Comrie croft trails?

Foel gasnach near Ruthin? Just over an hour away. 4 different trails

Junior campalumpa (oompalumpa?) has the transmistter carbon – absoluteley loves it.

But… we fitted it with 2.3 tyres (alpkit will do this if you send them the tyres you want fitted). These are an absolute bugger to get off as the rims are designed for wider tyres.

ask Colin from flattyres if he will guide you – he is very reasonable! Hiratehoeg is lots of fire roads

Thanks for replying

Looking on the canyon website, the TTL (measurement ,) is 569mm in size S. Where are you getting yours from?

Just to update – Meribel is great, lots to go at, we didn’t get beyond the lift assisted riding (woodsmoked and forest jump were ace)so didn’t take advantage of the navette uplift to do the trails that went below the height of the lift station. One to go back to definitely

Valmorel we didnt use the lifts as it didnt seem good VFM – at best 2 of the lifts were open on a day. They do have a free bus (3 times per day) from the valley to access a couple of enduro trails, The reds were not great – swicthbacks too tight but the blue was superb and you could navigate across to it without using the lifts. Wouldnt rush back their mind,

Try Asda

Can get glasses with lenses for around £80 and no extra charge if you need thinner lenses or varifocals. and they will give you two pairs for not much more.

col d’agnel not allos

Troutwrestler

Vars is pants – recommend not wasting your money

The black route 21 from above Risoul is awesome (and extremely exposed in a couple of places).

Also recommed Abries which is under an hour from Guillestre, It only has 3 DH routes but has sublime lift assisted XC. You could also get a car lift (or e-bike) up to mountain hut almost at top of col’d’allos, ride up track opposite off road to col and then descend to Abries.

We have been to val twice and stayed in the campsite at Val. I like it, never found a problem with construction. The site at Tignes doesn’t get much sun but not stayed there. You can cycle direct to the lifts in Val from the campsite but in Tignes have to drive / get a bus up to resoort to get on lifts. The queues for the bus often exceed the capacity.

Biking is great – lots of swooping easy greens particularly on the Tignes side and even on the harder trails few braking bumps- you can to Tignes from Val using the lifts but the second lift is not always open if windy to get you to the crossing point.

Lift passes last year were 10e per day or 40e for six days. With this you also get daily entry to the pool in the place you are staying and some other free activities such as a paddle boarding if staying in Tignes / archery/ remote control monster trucks.

Stock up on food at the supermarkets in Bourg – the one near the campsite in Val is well stocked but expensive.

You can rent paddleboards by Llyn Padarn in Llanberis and paddleboard there.

Also on north side of Padarn there are the Dinorwig quarries. Great for an explore over all the different levels and lots of safe mine tunnels – the double one behind Dali’s hole is good – try and spot the banksy style graffiti

Get the book wild wales for lots of other ideas on off the beaten track and free stuff

Surfing or boogie boarding at Hell’s mouth

I have optima nu force sport ones – very pleased, think they were about £50

Harris and Lewis – beaches, hills, ancient stones, some great independent hostels. Not so good if weather pants mind but it is so windy that better weather comes along soon (and goes away again…)

Border Terrier obvs!

Our BT was biking until he was 12. He bloody loved it, Especially chucking his body into berms and clearing table tops. He would sit on the cross bar with his pwas on the handle bars for road sections and fast firetrack. In his youth he happily did 30k.

He was PTS two weeks ago. He was ace. Sleep well Hamish

Rothiemurchus campsite just outside Aviemore

They have midge eaters, they dont ask you to pay in full at time of booking and then not give refundsif you cancel (which Loch morlich one does). It is small and safe for kids to be feral and you can disappear off into the woods on your bike from the tent. Doesnt get much sunshine though as in woods and no dogs in camping area

Or – if you can manage with just a portaloo and a cold tap then tiny Ardtoe campsite on the ardnamurchan peninsular. It is next to small white sand beaches that are safe for swimming/coasteering/kayaking. If you are desperate for a proper shower then you can drive about 20 mins to the boatyard at Salen. We went for 2 nights and stayed a week.

Second Tignes/Val d’isere, good basic campsite at Val. no swimming lake nearby though.

