The Alps, Summer 2015 – where are you going and why?

Switzerland for us in September around val d’anniviers. This will be our third time in three years and still finding new stuff. The buzz from researching and self-guiding your own rides is incredible.

On our Euro-roadtrip the better half and I spent some time riding in Vosges and Morvan, and I took her to some of my old riding haunts in Croatia.

Agreed, it’s great discovering new, uncrowded riding.

Alpe d’huez with some road riding buddies, first visit to the Alps and I’ve not ridden or owned a mountainbike in 3 years 🙁

As it happens I might not be riding anyway due to a wrist injury that just won’t heal, need to research some multi-day backpacking routes in the area as a backup!

Chamonix in the last week of August.
But I’ll have no bike with me, as I’ll be running around Mont Blanc…

The ‘world cup style downhill’ is at Vallorcine. I rode it when it was just a footpath in ’03 and then as a DH track in ’07 – it’s good fun:

It is/was still good a few years ago, although a bit frustrating that you only had one run for the lift, which finished 2/3 of the way down the mountain & you had to ride the fireroad back to the bottom.

I’d still like to go back to Chamonix though – I liked it there as a place.

No Alps trip for us this summer – for the first time in 10 years we won’t be going there.

I’m not going to complain though – 3 months in Whistler instead 🙂

Probably a week in the Langhe (Piedmont, Italy) with my friends who’ve moved out there:

https://livinginthelanghe.wordpress.com/

and then I want to spend a week in/near Finale Ligure, but the Mrs wants to try somewhere new (despite never having been to that bit of Italy, it’s not a new country, so it’s not new – discussions continue), like Montenegro. I might show her the driving distances.

Edit – none of these are in the alps

But I’ll have no bike with me, as I’ll be running around Mont Blanc…

Won the UTMB lottery then? 😯

I might show her the driving distances.

Having driven down through Croatia, even on the toll road it’s a long way (and not cheap either).

As for the coast road – if you like constantly winding single-lane highway and utter lunatic drivers, you’ll be in paradise for quite some time. To be fair though, when you stop the views are staggering.

No Alps in Summer 🙁
Pyrenees end of March
Ardeche middle of September which I suppose is Rhone-Alps.

No lifts, less people.

Going down to Mont Ventoux in July on the road bike and then in to the alps from there. Across to Briancon then over the border towards sestriere and onwards from there.

P-Jay – you should defo check out Verbier, and http://www.bikeverbier.com. Yes, there’s superb xc stuff there, but there’s absolutely tons of gravity riding as well, plus some very steep and technical stuff if that’s your thing. The resort has a full lift access and loads of different DH runs in the bike park as well as mind-blowing singletrack in the bowl and off the back of the bowl, with lifts back up. Hundreds of miles of natural singletrack to cover every level of skill. Bike Verbier run a super-smooth operation and they split the groups so you get to ride what you like. They also have a van and trailer to get you to amazing trails no one else rides, with big descents that can take a couple of hours and more. Great chalet, great grub and guides who stay out all day so you maximise your ride time. Loads on this forum go to Bike Verbier every year – you’ll not be disappointed.

I am in the Maritime Alps/Provence in August.

I would also like to try and get another week somewhere in November, I was kind of thinking Finale Ligure, but wondering if its too late in the season for there and heading down to spain instead for higher chances of dry weather and sunshine.

First two weeks in August, Chamonix then Morzine. Appreciate a chunk of Chamonix will be shut but its supposed to be a family holiday too..

White Room for second year with all the same peeps met their last year!

Les deux alpes for me, can’t wait!

Slovenia for me without a doubt.
Endless singletrack, lots of ski lifts, some good parks, even better mountains, sunny side of the Alps, not busy/place to yourself, unspoilt, cheap, locals are great. I go with http://www.rideslovenia.com favourite trail is https://vimeo.com/115100444

Hoping to do the PdS in June (see my other post), then returning to the Alps At the end of August with the wife and daughter in the Motorhome, probably to Chatel for a week then Tarentaise for a week, hoping to squeeze in a sneaky day or two with The White Room if they have spaces. Not to mention a few Cols on the roadbike as well.

