Hi all.
From one or two various threads (eg http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/the-alps-summer-2014-where-are-you-going-and-why), it seems as though everyone who is going to the White Room on the 5th – 12th July this year is on here as an active member. So..........as there's a group of 4 of us going that week I thought it might be an idea for us to do a bit of an introduction beforehand. This might end up as one of those billy-no-mate’s scenarios similar to when you wave at someone and they don't wave back, but on the other hand it might get us a bit of info on each other before we get there and drum up a bit more excitement about the trip.
So, as I said, there's four of us in our group. We're all from the Midlands area. I'm from Aldridge, the others are from the Cannock / Rudgley area! We're all Alps first timers but I'd like to think we're pretty decent riders. All of us are starting to get pretty excited about the trip now – 7.5 weeks is not so long away! We’ve all known each other since we were about 10 (we're all mid - late thirties now) and are all up for having a good laugh, usually at the expense of each other.
We're driving over to France, leaving on the Friday at about 11pm, getting the 3am Eurotunnel crossing, then hoping to crack the other side in decent enough time to get to the White Room mid-afternoon.
I'm commonly known as 'Jaffa' and ride an On One Evo 456. I moved to that from an Orange 5 about 12 months ago. Perhaps I should have stuck with the 5 for the Alps, but I find the 456 a more rewarding ride both in terms of speed and reward. I'm usually on the receiving end of various jokes and piss taking, most often to do with me being a proper short arse. I’m looking forward to showing all you full suss riders how it’s done on a hardtail!! ?
‘Groomy’ is best described and very bald / lanky / chubby. A strange combination. He rides an Orange 5 20" gate edition - 2011. For some reason he had Orange powder coat it Pink. He also wears pink gloves and thinks he looks ace, but he looks like a nob.
'Westy' also rides an On One 456 but his is a Summer Season and it’s as slack as a mofo! He has a very big nose and it’s a good job we’re not further north on our trip or people would think the Eiffel tower was stuck to his face. He often wears his favourite black / green jersey when he rides. He thinks he looks good but he actually looks like an Asda employee.
Finally there’s Mark – Westy’s brother - no nick name. Another Orange 5 rider however his bike is very old (circa 2007 ish) and unless he spends a few quid on it before we go…….it will probably fall apart on day one! Mark looks a bit like a cross between Rylan and Louis Spence. Doesn’t like the mick been taken but that doesn’t stop us.
In all, we’re a good bunch of lads. Up for a good laugh and hoping that the people who are there with us are up for a great holiday too. We’re looking forward to riding some great trails and making some good mates at the same time. The fact that the world cup is on at the same time just puts the icing on the cake – if I’m right, the early game will kick off about 8 – 9pm in France.
Anyway. If you’re going that week, feel free to introduce yourself and give us a bit of info.
I think I sport the chubby/lanky/bald look pretty well!
CMD205 you are a cock!
We are there 2 weeks after you! Try not to break Pat before we get there........... 😉
12th-19th for me, with another week camping in Bourg the week after.
Little relevance to this thread, but I cannot wait.
I'll be there for a week from 26th july. Will be my 3rd visit, cant wait to get back to La thuile 😀
Yeah, heading over at the end of august, can't wait now!
Also going out on 26th July, 2nd time and can hardly contain my excitement, had a cracker last year, except from breaking a spoke a day 
14th June for us, pre-lift, and for me, pre wedding 😀
I'm going on 30th August. You too, Northwind?
So so looking forward to it!
But Spain and the Sierra Nevada mountains before that 🙂
We will be there same time as you OP, four of us are driving from North Yorkshire.
Me (Lee) on a Transition Covert.
Tom, on a YT if it arrives.
Mark, on an Evil uprising.
Scott, on a Whyte 146.
we've always been really lucky with the lads we stayed with while in the Alps and made some great mates on biking holidays, we like to mercilessly rip the piss out of easy other.
Very very excited!
Hi all. There are six of is flying from Heathrow on the Sat. Due to an unfortunate admin error we were double booked but it was too late for us to change dates when the error was spotted. As a result we are sleeping in two nearby chalets but eating, drinking and riding with you. Stevo assures me the is plenty of room for this and normal excellent White Room service will be delivered.
