Hello!

I have one, and I’ve been extremely pleased with it. It climbs very well, and it descends like a mountain goat. I was actually quite surprised at how well it climbed. It’s very fast going down, stable, yet playful. Don’t know what else to say really!

I’m actually selling it, if you’re interested in a second hand one… It’s grey/black and I’d really like a brighter colour!

Photos on FLICKR at https://www.flickr.com/photos/131277328@N06/sets/72157678005783362/%5B/url%5D

Looking for around £2950 for it, so send me a PM if it’s of interest.

Thanks Candodavid!

Yep, I haven’t got a full package ready to book yet (although I am planning to for 2017, but probably not launching it October time as I need to finalise a few things first), but for the time being am guiding in Les Arcs, Meribel, Courchevel so if you wanted to go the “do you own thing” with regards to accommodation and hire a guide separately I’m ya girl!

I’ve just recently set up a facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theinsideline.mtb/

Otherwise, another big thumbs up for Bike Village – I worked for Sam a couple of years ago, there’s a reason at least 50% of his bookings are returning customers…

I’ll add my tuppence worth, as I personally think that AdH and 2A are probably two of the worst places to spend a week’s holiday in the alps. The reasons: AdH is mint when mega week is on, you ride the mega tracks and have a great time. At any other time the riding seems relatively limited. Deux Alpes used to boast 26 dh tracks.. dont know if that number is still the same, but either way they all seemed the same. Very little variety.

I’ve done two seasons in Morzine, countless holidays there, and two seasons in Les Arcs with visits to La Rosiere and La Thuile, and a week in the three valleys.

If you like braking bumps, a lot of traffic and full on downhill tracks, then go to Morzine. There are some fantastic days out to be had in the Portes du Soleil generally but unless you want to hire a guide, you’re not very likely to find the best of the singletrack over there.

If you like variety, proper singletrack suitable for 5-6″ bikes, no braking bumps and no traffic, go to Les Arcs. If you want to go to the alps to make the most of the lifts, then you can. You needn’t pedal up any hills but still descend thousands of feet through a week there. A bit of pedalling combined with the lifts is even more rewarding as there are some absolutely fantastic trails all over the Paradiski area and beyond. However, you definitely will need a guide to get the best out of it, and whilst I’ve said that about Morzine, having worked as a guide in both places I do genuinely think the quality of singletrack in LA is much higher and there’s more of it per square km.

If on the other hand you want quite smooth non-rocky, non-rooty trails, something some people may describe as featureless and bland, go to Deux Alpes.

I found some mint stuff in the 3 Valleys, but it requires exploration beyond the newly built trails they have there, and good map reading (and interpretation, French IGN maps take a little bit of getting used to to get the most out of the information on them). There’s a great dh track from the top of the Tougnete lift back into MEribel Mottaret, and also down the other side into St Martin de Belleville, as well as a trail from the top of the Pas du Lac lift, but that’s only 3 or 4 tracks. There are other marked tracks but they’re pretty poor to be honest.

As a total stranger to you with no idea of what riding you like, I’d recommend Les Arcs just for the variety. You’re bound to find something that floats everyone’s boat there.

nickegg, why not ask them here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Architrail/109472799129220

I’ve not seen yet, but that doesn’t sound like the fun that AC now is.

Having owned a 575 for 2.5 years before I snapped it, I wouldn’t describe it as flexy. It wasn’t noticeable anyway.

I snapped it on the chainstay 2-3″ behind the wishbone between the two chainstays (or whatever the little joining strut’s called!). Drive side. They are known for snapping there apparently, and I had no difficulty obtaining a warranty replacement. If you’ve not noticed any flex yourself, then my advice would be not to worry. Mine lasted quite a while despite the hammering I gave it!

I have always run 2.35 single plys on my trail bike, at around 30psi for my 10.5st weight, with no problem.

However, this year I’ve got loads, in fact I got two yesterday! This is unheard of for me, I reckon I puncture once a year normally. The only change is the rims, and I think that the problem is that they are not rounded on their edge, so when the tyre is deformed in an impact, a puncture results. What are the edges of the Flow rims like?