got a work trip in March
found this
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/montpellierany-one-been-roadmountain-biking-there
anyone have any other info
also is there a french race calendar, enduro, xc or dh out there?
cheers
Most of this is relevant: http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/riding-in-the-parc-national-des-cevennes
For races in March, there are a couple of XC races:
Offroad Challenge at Caveirac (between Montpellier and Nimes) on the 15th - website's not up yet but it'll be a choice between 40km rando, 50km rando or 30km race. I did this last year and it was a great single loop with really good riding. http://www.offroad-bike.fr/ I can't do it this year though (clash with a different event).
A round of the Regional Cup in Anduze on the 22nd (XCO format):
http://www.ffclr.fr/vtt/calendrier-vtt/
For Enduro, there's supposed to be one on the 7th or 29th (also round Caveirac/Calvisson) but I don't think it's confirmed yet.
Haven't seen any DH dates (but I don't really know about that stuff)
There will be Randos each weekend round then as well - not races (non-timed) no licence required (usually), but organised by local clubs who try and show off all their best trails. At the moment I can only find one : http://www.vetete.com/rando_vtt/05pmdf/le_rallye_du_printemps but others should pop up on that website later on in the year.
Le bump
if you want to enter a proper race you will need a license , not sure they would accept an english one or a doctor certificate .
some races on here :
http://www.cyclisme-amateur.com/course.php?reg=16
http://amicalelarzacaventure.blogs.midilibre.com/calendrier-2015-randonnees-club-herault.html
http://www.vetete.com/?a_partir_du=20-02-2015
how good is your french?
will you be able to drive?
Timb has it sewn up for anything going on locally (for now)
The Sussargues rando has some fun stuff through the quarries, the ravitos are well stocked unlike some other local events and there's always a sausage sandwich and a bottle of plonk at the finish.
Also this is interesting with the OSM Cycle layer on http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm
Oo, those are nice, not seen trailforks or wheresthepath before.
Trailforks doesn't have many trails on it at the moment, but the IGN overlay is very nice.
For satellite/map comparisons I'm more in the habit of using the French GeoPortail website http://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/accueil - you can overlay IGN maps and satellite pictures then play with the transparency sliders to try and work out if the lines on the maps are really trails, or just conceptual lines through impassable vegetation. (and screen captures would be a practical way of printing off disposable map sections if one didn't have the proper IGN map to photocopy...)
Local experience of OpenCycleMap suggests that at the moment it has less trails than are really there, but the ones that are marked are a safer bet than IGN "paths" - less likely to be blocked by fences, more likely to really exist.
Its better for the US/Canada and the UK is getting there too.Trailforks doesn't have many trails on it at the moment, but the IGN overlay is very nice.
Oh yeah - for licences : if you want to do FFC-affiliated races than you'll need a BC licence (or any UCI-affiliated federation licence), or a medical certificate stating that you have no contra-indications for "VTT en competition" plus you'll have to pay for a day licence (8€ last year for Languedoc-Roussillon).
Non-FFC affliliated competitive events will require a licence or medical certificate.
Non-competitive events (randos) will just require a small payments and give you a good route with a couple of feed stations (and maybe a beer or wine at the end)
Check out the UFOLEP regional calendar as well.
velovert.com is worth a try too.
There are some twisted people about:[url= http://www.midilibre.fr/2015/01/22/des-clous-et-cables-pour-se-venger-d-un-vetetiste,1114423.php ]http://www.midilibre.fr/2015/01/22/des-clous-et-cables-pour-se-venger-d-un-vetetiste,1114423.php[/url]
A retired hunter was arrested and charged for laying traps on a ROW, not far at all from the second of those trailforks links. He was sentenced yesterday to 9 months, 8 suspended and a lifetime firearm ban.
[i]de planches cloutées. Et des fers à béton, plantés tels des pieux dans la terre. Et dont les extrémités avaient été préalablement taillées en pointe avec une meuleuse.[/i]
...nailed boards and iron rods planted in the ground as stakes, their ends formed into spikes using an angle grinder.
He denied putting up the brake wires found in the same place... 🙄