So I've made an enormous cock up and thought I'd see if anyone can help, I'm expecting a little piss take too obviously. My girfriend surprised me the other day by telling me my birthday present was a week in the Alps downhilling. All excited I got straight on the internet and booked the flights, flying from London to Geneva on 2nd June and returning on 10th. Whilst looking for accomodation I stumbled across the fact that the lifts don't open for the summer season until 10th June. Shit.
I can't move the week because it is half term week and this is our only time available. Options are to take all mountain bike and take in some serious XC riding, or go somewhere else, I can transfer my flights for a reasonable fee. Does anyone know of anywhere in Europe or close by where you can ride DH that week without any pushing up?
Chamonix maybe ?
(Thats a good balls up btw)
Some Bike parks in Germany are open [url= http://www.bikepark-todtnau.de/index.php?article_id=1&clang=0 ]HERE[/url] and possibly [url= http://www.bikepark-oberammergau.de/ ]HERE AS WELL[/url]
You could also try Metabief and Lac Blanc in the Jura (east of the Alps) although I think that's only weekends.
Finally, some XC trails in Austria (Zell am See) and Switzerland will be accessable from the mountain railway systems although the information I've tried to find is limited and you may need a guide.
Alps wise, it's pretty much 1st week of July rather than mid-June for most
Nope, Chamonix is the second week of June too....
Zermatt funicular uphill train thing?
i'd strap one on and MTFU...
pedal up the hills, they aren't that bad
😛
I will ride up if there's no other option, but I can ride up hills here, if I'm going overseas I'd rather it was for downhilling...
Van uplifts [url= http://www.chillchalet.com/activities.htm ]here[/url] from May onwards (weather permitting I guess)
What about contacting one of the bike companies and asking if they run uplift services that week? Like Bike Verbier, or one of the ones in Morzine or
Chamomix.
Loving all the good ideas and suggestions, you may just be saving my holiday. 😀
Get the new Dirt magazine (the issue that is just out with the World Cup preview in it); it has an article (OTA#3) that talks about about year-round lift assisted riding in the Rhone valley.
Funicular in tigne or the one in Les Arcs? Limited trails though?
Chamonix has road accessible DH trails if you explore a little bit.
Try looking at the southern Alp resorts: rubion, le grand puy, chabanon. All open early June. Also, grand valira in Andorra opened 3rd June 2011. There is also van uplifts around finale and st remo in Italy. Swiss cable cars and funiculars tend to run all year as they service mountain villages, the Valais area seems to have plenty
les gets is open at the weekends from end of May....you'd just have to find something to do for the rest of the week!
I went snowboarding in Sweden last year and they had an amazing array of trails for summer use with lifts etc. Worth a look http://www.arebikepark.se/en/
have a look here:
[url= http://www.mountainedge.co.uk/ ]Mountain Edge[/url]
In Kitzbuhel Austria.
I used to guide for them and can strongly recommend the riding!
I'd hang on to that girlfriend if I was you. Oh and the wife and I are on one of the Mountain Edge leaflets (above the price list if you have one), it was on honeymoon. :D, Though they might have changed it by now.
yes, e.g. crans montana funicular possibly (above sierre?). could be wrong.
bex/rochers de naye if snow free (unlikely)