As above, looking for flowing singletrack rather than just blasting down flat out.
[i] looking for flowing singletrack[/i]
Surrey Hills? 😉
Have you looked around Samoen? Think there's a route map thing on the website if you google it. Actually it's here:
http://www.samoens.com/en/summer/my-activities/cycling-mtb/lifts.html
Haven't done any of it, but was up there a few years ago and it looked great for days out pedalling rather than the DH tracks up the valley in Les Gets etc.
Anyone ridden up there?
Anyone ridden up there?
Yup. Did a week out there with Steve from [url= http://www.bike-alp.com/ ]bikealp[/url]. Lots of non-gnarly flowy singletrack, mostly on marked trails but lots off-piste too.
Les Arcs is the best I"ve been to. Not that I've ridden lots of places, but there's loads of fast, twisty, non-technical singletrack there. Most of it off the trail maps though so you either need a guide, or be prepared to do lots of research and exploring.
Les arcs and surrounds- it can be pretty tricky at times but it's not downhill.
Suppose it depends on your idea of flowy, I know some folks consider that to mean, basically, uncomplicated- your glentress reds etc. I reckon la thuile flows like a river but others in our group found it awkward and nadgery and unflowy. Not because I was better or anything but just because we have a different sense of flow.
Try the Vosges and Jura regions
Sauze d'Oulx in Italy, not very steep and lots of lovely flowy stuff.
Wow, 8 hours plus and no one has said "Whiteroom", what have those guys done wrong? 😉
I have come to the realisation that anywhere in the Alps will have trails like you are after. If you know where to look. So if you haven't been to an area previously, a guide, with local knowledge and who understands what you're after -whilst expensive- is priceless.
the passports du soliel route is fairly pedal-tastic. I enjoyed cuising round large sections of it on a rigid 29er last summer hols.
maybe ask someone who's been there and probably done what you looking for and ask for GPX file.. this is what I am after as well, but might not make it to Alps this year (again) 🙁
Some good stuff around Les Arcs. Went with Trail Addiction last year and you really do need a guide to find a lot of the off the beaten track stuff. I do have some GPS plots but a knowledgable guide is still a better option.
Montgenenvre might suit you, and there's some easy stuff at Sauz D'Oulx. And as above, PdS is generally more hilly than mountainy, if that makes any sense.
MussEd - MemberI have come to the realisation that anywhere in the Alps will have trails like you are after. If you know where to look. So if you haven't been to an area previously, a guide, with local knowledge and who understands what you're after -whilst expensive- is priceless
Nope well not for us... a week in Morzine & the surrounds with guides, and an obviously more XC than DH group, still had us on hugely DH fast trails (but not "the official DH trails").. I'd want to try Les Arcs myself, if I get the chance to go again
Bike Village in Les Arcs specialise in fast and flowy rather than DH. Their "Magic Carpet" route was amazing, the decent went on for hours and had a bit of everything. Best day on a bike ever.
Think trail addictions destination x will offer
Trail addiction destination x will offer what you want
Not all alps, but there is really a shit load of choice now. These are a few I have bookmarked to visit over the next couple of years.
http://www.themountainbikeadventure.com
http://rideslovenia.com
http://www.justridefinale.com
http://trailaddiction.com
http://www.trans-provence.com/guideweek.shtml
http://www.benjonesmtb.com/mont-blanc-enduro.php
http://switch-backs.com/
*Bookmarked*
I agree with MussEd in that pretty any alp will have something. We usually go to Morzine as it has a bit if everything. We can have a downhill/uplift day or an xc day. Miles of flowy singletrack. No need to go anywhere near the downhill tracks if you want.
The answer is Livigno, in Italy but very close to Switzerland. Been there 3 times and returning this summer. Bormio nearby, too.
Trail addiction destination x will offer what you want
Fantastic but not that flowy in my opinion, too many switchbacks!
I've done a lot of places in the alps over the years, 40 plus resorts I'd say and the best by far for little/xc/trail bikes (insert other name of choice) was destination x. Stella artur is one of the best trails I've ever ridden!
I've been to les arcs and found it fairly flowy singletrack. Some bits were flat out but if you wanted flowy you can just ask for it and they'll show you that too. I definitely enjoyed it and dont like flat out down hill by any stretch of the imagination.
Les Arcs, you could get a guide, though I found talking to people and just exploring very rewarding. Just get a topography map.
That said, I wouldn't really call many of the off piste trails flowy, they're amazing fun, but fairly rocky/steep for the most part. Still my favourite place to ride, ever, though. Just go, it's ace.
On Les Arcs - I'm with Pat, one of the (best) Trail Addiction guides - if you want flowier than Les Arcs, go to Wales.
If you want to feel like a hero by the end of the week because you're clearing switchbacks you can't walk down, Les Arcs is for you. 🙂
Stunning trails, and beautiful scenery particularly if you go down the same side as the La Varda trail (you don't have to ride that trail, there are other, less terrifying options).
I did Beaufort-Areches last year with TA too. Fantastic trails too, but different because the area is a lot less built up.
jim - MemberFantastic but not that flowy in my opinion, too many switchbacks!
I guess this is what I meant with different sorts of flow, a trail with a bunch of good switchbacks can flow brilliantly- one switchback breaks flow, 10 switchbacks adds it maybe?
Passportes is a good intro and based on loads of flow singletrack, some pedalling but aided by uplift to avoid the serious climbing you'd otherwise be doing.
Plus if you want some downhilly options you can do that too.
Also. You don't have to do the Passportes weekend. That's just a opening weekend festival. Add to that plenty of off piste options if you can find people to show you the way.