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Seems the brevent lift will be closed to bikes all summer, with MTB only officially allowed at balme, grand monsters and Les houches. I am just back from a couple laps at flegere tho, so hopefully we can keep that!
🙁 Just top section of the bubble to pran plaz too ?
They said both sections, bubble to plan praz AND gondola up to Brevent itself> The CdMB website says VTT interdite at both Flegere and Brevent tough.
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Always felt a little guilty descending from Brevent back to Cham, most of the trails were officially banned in July and August, but seemed like a blind eye was being turned and never ran into any issues other than with grumpy British ramblers.
After an evening of grumbling amoungst Chamonix's VTTists, it seems the reason is that a new lift is being installed for next winter and the 4x4 track up from the valley is now closed to all (pedestrians and cyclists) so as the lorries can trundle up with the equipment. As the 4x4 is the official lift company approved descent for bikes, bikes are now not allowed up the lift. Why Flegere is now on the interdite list I'm not sure, but it doesn't seem to be closed inpractice so hopefully that doesn't change.
The arrete municipal than stops biking in July & August lists the Brevent couloir as one of the exceptions to the bike ban, so it might be there's an arguement to be had there that gets access granted again.
Saying all this. It's ust a lift, it's really no that important in the grand scheme of things, and we've got the whole St Gervais/Megeve/Combloux area included in the lift pass this summer.
Thanks for the update, what's the riding like in Megeve / Combloux I've only ever skied there ?
I've not ridden over that way (portes du mont blanc) a huge amount, just a race and some day trips, and the IGN maps aren't a massive amount of help as they don't seem to cover a lot of the small trails through the trees.
The little I have seen (and there'll be plenty exploring this year for sure, the potential for massive lift aided routes is huge) is fairly good, generally not that steep or rocky, but lots of more flowy riding in the woods. The views are pretty good too being that bit further from the big hills so you get a better perspective on them. Think slightly more mellow Hugh's Way and Pipeline style trails and you've got a good start. Add in some of the flatter gradient stuff and bike park/flow trail from Samoens/Les Carroz and you've got it more or less (from what I've seen).
As ever there's some words and pictures on the blog...
Megeve/Combloux: [url= http://www.chamonixbikeblog.com/tag/les-portes-du-mont-blanc/ ]http://www.chamonixbikeblog.com/tag/les-portes-du-mont-blanc/[/url]
Les Contamines (A little unsure if this is included free in summer, but it is in winter) [url= http://www.chamonixbikeblog.com/2014/les-contamines-no-bad/ ]http://www.chamonixbikeblog.com/2014/les-contamines-no-bad/[/url]
Grum p as you sound like your local to the valley....do you know if the VerticAlp up in Le Chatelard takes bikes up on the Funicular?
We were in St Gervais for skiing this year, looked like there were a few good loops there from the maps. Not sure how gnarly it is though...
Seems the brevent lift will be closed to bikes all summer, with MTB only officially allowed at balme, grand monsters and Les houches.
I've always thought Cham is a little short-sighted when it comes to MTB, and this does nothing to dispel it. I suppose with Morzine an hour away they figure they can make their money on selling hikers and climbers obscenely overpriced food and drink, but still - can't help thinking they're missing a trick. Still one of my favourite places on the globe to ride bikes.
Always felt a little guilty descending from Brevent back to Cham, most of the trails were officially banned in July and August, but seemed like a blind eye was being turned and never ran into any issues other than with grumpy British ramblers.
It's a cracking descent tho. 😉
Edit: just read
Saying all this. It's ust a lift, it's really no that important in the grand scheme of things, and we've got the whole St Gervais/Megeve/Combloux area included in the lift pass this summer.
OK, this does a little less to dispel it. 🙂
Burchy - are you wanting to get up to the Emosson damn? If so, you can get a cheap train to Finhault then either pedal (hourish) or get the bus (adapted for bikes, but not cheap) up to the damn.
The train + funicular is expensive - cant remember how much, but I did email the tourist office in Martigney last year, could be 50 francs or more.
The pedal up from Finhault is ok, most is on easy graded fireroad, with amazing views back towards the Chamonix valley peaks opening up as you climb.
If you descend all the way, down the Tretien switchbacks, must make sure you've got enough energy to make it out again! And if you try and ride the old mule track section down to the valley near Martigney, watch out, there's a real sting in the tail of that ride....
Thought it was always banned July / August ? Certainly when I was going there every year (2004-10) it was...
I've always thought Cham is a little short-sighted when it comes to MTB, and this does nothing to dispel it.
