Tignes was the dog's nadgers a couple of years back... lovely flowy greens , jumpy reds and outstanding Enduro routes. And a free lift pass.
Then Finale was even betterer with long endless van served xc routes with 1000m of height to lose over 20km plus. And of course amazing gnadgery routes and amazing non lift served xc too.
We've got three weeks from 22 July. CLearly we'll be back in tignes for a week or so, but where else should we go?
There's four of us so no way we can join a guided group, happy to use maps and Trailforx to find stuff. The beauty of tignes was the signed enduro routes.
Mrs wants to go to Verbier, but I've heard it's more van uplift and guided groups.....
Anyone care to correct me on that one?
Where else should we go?
(Not saalbach or La Thuile as we thought they were pants)
Thinking of trying La Varda but after hearing stuff on here maybe only after I've scoped it out myself. Anyone in that area end July/ beginning of August fancy a Look?
Anyway..... recommendations for great xc cycling with lifts to reduce the sting?
Les Arcs / Vallandry
The bike park stuff in Vallandy is nice for a warmup, and has a reasonably natural feel, I am not so keen of the bike park stuff at the Les Arcs end. But it is getting out of the bike parks and exploring the area where it becomes a brilliant location, and most of the elevation gain is by lifts
Cheers MSP.
anyone else..... Verbier especially?
Could you elaborate on some other criteria? What sort of accommodation do you want? How much non-biking activity do you want? What sort of XC? Is it all about the view, the day out, the hard climb? What gave been you highlights of your previous holidays? How far do you want to travel?
Shall we assume you've never been to Swindon ?
What sort of accommodation do you want?
We'll be taking the van and camping. Probably Tignes Les Brev initially.
How much non-biking activity do you want?
We'll be stopping off in 'bleau on the way there and back for a few days bouldering, will probably do a few days sport climbing, some via ferrata and perhaps some easy kayaking.... but it's mainly biking info I am after here.
What sort of XC? Is it all about the view, the day out, the hard climb?
What gave been you highlights of your previous holidays?
Pretty flexible really. Guess the only thing we're not keen on is proper full full on plummets. The sort of thing that needs huge suspension, amazing brakes or huge cahones. Ideally we want to pedal a bit but not as much as we descend. So use the lifts to gain height and then lose it slowly.
We loved Popeye in Val Despair as it wasn't too steep and you could really rag it. Loads of jumps.
I loved Very Bike Trip in Val as it was fully gnadgery slow steep tech.
Loved all the itinaires from Tignes down to Les Brev because..... well, why wouldnt you 🙂
Love the lost valley route down to La Daille. Gnadgery tech.
Like Ice Tignes for something different.
Love Le 8 at Les Arcs as it was terrifying and really pushed boundaries for the nine year old. Loved the other red/black just above it.
Found the stuff at the top of les Arcs a bit meh.
Hated the loose gravelly washed out mess of La Thule after a biblical rainstorm. Loved K though.
Loved Kill Bill, Ingegnere and more or less everything in Finale. O bed the super hard gnadgery slow stuff and the brilliant xc.
Loved getting a van to the top and then joining up 5 routes to get a 20km generally downhill route to the sea.
Loved Porcupine Rim (but not with the kids yet)
Ditto Slickrock and Portal Trail.
Loved Golspie with the kids.
Hated Glenlivet.
Loved Woltraxx.
Hated Rothiemurchus.
Loved Chalamain Gap/ Lairig Ghru.
Love CYB
Loved Ullswater Bridleway with the kids.
Loved staveley three passes ( sans kids). In fact that would probably be the perfect route if you could replace the hikeabikes with some uplift. That's basically what were looking for.
How far do you want to travel
I guess we'll be travelling about two thousand miles or so all in. Happy to drive in french/ Swiss alps. Wouldn't drive to Austria/Finale.
One place I have been to that I would love to go back is Pila.
It's a 2 hours drive from Tignes so maybe a day trip or a couple of days.
