It's the time of year to round up the troops and organise a summer 2017 riding trip. I've been to Morzine three times and loved it, it's a perfect location but fancy somewhere different now.
My favourite parts were col du cou, linderettes, the easiest parts of chatel and super Morzine.
We're all on 140-160mm trail bikes, so I'm looking for marked or easy to follow, Lift assisted trail riding, not crazy steep DH or huge road gaps and maaaasive jumps ect. Self catering or B&b.
Can drive or fly, hopefully 4/5 nights and maybe not so cut up as the passportes area.
Any recommendations?
Thinking of Andorra, Italy also seems to be really popular this year too.
Tignes is excellent. Free lifts too.
WE've just booked with Biking Andalucia for summer after a few threads on here.
The valley that has les arcs has tignes and heaps more in easy distance, guided is best out there though it it makes for an awesome trip
Take a look at South Tyrol.
If you love Morzine I think you may struggle to find something similar. There is nothing with as much riding that is so easy to access. Other places seem to require guides or day trips to other locations. Happy to be proved wrong but it does seem to be the conclusion when talk about this every year. Loads of great riding to be had but nothing similar.
Having been to Morzine twice previously, we went to Les Arcs last year(stayed in Vallandry - nice village with bars/restaurants). Not DHers, all on AM bikes, not really big jumpers. It's in the Isere Valley, same as Tignes and Val d'Isere (who'd a thunk!) which are easily accessible.
We loved it, but the best stuff is pretty steep.
Edit: after Nick
We went for 3 days and didn't leave the resort. There is a lot of unmarked stuff, but with a mix of the maps from the Enduro2 and stuff offered on here we found a lot of it. The resort runs are MUCH less busy too. Everybody we came across was willing to point us towards stuff and help out.
Andorra is fantastic, two bike parks to choose from near Vallnord. There's Vallnord itself then soldeu, although soldeu was a 20 min taxi ride for us. Amazing riding though.
I was in the same position as you this summer and went for Saalbach Hinterglemm in Austria. Not as big as morzine, and less of a network, but you have Saalbach and Hinterglemm which are both excellent, with free lift pass in most hotels, then Leogang is rideable from the top also - World Cup track & a few others to pick from. Although we didn't go, there is also Schladming an hour and a half away so definitely plenty for 4/5 days
Thanks, Plenty to think about here. I know what you mean nickjb, it is a perfect location, just after a little less breaking bumps less DH and not so steep this year and hopefully a bit of sun.
Just thought. I did a trip to Les Deux Alpes a few years ago. Some very good bike park riding to be had there, something for everyone in terms of easy all the way up to (in my mind) unrideable. There was quite a bit of riding I didn't get to do too up towards the glacier as it was still closed due to snow. Much less in the way of brake bumps too.
I stopped down in Venosc which was a really nice quiet spot and at the bottom of a great red track as the home run. Stopped in a chambres d'hote called Les Deux M, run by a really nice Dutch family and very good value too.
you love Morzine I think you may struggle to find something similar. There is nothing with as much riding that is so easy to access.
Can't argue with this.
Les Arcs is great, but it's a smaller resort and much quieter than PDS, the best stuff isn't marked, tbh I find the back country stuff harder than the big DH runs, even on a trail bike.
If the braking bumps are the issue, try going earlier in the season - they're pretty good at Passportes and a couple of weeks after, it August on the other hand and they look like they've been shelled.
Tenerife. 25-30 mile long downhill runs through amazing volcanic landscapes. Fantastic riding all year round. It's absolutely cooking up the hill as well. Been twice myself. Darran from Lavatrax is the man to email or I have some routes saved in my Garmin/Strava
We, bikingandalucia, have fantastic riding all year round, in the Sierra Nevada, Andalucia, southern Spain. Previous winters many clients have returned home with a suntan!
Just go to Pila.
Italy is cheaper than France, has less flies, has better coffee, bhas nicer people.
What he said^^ 😉
We went and watched the Maxi Avalanche at Breuil cervinia and its a pretty big area with uplift. Italy again and Pila is just down the road 30 mins.
Alternatively on the french side St Gervais ?? Access up the back of Les Houches on the Tram or uplift around the ski area and a bike park for those who want it. Chamonix 20 mins up the road.
Niall
I'd second the suggestions for Aosta valley. Not only is the accommodation cheaper, the food better, and the coffee Italian coffee, but La Thuile is basically exactly what you describe as being after. Fairly quiet, well marked trails, great trails with no death jumps/gaps. It is a little cut up on the EWS trails, but the rest are fine. Combine a few days in La Thuile with a day in Pila (which does suffer from braking bumps and dust in the 2nd 1/2 of the season) and a day with Aosta Valley Freeride doing uplift and you should have a near perfect alpine bike trip.
La Thuile: [url= http://www.chamonixbikeblog.com/tag/la-thuile/ ]http://www.chamonixbikeblog.com/tag/la-thuile/[/url]
Pila: [url= http://www.chamonixbikeblog.com/2015/pila-pinningpining/ ]http://www.chamonixbikeblog.com/2015/pila-pinningpining/[/url]
The St Gervais suggestion isn't too bad an idea either, but the trails aren't as well signposted and the trails aren't as complete as they are in La Thuile. Google for GPX files on the annual megeve "MB Enduro" which is on good trails with variety each year. Don't forget Les Contamines a little further up the valley. The tramway up to Col du Voza gives access to the Chamonix valley, but it's expensive and in theory bikes are only allowed on 1st and last trams (in practice unless it's hoaching you're fine)
Les Contamines: [url= http://www.chamonixbikeblog.com/2014/les-contamines-no-bad/ ]http://www.chamonixbikeblog.com/2014/les-contamines-no-bad/[/url]
Most of Chamonix/St Gervais/Megeve area: [url= http://www.pinkbike.com/news/glorious-failure-one-day-one-lift-pass-2016.html ]http://www.pinkbike.com/news/glorious-failure-one-day-one-lift-pass-2016.html[/url]
And some swearingly enthusastic words and pictures on Aosta Valley uplift riding from a Kiwi mate: [url= http://dirtynomad.com/euroenduro-iii-day-3-big-mon-ton-love/ ]http://dirtynomad.com/euroenduro-iii-day-3-big-mon-ton-love/[/url]
Torbole, Lake Garda, I went for a week this year and I'm already planning on going several times next year.
Sanremo is a bloody good bet, an hour from Nice, ridiculous trails perfect for 140-160mm bikes, the Sanremo Bike Resort project is headed up by ex-Superenduro series winner Manuel Ducci who'll also guide if you want. Plus a nice beach, good bars, amazing pizzas etc for the evening - and it's pretty cheap.
www.sanremobikeresort.it
Has anyone been to Saalbach/Hinterglemm/Leogang area?
Pila is looking like what I'm after. Cheers
Saalbach is excellent.......inexpensive to boot.....