH in the UK there's not much point buying a DH bike for a short trip to the Alps? You'll know if you're hitting stuff fast / hard enough to need a proper DH bike already.
I've been to Morine a couple of times and tbh the worst part of it are the 'proper' DH runs, all the good stuff is away from the braking bumps and crowds - having said that a few runs there are always good fun.
But I've never wished for a DH bike there - tbh jumping on a DH bike that you're not totally used to isn't as much fun as you think. Better off on something that I'm used to that would suit the hardest riding I'd do in the UK, add bigger rotors and tough tyres / wheels and take off any pimpy parts that you don't want to see accumalating 6 month's use in a single week.A beater SH 160mm bike with reliable brakes and suspension would be my ideal choice, chuck it on the lifts and don't worry about abusing it for a week or 2.
Posted 4 months ago # -
A very timely thread as I'm heading out to Morzine in August. I rode the Mega course in Alpe d'Heuz a few years ago on a Specialized Pitch and just about survived. I now have a Stumpjumper FSR and am planning to take it - pleased to see 140mm is sufficient as was weighing up the options of acquiring a used DH bike rather than abusing my Stumpjumper
Posted 4 months ago # -
thanks jambalaya, kind words
Posted 4 months ago # -
the blur will be brilliant bike, suggestion get a dropper seatpost this will transform the geometry into a semi d/hill rig and give you more room to manouver.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Bear in mind that you may end up riding more of the DH stuff out that than you intended to because it's so easy and fun.
As others have said, you will get a battering on your Blur riding the main Pleney and Chavannes runs. It may also feel a bit hairy on some of the steeper off-piste stuff (which is the best riding in the area) if you are not already a pretty confident rider.
This, ^ or a patriot / SX type option - just get it early enough that you can get it setup and running how you like it.
+1
First time I went out I built up an old Big Hit just before I went out and it was all wrong for me. Too soft spring, frame too small. Last year I was on a 180mm bike I'd already owned for a year and felt much happier.
Next time I will take a proper DH bike and a 160mm AM bike.
Posted 4 months ago # -
AndyRT - I picked up the PP book when I was first out there but to be honest we never used it. We just studied the map, asked questions of Chalet hosts and bar owners about the best stuff. Would recommend sharing a guide for a day if your budget stretches, we did that in Les Gets and rode some stuff we'd have never found otherwise. As a nice AM detour I suggest lunch at Mont Caly, it's a small village above Les Gets with stunning views and a great "locals" restaurant with excellent food (it was described by a regular guest at our chalet as one of his favourite places in the world and one sunny day we were there I would agree). Access via Les Get lifts (quieter sdie) and a pleasant flatish ride along the mountain side which is a antidote to all the downhill crash bang wallop). You can ride back to Les Gets lift system via an easy Black trail or Red/Blue options.
Posted 4 months ago # -
The only reason you need a long travel bike in Morzine is to cope with the horrendous brake bumps.
Posted 4 months ago #
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