Last week, a few of us escaped for a mate's birthday to the Maritime Alps, just north of Nice. Guided by Ash Smith (of Trail-Addiction fame and now organiser of the Trans Provence), we had five days of amazing riding.
All under a 1000m (Sospel is at 350m) so below the snow line, but what amazing trails, endless woody singletrack, sustained exposure on paths with certain death into a handy gorge, awesome bedrock trials like sections and stunningly beautiful scenery.
The one day it was REALLY wet, we had a quick post hangover ride and then decided 'let's go to lunch in Italy' which was 40 mins away on the train. Lots of shuttling and - inevitably - wine ensured I came back heavier but significantly happier than when we left.
Thoroughly recommended if you get the chance. Never saw another mountain bike on trails that have me wondering if it's time to move to another country 😉
Rocket was ace as well. Came alive the braver I got. Some pics below.
Don't look left. Certainly don't steer left.
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Bottom of a big old climb
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8521/8594890390_28d4225f77_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8594890390/ ]Sospel MTB Trip[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Won't be using those shorts again. Way scarier than it looks
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8365/8593795871_03f7d6ecda_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8593795871/ ]Sospel MTB Trip[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Playing silly bggers
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8384/8593639046_bf8e706aa4_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8593639046/ ]Sospel MTB Trip 2013[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Many, many trails like this:
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8107/8593652294_eaac801557_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8593652294/ ]Sospel MTB Trip 2013[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
And this
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8524/8592597929_93a4cbfb1d_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8592597929/ ]Sospel MTB Trip 2013[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Down there is the Med and beer. It's quite a long way down
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8592624279_378296c59e_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8592624279/ ]Sospel MTB Trip 2013[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Climb with a view, Sir?
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8592650799_fd3b300fdc_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8592650799/ ]Sospel MTB Trip 2013[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
You probably don't want to fall here.
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8593778342_913f935178_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8593778342/ ]Sospel MTB Trip 2013[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Dry Trails, blue sky, remember that?
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8592728871_e716796141_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8592728871/ ]Sospel MTB Trip 2013[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Got to love shuttling
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8522/8593852410_817d07a1c7_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8593852410/ ]Sospel MTB Trip 2013[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Who put that pipe there?
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8594879252_48fe205bce_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8594879252/ ]Sospel MTB[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Skyway
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8593719434_32ff527cb3_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8593719434/ ]Sospel MTB Trip 2013[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Comedy Mechanical
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8593772499_262261be76_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8593772499/ ]Sospel MTB Trip[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
That's it I'm moving, amazing
It's even worse when you are there. We did get rather drunk one night after accusations that 'the roastbeefs can't drink'. Fair to say we put paid to that rumour with a lot of a laughs, rubbish French and comedy miming. Lovely town.
The riding tho... wow I've been lucky enough to ride in many places all over the world and this felt like 'home on steroids' - nothing insanely difficult but amplified over what we have here in the UK and it goes on for EVER...
I shall be going back. Possibly with my 'house buying' chequebook.
sustained exposure on paths with certain death into a handy gorge
I remember that bit 😯
Indeed an excellent place, was there last March. Some good stuff around Peille as well.
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/6996038451_2a90e3e73c.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/37621241@N05/6996038451/ ]029[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/37621241@N05/ ]ianvincent[/url], on Flickr
Mate had a puncture
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8593792760_2c48de3f48_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/8593792760/ ]Sospel MTB Trip 2013[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
I was trying to walk backwards to get a great pic with the sun going down and nearly fell into the bloomin gorge. Decided the focal length was absolutely fine after that 😉 It's such a superb trail tho...
How about the trails in Sospel area, do you suggest a guide or are the trails easy to spot with a map? Going to Liguria in a month or so, maybe also to Sospel to check the area.
Plenty of way marked trails, it's an ffc centre. Enough for a week or so without guides.
Thanks, good to know! I think I'll need to get there..
Thanks for sharing