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In a week, I'm going to the Alps with some friends. We'll be based near Alp d'Huez/Les Deux Alpes, and plan to split the holiday between MTB and road. I'd like some advice on MTB routes please.
The other three guys are primarily roadies, but I had them up to Calderdale a few weekends back and they did respectably on some steep and rocky trails. Bikes are various flavours of Blue Pig and Cotic Soul.
I've heard the Megavalanche route isn't particularly gnarly, and fun to take a relaxed day over. Anything else that would be good for me to take a bunch of roadies on, who are interested in mountain biking but don't want to go mega-rad? Is there much that's worthwhile for days without lift passes?
There are about 300km of way marked trails with and without uplift in alp d'huez ranging from black to green. All are nice to ride. There are also loads of riding around auris. I would recommend getting a pass for at least a few days to try some of the lift assisted trails.
I would say that your roadie mates will struggle with both the Mega qualifier top section and the Mega top section. Both are black DH runs and are pretty damn rocky with plenty of drops and steep sections.
The lower Mega is red grade and with little or no rocks. There are some steep sharp corners and roots, but not too tough.
Cant comment on other trails really, we only did a couple of other non Mega runs whilst out there. EN5+6 I think. Both very rideable and nothing too technical that I can remember.
As above, the Mega quali track top section is lose/rocky, not much fun unless you are confident on that kind of stuff. Mega race track is generally much easier, although the very top is snow/rocky and the sections lower down in the woods are very rutted at the moment and not much fun at all.
Thanks everyone!
Looks like we might be better off sticking around Les Deux Alpes, as the Mega finish is 10 miles along the valley bottoms from where we're staying. What's transport like down there? I've only been to other bits of the alps before, snowboarding, and am used to free buses.
There are free buses at the bottom of OZ, Allermont and in boug so no worries there.
If you're not scared of some big climbs and can read a map, I can recommend some natural stuff starting on/near the valley floor. Though some of the routes I'm thinking of not ideal for the novice MTBer, you want to be very comfortable with exposure and tight switchbacks.
Where exactly are you staying? Will you have a car? There are some free buses etc and some off road routes you can use along the valley floor.
We're really close to VĂ©nosc, and have our own transport. The others are much better at climbing/endurance than me, though I'm used to it, and am a faster descender than them.
I might not take them on such exposed routes, but would love to know about them.
OK, some stuff to get you started. You'll want the relevant IGN top 25s too (or browse online on IGN Geoportail)
http://bike-oisans.com/noewp_telechargements/!/dl_id/10/titre/mtb-guide
Some of these on a map here: http://bike-oisans.com/en/mountain-bike/mtb-routes-oisans#cdf_page=1
Of that lot:
no. 3 - good, thought instead of through Auris climb the col do cluy, descend the obvious singletrack, roll down the gorge a little and pick up the singletrack on the left by the river, lift from Huez town up to AdH then ride up the col de sarrenne to complete the loop - start wherever suits on that. Descending the CdS there's a walkers path that goes steeply off the 2 or 3rd switchback and cuts down the hill, take that if you can handle steep tech, it's ace. Then when you hit the farm track turn right and follow it along, then pick up the FFC signs.
no 15: epic. Have your climbing legs on. BUT when I did this a few weeks ago cows had torn up the path up the hanging valley leading to the cold de la valette climb, 12k slog a thon! So make sure it's dry/has been dry. Singletrack descent down from the col off then end of the hanging valley beside a massive waterfall into the bottom of the sarenne climb is amazing though. Then climb back up the road a touch to pick up the farm track described above to get the ace descent to clevan le bas.
No. 20 - we nicknamed this the oulle switchback school. In the trees, but very steep and you need to be good at switchbacks. park at the carpark at the base of the AdH road climb (obvious, or ride along to it) then take the tracks on the east side of the river along, cross the river then ride up the (mental!) road to oulle. ~800m climb. There are parts of the trail you need to ride rather than walk down though, as it's steep/narrow/slippy etc. If you're thinking "i can ride black trail centres, I'll be fine" don't bother, if you're thinking "i get on ok at most UK DH tracks" you'll probably be ok/have fun.
Those first two are big rides but not tooooooo tech (mostly). The third is massive tech. There's other good stuff in that guide too, use a map and your common sense!
Brilliant, thanks so much. Looks like no. 15 will be perfect for us if the weather's been decent.
We'll steer clear of 20, none of us are up to that standard yet đŸ™‚
3 is a bit easier than 15, mostly in that it's not as exposed/big mountain and you have better bail out options. Also has some epic trails.
No real options for 15 to cut short/bail, and you're not near any roads/people - so be sure the weather is good and take normal precautions for being out in proper mountains!
For both,starting in clevans Le bas is a good option, you can park at the bottom of the village and you're at a lowish point of the route.
Oh, and if you're looking at other stuff in that guide, their rating scale (1-4 on endurance and tech) is consistent, but it's covering a wide range.
1 = pootle along/short spin
4 = bring your a-game and prepare to walk bits/many glorious mountain stages.
Oh, and when I say "Have your climbing legs on." = 1800m climbing, and cos of the cows we were pushing/carrying about 12k, though in better conditions there's only two bits for a few 100m (horizontal and vertical!) you'd need to push.
BTW numbers in the second link are different! (tho the VTT numbers match the guide....I think). Some of the GPX trails you can download are a bit off, use my notes above and look at the map!