I'm off to the Pyrenees for the last 2 weeks in August. 2 cars of people driving down with tents for biking, climbing and walking.

The slight hitch is that we haven't come up with any kind of plan yet!

Biking wise, we're after big all mountain rides as well as some lift assisted downhill-lite days.

Any suggestions for destinations, must do rides or guidebooks?

Cheers,
Dave

We had a great time at Pyractif. We were on road the whole week, but they do do mountain biking holidays, and although I can't comment on the trails, we did see a few cool looking man made dh trails while we were out there. The food was unbeatable, they have a table tennis table thing, and they have a hot tub. Good rooms too.

I'd go again, if just for the hot tub.

Big thumbs up too for Pyractif, great company and have superb road routes (off again C"C in August!) and also selection off road routes; also accommodation packages, best wishes

I'm a fan of Bagneres de luchon. Only one lift but it is pretty big with lots of good options going down. Plenty more riding if you are willing to climb. There is a lot of good walking, to or from lac d'oo is great and a fab place for a swim. Good rafting, too, the run from Spain is great. The town is pretty small. Nice campsite at Arome Vanille, rent one of their cheap and cheerful chalets for a bit of 'luxury'

we're not going with any organised tour… just hoping to camp in a couple of places and get some rides in, maybe spend a few days in a bike park at some point.

Dave

Talk to the guys at AQR

They're in Luchon, know the area really well, and will be able to do guided days. The Hotel Lutin where they're based also does top notch food and has a really good workshop if you break your bike.

If you go to Luchon then make sure you spend an afternoon at the Vaporarium. Haven't been back to pyractif since 2007, but certainly had a great time both on and off road over the previous 5 years.

Luchon was high on my list of possibles… it has now made its way to the top of the list :o)

Anywhere else?

Dave

We were there in mid july, and the Dowhills are shut, only 11 and 14 black which go down the rhs as you look up from Luchon are open.

We felt it was 4×4 for the top half then not really singletrack enough on the way below.

Ax 3 Domaines is much better. Stacks of singletrack, fast, steep, rooty, rocky for 1200m.

Nick

http://en.vallnordbikepark.com/

+1 for vallnord bike park, (andorra) there is some xc at the top as well

-1 for pyractif, thought it was horrible, scruffy, small rooms, back of nowhere – unless you like being wedged in with a load of roadies in a hot tub of course

Just to add, just finsihed cleaning out my car from a 4week trip, from the free LUCHON VTT topo –

Due to storm <Xynthia>, gr10 Piste Kboure and routes 10, 6, 17, 4 are all closed due to trees falling in the storm.

We combined 10,9,6, and 14 to get two reasonable routes, too much 4×4 in the top halfs.

Enjoy

PS I can email you a photo of the free vtt topo if you wish

Is it the same as the second page of this one from the luchon tourist site?

If not then yes please 🙂

Were they clearing up the storm mess? did it look like stuff would be open again, or is that it for the season?

Dave

Dave,

Yes it's the same one. Notice the red circles which are marking where it's closed.

We did 10 and 14 and make sure you add chemin 5 which comes out just at Luchon.

We were only there for 3 days, climbing and VTT, so did not explore the closed routes.

There is a crag just outside Luchon, St Mamamet, which has single pitch bolted routes from 4>. Nice rough Gniess. It has a topo placard at the base so no guide needed. It's roadside so grt for evenings. A few Mousquite though. (mousquitoes)

Nick

Forgot, there are FFC Signed Vtt routes around the valley but they have run out of Topos although the signs are there. We copied them off the tourist office wall map. Most had 50% fire road. We did not do any of those.

To be honest it was difficult to plan routes compared to -Ax 3 Domaines, Haut Bigorre, Les Houches, Embrun Area, Lago de Garda etc.

Nick

thanks for the heads up about the closed trails… i didn't spot that on the topo!

What is ax-les-thermes like for other stuff… walking/climbing etc.?

Dave

Ax-les-thermes is superb for biking (road & mtb) as well as walking and there is some very good climbing a few miles down the valley. The town is really nice with some very good places for food as well as an outdoor thermal bath which is ideal for soothing sore feet after a long walk/bike, + a very dodgy nite club/casino.

Been there 4 times now and love the place, if your looking for a possible guide or accomodation I have a friend who has lived over there for 10+ years who does some very good guiding and has a 5 bedroom guest house in Ax.

Ax is good, better weather than Luchon and more climbing and more varied climbing eg limestone and multi pitch granite. The Ax domaines VTT area is really good, lots of steep tight and single (not 4×4) single track. Quiet and thermal baths are good for feet !

Ax is about 40mins from Andorra too.

Been there twice both at the same time as the TDF summit finish.

The Municipal site is now a commercial one but still good.

Nick