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TBH, big dummy has it, it's just the Alps, they're a bit steeper, and a bit longer. My spares went to a specific mech hanger JIC. I've ridden all the PDS with just what I'd ride in the UK. Most of the locals rely on all the protective resistance that thin roadie Lycra offers...
By all means take all that stuff, you won't need any of it, but what the heck?
By all means take all that stuff, you won't need any of it, but what the heck?
You really have no idea how easily I break bikes and how hard I crash, do you?
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proper tea bags. can't get them in that france can ya.
Pete, I'm doing the Bike Fest, same category as you I think! (Mixed pairs)
Give me a nudge a day or two beforehand and I'll bring them along.
If crashing alot, some Melonlin dressings and some surgical/zinc oxide tape to stick them down with. Stops the gravel rash sticking to the bed sheets. And some Savlon/antiseptic, stops dressing sticking to wound (the shiny side of dressing is meant to stop sticking: this is a lie!).
I would avoid the adhesive ones, not as big (amazing how big gravel rash can be) , and more pain taking them off than the actual cut.
Pete, I'm doing the Bike Fest, same category as you I think! (Mixed pairs)Give me a nudge a day or two beforehand and I'll bring them along.
Ohh! Rivalry!! Cheesy Riders vs Tunnel Hill Trolls....
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Cheers mate, will do, much appreciated!
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Take some Arnica cream with you - it does wonders for the inevitable heavy bruising..
track pump!
looking forward to seeing you guys over there!
I remember our first trip to the Alps all them years ago...... XC bikes, XC gear - XC riders in fact! .....the memories come flooding back with the sweet smell of boiled Hope brakes....
Cost me a bloody fortune since! Proper big bikes, full armour, full face, flat pedals.... At least a week somewhere with chair lifts every year... etc etc
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
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Big lid & goggles are a good idea. Unless you're desperate to do some, you can get away with very little serious climbing. Strategic lift usage can get you a gentle climb or a traverse away from most trails, at which point the extra bulk/heat of a full face is not a problem, and the DH courses (of which there are a lot)can get bloody quick.
Definitely dual ply tyres, wouldn't bother with the DH tubes then. Low pressures and stiff sidewalls rock.
A good selection of spare brake parts - seals and hose parts especially. Brake bleed kits to match the brakes on offer.
Between the group of you a spare set of wheels is no bad thing.
Spare hangers and a spare mech between the group (or one each of SRAM/SHimano if appropriate)
An IGN map! Lots of trails on them that don't make it onto the bike specific maps.
Gear inners and outers
Other piece of advice is when it comes to the end of the day and you think "Shall I do one last run?" answer is normally NO NO NO NO you are bound to crash wait for another day!
We're actually racing as the Bristol Trails Group Barrow Gurners, a name which is probably inexplicable to non-Bristolians. Drop me an email and I'll send you my mobile number. 🙂
Don't forget your EHIC (a little card that's the equivalent of the old E111 leaflet - get one from a post office) and take it with you if you need to get fixed up. I had one but didn't show it to the doc, and it meant I couldn't claim back a fair bit of the exorbitant fee they charged me for 5 poxy stitches.
Oh and all the "you don't need this" merchants are missing the point in a big way. In the interests of research I took my burly 5" hardtail out last year as well as a 40lb 7" travel monstrosity. The big bike was a complete hoot, the small one was like going over the Niagara Falls in a barrel...
Depends what "the point" is. They are very big hills, so the climbing is fantastic. 😉
I agree with Mr Agreeable! I once lent my SC Bullit to a mate and rode his hardtail down one run and it was so so painful it wasn't even vaguely fun. You need a well built upper body to ride a hardtail well in the PDS!
Seems the general concensus here is "take a spare bike, minus frame and forks". Personally I've only ever taken spare tyres, pads, chain, tubes, a handful of spokes, zipties and flats to change to if I preferred. I'd take a mech hanger too, just in case if I thought about it beforehand. Everything else is buyable when there and depending on where you go its not usually that extortionate.
Big Dummy, I think you live in backwards land, where people wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people. That said, if you have a bike that isn't a complete pig to pedal it makes it easier to get to the quieter trails rather than riding the same three ditched out tracks all week.
Mr A - YGM (to the BTG address)
Trip to the Alps - What Should I pack?
The last thing you would ever need to pack would be a familysize packet of Condoms. Drier than the desert out there for skirt
a familysize packet of Condoms
Familysize?
The less I know about your family the happier I think I'll be.
