I'm off to Mozine next month and would appreciate people with experience giving me some ideas of what to take with me.
I'm going by car so space is not at too much of a premium.
I don't need suggestions like 'A bike' and 'a passport', I'm thinking more along the lines of spare brake pads, etc.
Even things like 'book to read in the evening as nothing is open yet' etc.
Constructive answers much appreciated.
are you downhilling, or going for a bit of everything?
there are some pretty good xc loops, and some nice off road cols you can ride up (using the lifts to get maximum distance in a day)
if you can take some bits to change the build of your bike, I'd recommend doing that - you have enough time in the evenings to do some fairly major fettling, so you can set your bike up light for one day, and burly another. Even just changing tyres or wheels could be enough to give you a bit of variety on the trails.
Don't just be another storm trooper on the Pleney 🙂
Dave
Spare mech and hanger, tyres, tubes, seat clamp bolt, brake pads and springs, seat post if using droppy post, loosen brake clamp bolts so they twist if you crash, gear cable, spokes if you have some spares that fit and tools. oh and tea bags.
1st rule Don't take anything exotic or silly light to the alps!! (Roval Wheels etc)
Last trip out we had between the 2 of us
Heavier/Tough Wheel Sets on
Spare Wheel Set (lightler)
Spokes
Spare Tyres
Tubes
Spare Mech and hangers
Selection of tools
Brake Pads
Chain
Full Face and XC Lid each
Spare Fork (There was room)
Anything unique to your bike!!
My thinking was along the lines that
On lift assisted trail heavier wheels/tyres don't matter but in case of bend or longer XC trails spare lighter wheels for my missus was a good idea.
Change of tyres - Had 2 pairs or 2.5's one set of 2.35 Dual Ply Maxxis and a set of Single Ply 2.35 for the missus
Chains, brake pads and mechs have all been really expensive so just bringing the spares box really.
As for pads, if you got them take them - no point in nursing a big stack thinking at least my pads are clean and dry at home!!
And for Morzine I'd also put some Swamp things or the like in, when it rains it can be hell out there!
(previous is 5 Morzine Trips, 2 Les Arcs and area and 2x Mega)
There are loads of bike shope in Morzine so provided you have a credit card you shouldnt be stuck for much if you forget anything
C
ha - but make sure you have plenty of limit left on the card if that's your plan!
tubes.
at least one spare tyre. + make sure you swap to big volume thick carcass before leaving
brake pads.
BLEED KIT!
tools (spoke key for sure)
full face
prob goggles as it will save your eyes pissing out water on some of the speedier bits!
i personally wouldn't worry about mud tyres if space is tight. when its proper muddy it gets FUN. in a chaotic kinda way. but since it's (mainly) downhill you can get by, you just might go more sideways than straight.
mud guard/mud flap... surprisingly more useful on a 30mph + fireroad in a thunderstorm than they are at home!
decent and small packing waterproof (gets VERY cold on lifts when weather comes in)
decent gloves
decent pads
camelback with at least 2L capacity ( you will get THIRSTY)
LOTS of suncream.
i'm sure there's more.
you don't need a book for the evening, you can go and have a wander round, the scenery is unreal.
I took, and needed, spare brakes (for a friend and planned in all honestly), fork, headset remover, usual tools, pads...
Basically if you have it, and can spare the space, take it. Prices high and +1 on mudtyres. We had a washout week the first time. Was hell!
yeh alright, i concede on mud tyres on the basis that if you time it bad and its wet all week, that going sideways EVERY day wont be fun.
on that note, if you have more than one pair of riding shoes/riding shorts etc. it will be worth it, as the rain makes getting changed into the same kit the following day pretty damn grim.
Bigger dia discs. Those long descents can be easier with a more pokey brake.
Any specific spares, like if you have obscure parts on your bike.
Marmite and brake pads, failing that, just Marmite.
Ed Oxley
Another pair of gloves.... I found after riding in the same pair for a couple of days the seams start to bite and the hands get sore, by having a different make/type of glove it resolved the problem and let me get on with riding.... oh and if your chalet has a bath radox too! or chuck it in the jacuzzi 😉
Spare dual ply tyres as the bike shops charge RRP and it can be eye watering when being held by the short and curlys.
spare gloves + glasses
spare pads
spare rr mech if you have one.
spare tubes
DH tyres + spare tyre if you've got them.
riding snacks if your fussy.
something to chill out with in the evenings book/ magazine/ ipod/ hacky sack 😉
unklehomered - Member
I took, and needed, spare brakes (for a friend and planned in all honestly), fork, headset remover, usual tools, pads...