Lift pass no longer free – it is 10e per day or 40e for 6 days but you do get included access to the pool and lots of other free activites.

There is a campsite in Les Gets which has pool and hot tub – friends stayed there last year and raved on about it. Plus swimming at Lac Montriond

I drive a 6m citoen relay van with tow bar bike rack so over 7m in total. Drives so much like a car that I often forget I am in a van when doing 60mph on a windy ‘A’ road.

It goes anywhere a car will go, you do have to be aware on corners that the back swings out, that it is slower to stop when you have to brake quickly and turning in tight spaces can be a pain.

The first time i drove it i was terrified mind…

Gwerniago farm – lovely campsite near Maccynlleth plus the Climachx mtb trail, The osprey centre near there is well worth a vist even if you aren’t a twitcher

if you do go to Graig wen or thereabouts, a visit to Cregganau lakes and the blue laggon at Fairbourne are well worth it

if you have a look at flattyres.com, lots of xc routes in that area – Colin has one that takes in Cregannau lake and the Mawdach cycle path and isn’t too teccie although quite long.

Beach couple of miles north of above Aberdovey (big layby ) is lovely and in right conditions has good surf.

Shell Island will be hell.

On Anglesey, a trrip to Newborough beach is well worth it, walk north to the little island and go for a swim. There is a lovely campsite called vineyard camping or something nearby

We buy pre-owned Boden baggy shorts off e bay and he wears his padded shorts underneath. They look really good and last long enough for him to grow out of them.

There is also the Scottish brand shred xs but even the lighest weight ones are too thick for summer use.

Thanks both – has confirmed my view that it is not for us ( well me in reality), Will got to Valloire instead.

we always stay at les grebes du lac at Marcenay on way to Alps.

It’s a little bit of a trek from the autoroute but very chilled out with pools and a lake to swim in

We cycle toured with camping kit around and up Ventoux 2 years  ago.

There is only one bar in Flassan, didn’t eat there but food looked great.

Camping at Malaucene- the site just up the hill towards the dentes du something is nice with pool with stunning views of ventoux. Not many shady pitches

Camping site in Villes sur Auzon at start of gorges de la nesque also good – lots of kiddy entertainment and nice heated pool (not that you will need that in high summer but we were there in late May)

We also stayed in Bedoin at La Garenne which has lots of shade and nice pool and huge trampolines (son found that a bonus)

the cycling museum at Bedoin s well work a visit – shows the development in rd bikes since the 1st Tour. Owner gives everyone a personalised tour.

Agree with the Malaucene route is better. Try up from Bedoin to see the memorial down to Malaucene and back over the little col between them.

The Gorges de la Nesque is a beautiful ride. You could go up this to get to SAult, go up Ventoux and then descend to BEdoin or Malaucene.

beautiful 75 mile ride around mt ventoux as well.

ALbion cycles is SAult is excellent and much cheaper than rentals in Bedoin.

There is enough at alpe d Huez to keep you entertained for 3-4 days including the megavalanche route. If you stay at allemont then there is a free bus up to lift station so you don’t have to drive up the 21 bends

Lake garda northern end?

Municipal campsite in Beaufort. No pool but one 5 mins away. Some good dh biking from the village you use the bus with uplift or you can drive to nearby resorts with chairlifts

Beautiful area. Lovely walks. Quiet.

There is a car park on lhs about 100m over the hump back bridge in Llanwrst where you can park, very good curry house in centre of Llanwrst as well although you would need to book.

You can also sleep up in betws in the car park opposte the train station – go to the very last tarmacced car park.

There is a hotel in allemont just below the dam that looks good, also near municipal pool although it has a splash pool.

Also there is chateau d’oz on way up to oz en oisans which does B&B or you can self cater

good ride up la sarenne is to go up to the 5th bend on the AdH climb then turn off and follow the balcony road above the valley floor, drop down to the barrage du chambon and then do the climb up la sarenne. Lovely cafe right at the top of the climb

I just bought a new montane jacket off e bay. Rrp £300, selling for £90 ish. Not tested yet mind…

check out flattyres for lots of route ideas

Pont Scethin is good but a hell of a lot of climbing

Route Guides