Take a spare bike. .. is that a joke!!!! I just take mine and if I break it that severely you can always hire a whopper for the rest of the week! Definately full face and pads though.
Lots of memory cards.
A spare battery.
A plug adaptor to charge batteries up.
Sealable sandwich bags to keep the above dust/moisture free.
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If you don't want a rattling bike driving you nuts, you might want spare bushes for your pivots - people say Specialized don't last two minutes in the Alps.
Doing the PPDS for the first time this year. Seems to be divided opinion on full face helmets for this - most peeps on the photos I've seen seem to be wearing normal lids. Is this overkill?
Also, do you carry maps for the PPDS or is the trail marking sufficient? I've skied there a lot, but it looks different without the snow!!!
"people say Specialized don't last two minutes in the Alps"
Mine did, and a further 6 months after visiting morzine/les gets
It hasn't got any bushings mind, just cartridge bearings
I found maxxis single ply high rollers (in a 2.5") were thick enough to run with normal XC tubes and not puncture all week
If you don't want a rattling bike driving you nuts, you might want spare bushes for your pivots - people say Specialized don't last two minutes in the Alps.
Hmm my mate has taken his SX Trail to do the Mega plus a week's biking for a few years and has never changed the bushes. When I was in Chamonix all the hire bikes in Zero G were Specialized.
well, we go for 2 weeks were having 2 bikes each! cant wait! one for up and down ( a chameleon and a fuel ex) and one for going just dow ( a sx trail and a marin quad thingy). Plus as the van is so big, we'll take whatever is going to be useful... I think i may even take my scott scale as well, just to try one of the big road climbs on. I'd pack my physio if i could as well, seeing as it his apartment, and i'll most likely need him at some point.
King sized Rizla and a bottle opener
I'm only taking a pair of jeans and a t shirt. Maybe some malt loaf. Oh, about thirty quid should be alright for the week shouldn't it.......
DrP
oh so you wont need to take your sisters jeans off then?
...huh??!! Am I being bullied here? MODS!
Did you get my e mail? Phone number won't work!
DrP
Oh and just to re-assure listeners; I fully intend to be the one at the back on this trip "rather mince than wince" I say.
*shuffles off to take furniture out of van so PPs tool box will fit in van....."
Take a full face if nothing else. All this rubbish about it being just like the UK but bigger is ridiculous. If you like to ride fast then a full face makes it much safer.
Clearly those people above must ride with their seat tubes up all the time and on the brakes if they think one isn't needed... you don't see pro's riding the swiss national without one, and they'll be better riders than you.
Dr P; green eggs and ham for tea. YHM
cheap two way radios are useful in emergencies or just fun on the longer chair lieft sections
Radios are a great way to keep in touch with a large group, especially if you have some slower rides who you just want to check on.
We took some friends with us a few years ago to the PdS who were novice bikers, they came out for the easy trails and social stuff. One of them is an electronics geek so he brought a voice-activated headset for his radio. He was well behind us on the descents, but you could still hear his screams/curses/whoops of joy from the radio the whole way down. Flippin' hilarious!
EDITED - stupid double post madness.....
...you don't see pro's riding the swiss national without one, and they'll be better riders than you....
I think we're all pretty far from being pro's here! But saying that, I'm taking a full facer, but that's just because I've a gorgeous face to protect.....
DrP
*shuffles off to take furniture out of van so PPs tool box will fit in van....."
You've seen my toolbox. It's not that impressive!
DrP, I'm not relly pretty enough for a full facer, am I?
.DrP, I'm not relly pretty enough for a full facer, am I?
Well, WCA says "don't dismiss the family pack of condoms just yet"......
Dr 'just wrong' P
PP - that big blue thing on wheels!
PP - that big blue thing on wheels!
No you pillock, the one I took to Wales! We tried it for size, IIRC!
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I've just fitted my new (used) stem.
40mm.
It's silly!
Hahahaaa Hahahaaa Ha haaa!
DrP you'll need more than £30! Beer and the lunchtime food
Hora, Andy had a lovely big camper van with a fridge. We're taking our own beer, cheap form the supermarket!
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Oh sweeeeeeeeet. That is one heck of a roadtrip. Dammit you need to dress up head to toe in Sombrio, etc now and wear goggles around the side of your neck. Then video it and add in cool references 😆 😀
I have Sombrio shorts and gloves..... White and green Shimano shoes..... Pads.....
8)
Switching from XC jeyboy to super stoked gnarly downhill hero......
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