And much appreciated they were too!
Has anyone mentioned zip ties yet? And as much riding kit as you can fit. Our chalet last year had Marmite, but good shout - not many will.
It's also a good idea to pool resources and take bigger stuff like spare wheels if you can do. We needed at least a couple of spare wheels the first year. And I think UnkH's forks needed rebuilding at one point.
yeh if you're going with mates then share some bits.
i had a spare boxxer stanchion (how the hell do you spell that) with me one year...
basically if you have space... get it in!
Breathalyzer (for the drive over - a legal requirement)
Ibuprofen gel. 🙂
A first aid kit...
Some fantastic suggestions there people, including may I'd definitely not thought of.
Keep them coming please.
Bleed kit, small bottle of brake fluid, couple of meters of blue roll.
Baggy tshirt or similar to wear over the body armour to keep the roost/dust/mud off.
Crop your spare cable inner to something aprrocahing the right length for your rear mech and solder seal the end.
Go or Hi5 powder will let you make your own drinks and ends up a lot cheper than lots of €3+ powerades.
I went with thin palmed clarino gloves with no seam or pads in the smallest size I could fit. This worked great. Taking your gloves off on the lifts and letting your hands breathe and your gloves air is a good move. I also like sweatbands to stop the gloves getting too sticky in the first place.
[url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/19952809/ ]Effectiveness of ibuprofen gel[/url]
Take all your ride gear too!!
Effectiveness of ibuprofen gel
Confirms my experience.
V useful thread BTW as I'm going to PPdS/Alps for the first time too.
Also pop in a bag of common sense....
If your all still standing by Wed Night then don't get cocky!!
Accept that if you go exploring some will be good some will be Sh*te
Try and get a guide early on in the week to get your bearings
Don't get stuck in Chatel - take a watch or set an alarm
If you make it to Linderet they you can road it out after the lifts close
Lifts close if it thunders (regardless of where you need to get to)
It thunders a bit
If you can still get to the top of Mont Cherry it was fun!!
It's been mentioned but, SUNSCREEN, I burnt the back of my legs where the gap in my pads was a few years ago and wearing pads the rest of the week was v uncomfortable. The air's thin in them mountains.
+1 for getting a guide for a day or two, you don't [b]need [/b]one but you will get more out of your time there with a bit of orientation.
It is indeed a [b]very [/b]long way from Chatel to Morzine by road! You don't want to get stuck that side of the hill.
There's a nice picture from the top of Mont Cherry looking over Les Gets in the [url= http://www.lapierre-bikes.co.uk/sites/default/files/upload/catalog/vtt-en.pdf ]Lapierre[/url] catalogue (page 8 & 9). Pity there's some mountain bikers stood in the way...
Insurance
Put a dollop of anti seize in your maxle threads (if you're using a maxle). Will make it easier to get out at the end of the week.
A woman.... there is a reason it's also called Manzine.
Edit: Inflatable is acceptable.
Painkillers like paracetamol are not available without prescription in France.
I use a gps out there a lot, to log routes as well as follow them.
It is a BIG mistake to miss the last lift up the hill. A seriously silly thing to do. Carry your passport and plastic just in case.
I've never used a guide there- just go explore, ask in bike shops (eg Torico) ask online, at top/ bottom of lifts etc.
And when it rains it will be VERY slippery indeed.
A lad in the local bike shop told me to buy some major cheap waterproofs, he said when it rains it pours and your stuff gets ruined due to the claggy mud.....
Your waterproofs get ruinned by sliding down hills on your arse 😀
And take the kitchen sink, you can destroy bikes out there.
A good bike lock. Our chalet was made up of four self contained units with a communal laundry/storage room. The owners idea of security was 10 metres of metal chain, the type you normally expect to see hanging across the entrance to a private car park.
A nightmare to thread through our six bikes especially you have people that care about their paint. I think the noise of removing it was a greater deterrent than the very small amount of security it gave us.
Sudocreme. For the inevitable chaffing...
Eak i need to get shopping for the PPDS ! 😀
Sudocreme. For the inevitable chaffing...