There is me (Andy) on a Nomad, my brother Adam on a Stumpy, my brother Luke on his Norco Sight, Jimmy on a Trance, Chris on a 2005 Enduro which is like Trigger's broom and Matt who is also on a Nomad. We are all from Lancs except Matt (from Cambs) and live all over. All Alps first timers, really looking forward to it and of course merciless piss taking comes as standard! 🙂
19th-26th for me. Need to get my are in gear and book travel though.
16th-22nd August for me, Alps first-timer along with the other half. Going with a couple of friends who've been before, but not to WR I don't think. Need to get fit and get the skills up to scratch..!
😀 @Northwind
Anyone going August 30th?
This was a really good idea btw cmd205 apart from the fact it's making me even more excited!
I'm just happy to hear that I won't be the only one getting the piss taken outta me for being endowed with an exceptionally large... nose.
I'm part of Andymc06's group (Luke on the Norco)
See you all there 😀
@The Pilot
Me and the birdage will be out week 30th Aug onwards.. first timers to the Alps but had a play in Southern Spain a few times.
@Godzilla - are you lads taking a ferry or going via the Eurotunnel like us?
@ekul - you've gotta try and get a black/green ASDA'esque top so you can look like our mate Westie's twin bro!!! The funny thing is his nose is normal size, but we've taken the mick for so long he believes it himself now!
Groomy
@vmgscot
lol at the birdage! Well, I did after I read your post properly, at first I thought it said brigade (as in a group of you).
I'm an Alps first timer too. Taking a GT Distortion.
See you and the birdage there then 🙂
We're getting the ferry from Dover the day before.
@Coogan and @The Pilot we look forward to seeing you guys (and gals?) out there. Wee bit excited already. I'll be the old fart trying to build up his-n-hers Yeti's on day one
Nope, all blokes. Bit girly mind you. Fourth time out there for me, you'll have an ace time. Amazing trials and folk who run it all.
I'm looking at booking for the 30th August. I will guarantee I will be the slowest uphill, it is called a push bike for a reason!
Hope we can do a day in Pila too, awesome place.
I think a cheeky wee week with white room next year may be the perfect 40th present to myself!.
OK – time to re-visit this thread I started 4 weeks ago!
So….our group:
Me (Jaffa) – Was taking On One 456 Evo, now taking Alpine 160
Groomy – Orange 5
Westy – Was taking On One 456 Summer Season, now taking Whyte 46
Mark – Orange 5 (thankfully it’s had some maintenance!!)
Godzilla’s group:
Godzilla – Transition Covert
Tom – YT
Mark – Evil Uprising
Scott – Whyte 146
Andy Mc06 group:
Andy – Nomad
Adam – Stumpy
Luke – Norco Sight
Jimmy – Giant Trance
Chris (Specialised?) Enduro
Matt – Nomad
Not long to go now chaps. Just under 3 weeks. Not sure if any of you are doing the same but were planning to stop riding towards the end of next week, just in-case of any injuries or bike problems. It might sound a bit over the top, but we simply don’t want anything to come in the way of this trip. We’ve been saving for ages and it’s been a long time coming.
I’m like a little kid with the excitement – god know what we’ll be like in a few weeks! As you’ll see above, both myself and Westy have swapped hardtails for sussers. I’m pretty sure we would be OK on the hardtails but at least we know it’s going to be a more comfortable ride which is important considering we’ll be riding for 5 full days.
Has anyone had thoughts of what to do on the rest day (Wednesday)?
Alright Jaffa!
It's my birthday on the 7th so I think we are planning on a bit of a night out on the Tuesday and then somewhere pleasant to chill out/recover on Weds ready for more riding! There is a lake with a giant waterslide fairly nearby we might have a look at. Will try and find a link! Should be a great week!
Found it. Waterslide at Tignes 15-20mins away.
http://www.ste-foy-apartments.co.uk/summer-ste-foy-tarentaise.html
Missed this thread the first time around, but I'm also going out with a mate for that same week and we are also Cannock regulars, can't say I've noticed your group up there though.
