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Evening all
We're going to the Alps for a couple of weeks in July, one week of which will be spent in Chamonix. We'll be guiding ourselves, so I was wondering of anyone knew of any trail maps or guide books (aside from the relevant IGN map) that covered the area?
Many thanks.
Cham trails have had a bit of a change recently (some locals informed me) with some biking bans in force and a new DH track built.
do the petit balcons theyre mega
That book looks good, thanks for the link!
Bit of a bummer that some trails are closed in July though, hopefully there will be enough to keep us busy. We've been once before in June, but without any open lifts, guide books and a proper map I feel we didn't get the best out of the place!
We are going end of June but lifts are open as we head out on 22nd June and checked the website. I'm interested in this thread too I looked at guiding and one bloke quoted me 200 euros for a day, think he's having a laugh! He'd be better of saying "no sorry". We are planning on camping in Argentiere. i'll take a look at that book, have you actually used it Johnikgriff? As often these books aren't as good when you try to follow them. THanks.
Got that book on ebay cheapest:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Chamonix-Mont-Blanc-Mountain-Bike-Guide-15-Routes-2010_W0QQitemZ110685142748QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=231534985336&rvr_id=231534985336&cguid=b7158c3412f0a47a0536a6d6ffde959c
The books ok, im popping over that weekend, to ride fri sat n sunday, if you want to hook up il show you around for a day, for nowt, obviously.
Forgotmename, do you mean the weekend in June that I am out therE? Do you live out there?
Im flying out there on 23rd june, i have a friend who lives there,il be staying with him, but will be riding on my own, i know the area, and prefer the lift access riding rather than going for a ride (pedaling up). How many in your group?
Forgetmename...drop me an email (in profile) and we can meet up, sounds like a plan!!
You also might find this handy too
Oh, and just to whet your appetite, watch this
snackmix, when you going?
we are out there 12th - 15th July and know loads of trails
I also have some on memory map if want them
Cham is ace,
some pics and video from the last few years
[url] http://www.flickr.com/photos/71958789@N00/sets/72157624822288907/show/ [/url]
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[url] http://www.vimeo.com/6022611 [/url]
Hi Gooner, we're going to be there 9-16 July, so it looks like we'll be there at the same time! Any help with where best to ride would be much appreciated.
Excellent videos and pics. Really can't wait!
The green book already mentioned is very good, better than most guidebooks, especially if used in conjunction with an IGN map
The Cicerone guide by Hilary Sharp may also give you some ideas - it's for walkers but I've found some of it quite useful
cant recommend the ride over Col De Balme to Trient enough, amazing descent. Back via train, lift, Vallorcine and the Balcon Nord or Sud.
Les Houches has a rep for being more mellow, but the all-afternoon descent over the back of the Prarion into St Gervais and then down to Le Fayet is an absolute corker too.
...a new DH track built
Is this the track at Vallorcine?
do the petit balcons theyre mega
Pretty sure they're off limits in July/August tho...
i've ordered the guide book and hopefully I'll meet up with Forgetmename whilst there, but otherwise the trails people have mentioned are they relatively easy to find?
MC, if you are still out there on 12 July i'd be happy to show you around
I'm interested in this thread too I looked at guiding and one bloke quoted me 200 euros for a day, think he's having a laugh! He'd be better of saying "no sorry".
Dunno about guiding but that's a pretty standard day rate for any kind of freelance work, hardly extortionate.
are they relatively easy to find?
Not particularly, if you ask me, especially at the Les Houches end of the valley. It's pretty easy to blag your way around Le Tour etc. (because there aren't many trees and it's shaped sort of like a big bowl, you can see most of it from the lift) but most of that's closed in July/Aug.
I wouldn't bother with a guide. The green guidebook should be enough. Personally I would use this in conjunction with the 1:25,000 IGN maps of St Gervais and Chamonix, which you can get online, and a basic (coordinate only) GPS. And a compass if your GPS fails. It's never ideal to get lost in big mountains...
Quite a few riders congregate at Zero G in the afternoon so if you want trail tips go there. I think Le Vert hotel has run uplift days in the past to some good stuff you probably won't find otherwise, on Wednesday afternoons as I recall. They do a sweet barbecue too most evenings (or did last year).
I'm there from June 12-18 and the latter half of July.
I'll be in the area, staying in St Gervais from 23rd-30th July. Know the area around there very well, would be interested in meeting any others there at that time
I need 2 must do rides to fill 2 days. I will be based in St Gervais with my girlfriend in late August and riding on my own. Oh and I am not the best navigator. Less uphill riding the better. 
but otherwise the trails people have mentioned are they relatively easy to find?
I worked as a guide in Cham in 2003 and rode as a tourist in 2007. If you have a guide book there's plenty of good stuff to ride, but when I was there there was a lot more 'off piste' which could be nicely tucked away. Saying that, in eight years I'm sure it's changed massively. 🙂
Stuff like the Petit and Grand Balcons are well signposted, but you'd be wise to check access prior to visiting.
What is the green guide book? Is that different to the one recommended above? We are out there same time as you Ben1979 drop me an email in profile would be ace to get some cheeky inside knowledge. Either way I am sure I am going to have a phenomenal time and I can't wait!
Green book;
http://www.chamonixbikeguide.com/
it was written by a guy (Tom Wilson-North) who works at Zero G in Cham. Call in there for a chat.
You can also get the book there or you could get it from Chainreaction and amazon
I'll be there last week of July too. I know a fair amount of the good stuff, there's always more though. I'm actually out there the week before in a group, but decided to stay a second week to try some things the others probably won't want to do (a multi-day trip in the Val Sapin area and/or a multi-day trip loosely oriented around Lac d'Anterne, maybe an easy climb, depending on what's accomplished the preceding week). Let me know if you're keen.
Here's last year's trip: http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/chamonix-last-weekzero-g-bikes
Cool so that green book is the same as the one posted at the top of this link, I've ordered that. Thanks for those that have been in contact about meeting up and riding it'll be great and I can't wait. Thanks guys, looking forward to a change from Morzine.