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Any experiences and suggestions about places to base ourselves for a cycling holiday?
We are spoiled with Les Gets & Morzine, uplifts aplenty and great accessible trails.
Ideally:
- some hill/mountains to climb.
- some MTB, ideally with some uplift.
- some road riding.
- not too much travelling to do everything.
We would consider anywhere Italy as long as it's not too hot, Slovenia also.
What about the Aosta Valley, its got Pila on one side plus some good riding on the other, up the Valley to Le Thuile, a bit further over the top will take you to Bourg and Tignes.
The other way from Aosta over the Grand St Bernard Pass and your not far from Verbier.
That's what we are looking to do next June and July as an extension to our Lake Garda trip. International campsite is a good base in Aosta to take it all in
Riverierabike ticks all of those boxes. You’d stay in Molini in the Maritime Alps but they’ll drive you to the coast for some epic roadie stuff too. Brilliant trails on the doorstep (self winch or uplift) and some good roads from Molini/Val Argentina area
Loved the riding we did with Rivierabike out of Molini, though we only did the guided and uplifted stuff, no road riding or self exploring or anything.
Similar with Pila and La Thuile, only did the "resort" trails there though it's very un-bike-park. Pila has maybe the best single uplifted trail I've ever done, and La Thuile's probably the best single riding location I've been to- like super-innerleithen. Though I gather it's got pretty battered more recently?
I don’t think you can beat Torbole, Lake Garda. Biking infrastructure both road and Mtb is exceptional, food and travel from Scotland pretty cheap as well. Give me a shout if you want chapter and verse.
Livigno. Great place, tax free, in the Stelvio national park so all bases covered.
Uplifts on both sides of the resort - flow trails one side and more gnarly DH the other
Amazing XC and also gravel riding if that's your thing
Road... Stelvio natch and loads of other stuff.
Bit of a trek to get there mind, drive via Davos (Swiss vignette req'd) or 3-4hr hire car transfer from airport.
Accom direct with myholidaylivigno.com. Good cheap central apartments with secure bike (/ski) storage.
Cheers all - some ideas to go explore
Sauze d Oulx was a good base for me. Great trails, very quiet, no Brits. Close to couple other small ski resorts like Bondanechia great network of gravel roads. Pila is good but bit limited.
Cogne is beautiful in Summer and has a great network of trails for walking and hiking huts to do multi day wanders. Take your crampons though or it can get a bit too exciting.
What Tracey said.
I'd love to explore the Italian Alps further, but Aosta and around will be hard to beat.
Austria - IIRC your kid/kids are good riders?
They might really enjoy Leogang/Saalbach/Hinterglemm/Zell am See
Lots of lakes in the area, great walks, caves & gorges.
Lifts open earlier/close later than most French resorts
STW rates available:
https://www.apartmentamade.com/
I'm only suggesting this because I believe you've got the skills and experience to make the right decisions, but Aosta has Gran Paradiso one of the easiest 4000m peaks (particularly that it's completely crevasse free). The downside is no lifts so it's a mini expedition (and acclimatize) that might take too much time from your hol, on top of all the other considerations. There also appears lots of other stuff to go at in the GP park.
EDIT apology if I'm addressing the Messner family 😀
Another vote for pila. I would eco Tracy’s comments. We did a week in verbier and a week in pila. A great trip and simple logistics
Advanced apologies for the thread jack....
I have a plan for a 3 week road trip next June I wanted to do this in 2020 but, things happened.
First off is Le Mans to watch the race and then my plan currently is Solden 3 days , Dolomiti Paganella 3 days, Val di Sole 1 day, Livigno, 3 days and then I'm unsure. Pila looks amazing, so do some of the swiss options like lenzerheide and Zermatt. I'll be camping at each stop.
I'd love to go to Finale Ligure but I have heard its just too hot in the summer, anyone been in June? I have relatives in Monaco so it would be nice to see them if I am reletively close.
Reading this thread makes it seem I'm planning on hopping around too much and should do less stops for longer.
Aosta valley
We have been to Finale numerous times. Only been once in the summer, the first time we went, at the beginning of July. I love the sun and the heat but it was unbearable for full days riding. We now only go mid to the end of September usually to fit in with the EWS
EDIT apology if I’m addressing the Messner family
Nah, we are hill walkers, not mountaineers.... Plus mrs_oab is slowing down a little as her chronic condition continues. We are up for some mountains, but not really alpine assaults anymore.
Cheers @colp, another option to think about.