Going to be based right in the middle of Les Gets but will be riding all over the area.
Me: Norco Aurum
Stu: Nukeproof Scalp
@Karl - the OP is going to Les Arcs / La Rossiere Haut Savoie, Les Gets is miles away.
[quote=idiotdogbrain]16th-22nd August for me
Same here.. at a guess we may have mutual friends.. 🙂
Not sure if any of you are doing the same but were planning to stop riding towards the end of next week, just in-case of any injuries or bike problems.
Me and Chris (from Andymc06's group) had exactly the same discussion at the top of the black at grizedale last weekend (i then went and gave myself mild concussion through crashing on it!). Any real injuries now and its game over. Still going to do some road riding to try and keep (get :D) some fitness in my legs but definitely planning on backing off with the offroad riding.
Getting very, VERY excited!
You got insurance yet Luke............:-)
Completely buzzing, I can't wait!
Off to BPW next week, I'm taking it easy as I don't want to break my self.
We where wondering about the rest day and where considering going to Italy to ride Pila or maybe pop over and do the PDS route, however there's birthday party in the mix now and a realistic possibility of hangover.
Well worth a day in Pila
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and an ice cream at the end
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Andy_K - Member14th June for us, pre-lift, and for me, pre wedding
Been told not to break our faces 😆
V. excited now, last working day tomorrow before heading down on Fri/Sat 😀
Hi All. Adam here from Andymc06 group. lots of fettling with bike getting it ready. so will be riding right up to the trip just to iron out anything. dont go fast enough to brake anything so shouldn't be a problem. can't wait to get out there. Work is beginning to drag so much!
However I may have to not play in a 7's tournament the week before! I do like a injury to moan/ make excuses for being a pussy, about. Also glad to see a good mix of ages ( late 30's here) and good to sort of break the ice before we get there. Saves name tags and love te fact we id ourselves by the bikes were on. Looking forward to seeing the Evil and the whyte's in action( possible next bikes).
Andymc06 - I don't need much of an excuse for a night out, so we're looking forward to celebrating your birthday on the Tuesday night and then nursing a hangover on the Wednesday!!!!!
Jaffa and I have made the decision to not bike again before our trip. This mornings ride has resulted in a problem with Jaffa's shoulder after he had an innocuous off, and I scared myself by getting a set of rollers totally wrong! Looks like I've got to endure my turbo trainer to get fit over the next couple of weeks - boring hell!
Holy sh1t! its nearly here, you guys all ready & excited?!
Me (Groomy), Jaffa, Ian and Mark got together with our families last night for a pre Alps BBQ, but we soon pi$$ed everyone off with beer fueled (gay Disaranno & diet coke in Jaffa's case) bike related conversations.
Just a couple of last minute minor jobs to do on the bikes and we are ready for our start out at 9.00pm on Friday.
Can't wait!!!
Yeah can wait now. concentration at work nearing zero. Bike related texts and phone call up 50%. bike checking and kit comparisons nearly all sorted! still undecided on what rubber im going to use though! got some chunkey monkeys and a michelin rock r, the rock r weighs a ton but is bomb proof and the grippiest thing ive had on the bike! packing it tonight so needs a decision!!
Getting lots of abuse at work for the increased levels of bike geekery between me and Matt! He's just treated himself to 2 x Minion UST's in 2.5 Supertacky flavour.
2.5! how heavy are those bad boys, will they fit 😉 😀
I'm undecided what tyres to use too. Bought some Minions front and rear and tried them out a couple of weeks ago with downhill tubes on my local trails and they felt bloody awful! These are back on the bike now but I'm definitely taking my usual choice of Chunky Monkey & Smorgasbord for swapping over, if I find I don't get on with the Maxxis tyres.
Work concentration is none existent now!!!!
When is everyone expecting to get to TWR? We should be there looking very tired late Saturday afternoon after driving down from the Midlands.
Maxxis come up small and they'll still be lighter than that bloody Michelin anchor!
