Which European mtb destination for an average rider

I am surprised nobody has mentioned Chamonix. I have found it great for all skill levels and basing yourself in Chamonix town gives you the whole valley to explore. You have Vallorcine, Argentiere, Les Praz and Les Houches all cn be got to by car or train or pedal power. Chamonix town has great bars and restaurants (although a bit expensive) and plenty of companies do airport transfers for you and bike.

@b33k34,

we have once done the PPDS weekend which was really busy.  Tended to do late June, and I think it has just got incrementally busier year on year.  You can get fairly long queues on the lifts and over time, I’ve got older, other riders have got younger and it’s quite often a case of some young gnar up yer chuff wanting to get around you. We haven’t done Morzine biking since well before Covid, say 2018.  Things may have changed.

It’s a shame really, as I love the town and we had a fantastic family holiday there in 2019, and took the kids biking on greens. Which aren’t greens by UK standards.

Solden Bike Republic was pretty quiet. The town is lacking any sort of atmosphere in summer.

Weve been going to the Alps almost every summer for the past twenty plus years and inevitably end up in the Portes du Soleil area. I really try to find other places but the Porte do Soleil trail network is so phenomenally huge it just can’t be beaten. I’m an average red grade rider who definitely prefers to keep my wheels joined to the ground and the place delivers that in spades. We soon learnt that Morzine itself is not the best place to stay. Yes it is central, has all the facilities and then some but it is just too busy for us, we far prefer to be out of town. Top choice is always Les Gets (but not in the village centre), followed by Val Des Adrossieres, Essert Romand, St Jean D’Aulps and Chatel. Although we’ve flown out a few times for e.g PPS or ‘lads weekends’ we nowadays always drive. It’s not too bad to do and you get to carry all the stuff you might conceivably need- spares can be a biy pricey. Although flying is faster you will be lucky to get any runs in on the day you arrive/ leave so I don’t think you really save much time at all.

Thousands of riders visit annually, for good reason- a huge trail network of great rides. Locally to the bigger centres (Morzine, Les Gets, Chatel, Avoriaz) the trails are really well used and towards the end of the season may well have braking bumps in places. I always thank the trail maintenance teams when I see them, they do a great job. Braking bumps are a feature of some of the popular trails, much like roots or drops or berms can be. Modern suspension should make short work of them but if you can’t cope you could always drop down to a gentler grade. However, once out of whichever centre you are staying in the trails become SO much quieter. After twenty years riding there I’ve never once thought ‘I’m avoiding this, the bumps are too much’.

It is ridiculously easy to cover 100km/ day of lift assisted blue/ red grade XC riding. Buy a 6 day non-consecutive area pass if you can.

Just to echo the above, and as I said earlier, Morzine is a wonderful holiday destination.

My two youngest had great fun riding there, getting taken up on the chair lift and some (not so gentle) blues and greens.

FWIW, the day we had with the guide hasn’t been topped yet, and we always did three days so there was always an urge since then just to “smash out laps.”  What we should have done, really, is get a guide again and have a different, but equally big day out.  But, planning etc, busy lives, limited time.

In a way, that’s why a catered, guided trip is probably my next holiday. Turn up, with bike, and follow an experienced guide who knows the area. No worries about food, routes, or anything, just enjoy. You may pay a premium, but, for me, would get a much better experience.

Another recommendation for Sam @ Bike Village from me. Been a few times and great guiding, food etc

Bike Village for me too! I went on a few other bike holidays in Italy and Spain beforehand which were a bit much for me and then did 3 years in row of bike village. Still challenging but much more tailored to your needs. Friendliest vibe ever. Beaututiful locations. Nice variety of riding.