It's great on grazes and sunburn too. Combined with Ibuprofen it could comprise the entire required medical kit.
OP lots of good advice above, would ensure you have at least 3 pairs of socks and two sets of padded short liners, same pair all week = recipe for conflict with room/riding mates.
Some suggested waterproofs. Which is sensible but when we got caught in rain two years ago all the locals whipped out bin bags and ripped holes in them for head and arms. 🙂
Also when I say "caught in the rain" we were in a thunder and lightning storm getting battered by rain and hail on the worlds slowest chairlift! I don't know if you've every been surrounded by lightning hitting mountains while hanging 60 feet from the ground but it was _exciting_. 🙂
Zip ties and old (ideally DH or FR) inner tube to rig up a 'beef flap' fork mounted spray guard. Else an RRP or MuckyNutz
Spare bolts of various sizes/lengths for your bike
Take apart your bike and clean/loctite/copperslip/torque everything as appropriate in the hope it'll help reduce the chance of rattling your bike to bits
Powerlinks
Tick removal tool(s). IIRC European ticks carry lime disease. At least check yourself over after your shower. You'll want the proper removal tool to reduce chance of getting limes
I read on here a while back greasing the back of your rotors (where it meets your hub) is supposed to help transfer heat away from the rotor a bit to deal with high heat in the rotors
Just be careful not to get any on the rotor bolt threads as IIRC loctite won't work/set as well/not at all
If big rotors, check what your frame/fork are warrantied to
I was suprised to be told my 155mm FS frame is only warrantied to a 185mm rear rotor
Most rockshox forks are upto 210mm
Sintered pads only if its sopping wet IME, else they'll build up heat much quicker
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tenn-DH-BMX-Cycling-Padded-Hip-Protector-Body-Armour-Shorts-Black-/261001850198?pt=UK_Cycling_Clothing&var=&hash=item8268f9a0c7#ht_1912wt_1140 ]Armoured Under Shorts[/url] are also good
If you have them....
Don't forget the spedo's if your going to the pool
What should I take
No too much following the terms and conditions change on Easyjet ( assuming that's how you're getting there)
Take maximum advantage of the fact that
You are (potentially) only allowed 32Kg of hold luggage including the bike
Hand baggage doesn't get weighted (56x45x25 max dims)
there aren't any rules about wearing body armour or multiple pairs of shorts when checking in. 😀
We are flying Easyjet to Geneva with bikes on Saturday. This was advice we got from EJ: 32kg for bike PLUS 20kg hold luggage. Email below
2nd May 2012
Thank you for choosing us for your travels plans.
I confirm that each passenger is entitled to carry 32 kg of weight allowance for bicycle in bicycle box without any excess weight fee. They can also carry 20 kg (per passenger) of weight allowance for hold bag.
Please ensure that the combined weight of hold and bicycle is not more than 50 kg (per passenger).
To know more details on carriage of bicycles, please click on the link below:
http://easyjet.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4040
I wish you a pleasant flight.
Regards,
Prabhleen
easyJet Customer Services
Ts and Cs on EasyJet website support what coolhandluke says so I'd be wary of that advice Bewildered. 32 kg for everything combined.
Anti inflammatories and paracetamol are available over the counter in France now. I had to buy some today 😐
I thought everything was OK in the world of Easyjet again?
Hmmmm...condradictory info here:
http://www.easyjet.com/en/sports_equipment.html
Payment of the sports equipment fee increases your total allowance by 12 kg to 32 kg.
Some great advice here.
Do you need to take e111 card or any other forms apart from passport and insurance?
Just back from week at Les Arcs. Paid the sports supplement with EJ so got 20kg for hold luggage AND 32kg for bike and bag, exactly as advertised.
Zero problems at either Edinburgh or Geneva airports with EJ, even with my enormous hard case box.
There were 18 bikes on the plane to Geneva (16 roadies)....took some major reorganising to fit us all on.
I recommend taking something to do when it rains if going to the portes du soliel area... Utter bog fest
Take alot of condoms. 12 pack should do.
vehicle registation papers
gsp1984 - "I recommend taking something to do when it rains if going to the portes du soliel area... Utter bog fest"
Good idea, I'll take my bike so I can ride it while you're window licking. Twonk.
Mud Tyres... Can save a days riding and make it enjoyable rather than just survive.