Cham's heaving in the summer with climbers and day trippers, I doubt accommodating more VTT is worth their while.
Thought it was always banned July / August ?
Brevent ? We took bikes up last July, I think officially there are ways down still allowed, clearly there are nice trails officially banned but the number of walkers is quite low. On foot ( 😉 ) we saw a gew rather spicey lines fairly straight down between grand and petit balcon and further - roughly around the line of the plan Praz bubble
Cham's heaving in the summer with climbers and day trippers, I doubt accommodating more VTT is worth their while.
This. Chamonix is already a very successful summer resort. Maybe the most successful. Morzine had some very lean years in the winter with poor snow, pretty quiet in the summer and took the enlightened view that biking would be a big plus.
@Burchy1 I've never heard of anyone taking their bike on the funicular, doesn't mean you can't, but as Agentdagnamit says, it's blinking expensive and pedalling up on the road isn't that bad (and free) or take the post bus which, as with most swiss buses, take your bike too for 1/2 the fare you pay for you.
@flap jack, yup, all the fun trails off the Brevent middle lift are banned in the bike ban July and August, and the trails like holy trail/aiguillette des houches from the brevent top lift are banned all year as you go into a national park where bikes ain't allowed. However, the 4x4 track all the way down is one of the lift companies official mtb routes, so you just claim you've been riding that all day!
Chamonix is heaving with tourists most of the year, most of whom spend money with little extra infrastructure needed, bikes cost the lift company money to accomodate so there is some reluctance there. The most important thing about the Brevent lifts is that they reopen in the autumn for 2 or 3 weeks when everywhere else is closed....
Cheers Agent/Grum, the idea came from a bit of strava stalking and this ride (pics of them on the funi, although one of his other rides had pics of them on the Brevent lift on the 11th June this year!) - [url= https://www.strava.com/activities/395653158/overview ][/url]
VerticAlp website had a single funi trip as €14 so not cheap but ok for a once a year holiday i guess. Racing Enduro2 at the end of the week so trying to keep our legs fresh for that.
Any other lift info (e.g whether the upper lift at Le Tour opens up) would be much appreciated.
Bunchy top of Le Tour is open even during the bike ban for riding into Switzerland (certainly always has been)
Just had a look on the verticalp website. Not sure exactly what your plans are Burchy1 but the funicular only gets you part of the way, to get from the valley floor at Chatelard to the dam you need to use all 3 bits. Part way up might be grand for your plans though!
The top part of Le Tour is currently open, but closed for bikes as the bike park is still partly under snow. The lifties reckon it should be open for bikes this weekend (18th June).
Grum i kind of figured that the funi takes out the major part of the climb and then the top bit could be done as a ride up on the road.
Cheers for the Le Tour lift info, getting there on Sunday so fingers crossed the snow/lifts/weather play ball!
Burchy - there's a great legit descent from the Lognan lift to the Grand Montets. Down to Lavancher and a lot of fun - especially with not-so-legit finish toward Le Bois.
Petit Balcon Sud is a good ride, from Argentiere to Cham, techie climbs and short descents.
Or, Col de Balme when open - 3 downhill runs, a few jumps and good cafe at Le Tour. And you can use the lift system to get over to Trient and Chatelard - get yourself an IGN map and nose around. If you do either of those, be nice to the sheep farmer just across the Swiss border.
Plus Les Houches - though can be a mess in the wet. And various footpath type descents from Le Prarion area.
Hoping to start guiding there again next year after a short break - if you enjoy it get in touch and we'll show you around in 2017.
Cheers Agent, this is a return trip for us so I recognise/have ridden all of those except for the grand montets stuff as it wasn't open when we were there last June. Also have the luxury of a mate who guided for mbmb showing us around.
Good luck with the guiding if you get it up and running!
And now for some good news!
CdMB have changed their mind (thanks to lots of local advocacy work) on not letting bikes up the Brevent/Planpraz lifts. From today (22/06/16) it's ok to upload with bikes at Brevent and Flegere.
As ever though, this can be reversed, so please play nice! The local word is that bikes abide by any requests to not ride certain areas due to the works on the new lifts (the reason for the interdiction in the first place) and that everyone is nice and chilled out on the trails, so try not to look too much like a storm trooper, maybe leave the full face at home (if you're going fast enough to need it you're going too fast and if you're not confident enough to ride a section without it, just walk it) and generally be friendly!
Yay for good news...
good work...
presume the Holy trail not having lifts built on it ;o)