Andorra in September

Going with Singletrack safari

Austria – Saalbach/Hinterglemm/Leogang on the DH bikes and some XC stuff around Maria Alm.
Probably the first week of the school holidays in July.

No Alps for me – just Greece for half of May/June/July and then half of September/October/November. Not all bike riding but a fair bit of it will be.

whitestone – Member
Won the UTMB lottery then?

Got a place in the TDS. UTMB is next year… 😮

Les Deux Alpes, first 2 weeks of August, hopefully Mega track in Adh as well!

Any more for any more?

The countdown to summer is on!

Think its the Jura this year. Looks like there’s some good riding there.both mtb and road.

Doing Trailaddiction’s ‘Alpine improvers week’ in July.
The last time I was in the Alps was 2007 so I need a refresher course..
I’ve been to Morzine a couple of times but this will be the first time at Les Arcs,never heard a bad word about the place 😀

There are 13 of us driving down for the PDS this year. All first timers bar 1, can’t wait

Seen the conditions round PDS at the moment? Floods of Avoriaz… https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=901284356599929

All the way through the Alps in June. 5 of us flying into Geneva then riding the Route Des Grande Alpes as far as the col de Bonnet, hanging a right towards Ventoux and flying home from Nimes.

Then late Aug with the Mrs back for 2 weeks near Bourg d’oison.

That sounds excellent.

Obviously the White Rooms doing something right, we’re back again this year, 15th Aug I think this time, plus a wee holiday called the Trans Provence or something in sept. (yes holiday, not competition!)

None for me this year, putting aside money for a new bike instead… though I could happilly go back to white room for a 4th year on the trot!

6 weeks in the alps and Aix-Provence July through to Sept. Beaufort, Samoens, Bourg, Digne les Bains and Menton

A week in Chamonix followed by a week in Morzine (first time) in August with family so looking for children friendly 12 & 9 (both ride) trails maybe more XC than down hill (I know) and trying to show my good lady the light

I have 3 AMAZING mates who are splitting the cost of my trip to TWR between them. End of August for us all. I am a lucky man.
They’ve all gone on to have well paid jobs and I am a skint outdoor instructor in Pembrokeshire.

We’re driving in a Lotus Elise and an Arbarth 500 Essesse. Full on road trip.

I have very good friends!

4 bikes and kit in a Lotus and a 500? What could possibly go wrong? 😉

Once again I’m in Morzine/ Les Gets late July, early August. Staying in St Jean D’Aulps as before. Anyone fancy an uplifted XC ride or two?

White Room, late June. With the same crowd I usually go on riding holidays with but also with three who we met last year at The White Room.

Going back because the riding is ace, the guiding is superb and the crack is fierce.

Chatel at the end of July, can’t wait.

Morzine for the 3rd year in row. was hoping to do that Enduro2 but thats not happening. didnt really fancy Morzine again (not that i dont love it, just would prefer to try somewhere new) but some lads wanted to do PPDS so were on that with a couple days either side. we’ll have a van tho so can always move on somewhere else but ill probably spend one day revisiting some of the best trails we found last year, one day ppds, next day revisiting some of the best ppds trails from the day before and probably a day out&out DH bikepark stuff. just praying the rains stays away… last year was murder.

next year definitely gonna go for a whiteroom or similar experience! just struggle to garner interest amongst our lot with the expense and a full week away, but ill go alone if i have to…

If rather stay at home than spend 10 hours in an Elise, that will be one painful ride, you should get a rest at head gasket stops, hopefully you live in Dover lol.
Seriously tho, big up your mates, lovely gesture, we’ll try not to leave the place in a mass for you 8)

coolhandluke
White Room, late June.

Just eyeing up one of the remaining places in that week 😉

(can’t stand flying though, too much hassle / not being able to take all my usual bike kit etc)

I’ll be at TWR for a week starting the 22nd August. The following week we’ll be heading further down to Pila for a few days before heading back, may stop in Chamonix for a day or two on the way back.

We’ll be driving the Mk2 RS Escort again, this time without the bikes on the roof. Somehow we are going to cram everything inside, between the bucket seats and rollcage, boot is filled with the fuel tank.. Yes it’s going to be fun getting everything to fit. 😐