We did a day trip when staying in Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
How about a few days at Les Saises? This campsite is amazingly pretty and an easy pedal from the top of the lift.
http://www.campinglesjorets.fr/
The bike park is fun and there are a lot of longer enduro routes including one which goes straight past the campsite.
There is also an 18k long decent down into Albertville. You just get the bus back up.
Oh and Montgenevre sounds like it would suit you. The author of the below book which I would recommend includes a trail he named "The best Singletrack in the world?". Again you can put bikes on the buses which opens up options to ride all the way down into Briancon.
Stupid link didn't work.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/singletrackworld.com/2015/12/alps-mountain-biking-guidebook/amp/
Interesting. Would love to do briancon area again but the missus has vetoed it as she want to go somewhere new for a change.
Regarding that guidebook..... I've got to admit I'm not a great fan of it. Compared to equivalent skiing, rock climbing or ww kayaking guidebooks it just doesn't measure up. If I was being harsh it is basically a load of adverts for his mate's guiding businesses. Various of the "insiders tips" sections basically said something along the lines of " the riding here is amazing but quite hard to find, we recommend that you pay us to guide you around the place "
But, but, I've just paid twenty quid for this alleged guidebook which ideally would remove that need...
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That Les Saises place looks excellent. Many thanks.
I really enjoyed the flow trails at Carosella 3000 in Livigno and they were building more so should be 40-60k of trails there now. You also have the option of the downhill BP on the other side of the valley as well.
Verbier is ok to do self guided as long as you have a decent map! It’s lift assist, you can bike on all the walkers trails, which are signposted (except one above the town which is clearly marked). There is bike park as well in the main bowl, but the balcony trails are a real treat.
Expensive though as it’s Switzerland, and not sure about camping.
Lpl.
That sounds fully promising about Verbier and self guiding
Will try that
To be honest I completely agree that the book is very poor compared to equivalent climbing or kayaking guides. However it is the best English language guide of the area. I treat it more as a brief overview of the different resorts rather than an actual guide book.
The Vtopo books are probably more what you are looking for but aside from the PDS one they only come in French so can be hard work if your French is as poor as mine.
http://www.vtopo.fr/livres/topo-guides-vtt.html?mode=grid
Have a look on here for the Verbier mtb maps, can also be picked up in the lift station. Day lift passes started at 38CHF when we were their. Should see you right for a few days, further afield and you will probably need guiding and van assist
First year we haven't had at least a week their since 2003
Unless its changed the only camping is down in the valley bottom which is up the valley from Le Chable, not sure on prices but it was a bit basic when we looked.
Another vote for Les Saisies - had a really fun time there last summer, but avoid Areches no 12
Dolomiti Paganella or Petzen/Jamnica
+1 for Les Saises. The bike park stuff is flowy and not wooped out (well they weren't when I went there) the 'enduro' routes are fun and easy to find (just pick up a bike map from the tourist office. Beaufort is lovely place to stay and you can get free bike buses up from there. You can use the buses for uplift, but they don't run all that frequently so you need to make sure you check the timetables for logistical planning if you want to link enduro routes.
Don't do anything till you've spoken to www.bikeverbier.com
These guys know the resort and surrounding area like the back of their hands and they do accommodation and self-guided riding, or can hook you up with local guides if you decide you want them. They used to do guided rides themselves but don't any more: instead, they now specialise in helping people self-guide. I'll be honest: I worked for them for a season - they're good friends of mine. Doesn't change the fact that their holidays are awesome (loads on here will testify to that) and if they can't help you themselves, they'll point you in the right direction. And the riding in and around Verbier is as good as anywhere in the world. Good luck!
Good info in this thread. Based on the climbing and biking requirement, the valley with Ailefroide in it is pretty mega. Obviously has loads of climbing but the singletrack is also incredible. We did a trail from the top of the lift in Vallouise down to Argentiere that was absolutely brilliant. And there is loads more to do in the area.