We'll be arriving around 5 o'clock. Lightly pished having flown over and been picked up by Stevo!! 🙂
yeah its bloody heavy but love the grip on it! anyway most the riding is pointing down so the weight may be a benefit(says convincing himself)
We're setting off early doors Friday, driving down to Dover and smashing as much of France as we can then staying in an F1, up early and do the last bit.
I'm running 2.35 Minions front and rear as I don't like punctures and tyre changing.
If you see the opposition (trail addiction) say hi to rob and Tom (cube stereo and tracer). They wanted to go with steveo but it was booked out. Can't believe I'm missing out this year!
frogstomp - Memberidiotdogbrain » 16th-22nd August for me
Same here.. at a guess we may have mutual friends..
Same dates for me, hi Frog and, err, Dogbrain 😕
Hans Dampf 2.35 Trailstar front and Pacestar rear or do I go with Chunky Monkey 2.4 Trail Extreme front and rear??? Will be running tubeless. Can't decide!
Run whatever you don't mind shredding! I've used the same 2.4 advantage 3 times, pretty shagged now, a bit like an ardent actually!
From what I saw last year Hans Dampf sgs will lose the edges off every knob by about the 3rd day and lose half their grip. Really liked my old Clutches out there, they were really good in the dust/loose stuff (valley was baked dry). Butchers last year not quite so good for that stuff. Will be highrollers this year I think as I've got some to burn up.
I may well go with the CM's as they are a bit draggy for Uk trail riding and a bit more substantial than the HD's. Cheers for the input.
Getting close now!! Almost counting the hours!
Godzilla - if you're setting off early Friday you'll probably crack most of the journey that day so I expect you'll be getting to the White Room late Saturday morning. We'll be doing our best to catch and overtake you driving through the night whilst your sleeping in the F1 but I doubt we'll manage it! Look out for a red A4 with 4 bikes on the towbar!
All this talk of tyres hasn't surprised me really. Like Groomy, I've got a pair of Maxxis Minion DH tyres in 2.35 - I've not ridden on them at all yet whereas Groom tried and hated them - said he was all over the place because of them (nothing new - always an excuse). However, I can see that they come up incredibly narrow and I'm sitting wondering if a pair on new Chunky Monkies would be better. For grip maybe but for puncture resistance I doubt it. I'll try the Minions but I'm taking some high rollers / On One tyres as spares so can always swap over.
Packed my bike kit last week. Packing the rest of my gear tonight.
Cool, we're in a silver VW Transporter, i haven't packed but i have tomorrow off to sort my shit out.
See you on Saturday guys!
For info, the other party next week is the regular White Room Russian Invasion. Should be fun!
Stevo!
Did you get my mail re: flight times for the transfer?
Cheers
Andy
Yep, all good!
Great. See you Sat. Seriously buzzing now 🙂
The weather forecast looks rubbish - hope it picks up.
Yeah, first few days dont look great but it could all change over night. fingers crossed
Feel for you lot there this week, the weather looks grim, not the same when its like that!
A little bird told me "jaffa"had a big off on the first day,something about a dislocated shoulder/collarbone??
Yep had an off in the afternoon of day 1 although it wasn't anything like a big off, just an unlucky fall.
Managed a posterior left shoulder dislocation. Totally gutted.
Flew home Tuesday and had more X-rays coz they can't work out if I've fractured the ball end of my top arm bone. To be honest the NHS doc I saw didn't seem too interested in spending too much time finding out if there is any muscle or ligament damage either (maybe to do with cost cutting and not wanting to do a ct scan) so I'm gonna go via Bupa.
Current plan is to get proper diagnosis of problems and work hard on physio etc so I can get back out next year.
Keep ur fingers crossed for me!
One final point, the guys at the white room were ace when it happened. Thanks to Alex for flicking the ants off me and to Stevo and Pat for making their way round to me as we'll. Waiting for the 4x4 / chopper was the longest hour of my life.
On the one hand, sorry to hear about that, especially on day 1... Gutting. But on the other, Pat's back, woo!
What trail did you "off" on? Should we mark the spot with a plaque for posterity?
I think it was la tour.
It was in La Thuile - no idea what they call the trails over there! The one off the second lift with the jumpy bits that goes out to the left.