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how’s Tignes this year, we used to really like it there, much more chilled and quiet a few really nice long runs from the top down to Val D’Isere and pint in the Marmot in the evening
Loved it. We've done three trips there are it's by far our favourite destination. As you say, so much more chilled. We first went there with the kid on a 24" Islabike hardtail ( which he promptly broke on the first run ) and it was amazing being back with them grown up and trying some of the harder routes.
We did the routes down to Val loads but the highlight was definitely Moustache below Toviere and the long wooded run to Brevieres. Absolutely stunning. Far better than anything we found elsewhere in the Alps
In Morzine with the e-bikes and looking for some kind of longer loop we could do to give ourselves a break from park laps.
any recommendations
Half a mo, and I'll dig up the thread ...
Here you go
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/bike-forum/les-gets-help/
There are a few other threads too. Just search fir getforcejunky or La Bourgeoise ( SP)
Just back - Was very dusty everywhere on Linderet, Chatel and Super morzine side, but whilst looking like killer front wheel wash out material actually had loads of grip. In the woods on the Les Gets side had a bit more residual moisture and made for lovely riding. Biggest let down was that one of my favourite lift-accessed but natural rides from the top of Mossettes (the section after the climb from Lac Vert down to join the built the blue under Chaux Flourie when hit hard and fast) has been flattened and ruined. Literally they've taken a double track grader to it...WTF!
Enjoyable fwe days (I'm still rubbish at jumps though).
That's a shame, i enjoyed that pedal back from the Swiss National rather than using the lift. Is it still worth doing as an alternative to the lift?
Absolutely gutted. I was due to head out on the 10th of August for a week. Just been told I've got a suspected blot clot in my lung, so no flying or holiday for me. I don't know if you can transfer lift passes, but I've got 6 days from the 10th that won't be used. I'm away for a wee cry.
Massive thanks to TheGeneralist and GeeForceJunky for the recommendation of the route out of the back of Mont Cherry into Edward Romand. Although the wife was a bit grumpy about a few of the descents.
Would recommend to anyone
Climbed to Avoriaz on the Fuel, way way hot. Phew.
Beer in Rhodos now
Yes, it was rather toasty today, luckily we took a leaf out of the Mad Dogs and Englishmen rule book and set off for our long ride at about 12:30. Scorchio.
first day in Les gets today, few runs on the green with the little one and a couple of extra blues for me. Having never been before, it's all great fun, even the braking bumps for now. Got an early rider full suss booked for the little one later on in the week which she's well excited about.
I'm surprised how quiet it is, short queue a couple of times at chavanne, but mostly no problem and the town was pretty empty this evening.
We have an apartment which is just over from the bottom of the skills loops so super convenient.
Anyone want to claim ownership of this find on our coffee table... Subscriber copy, April 25
first day in Les gets
Pronounced to rhyme with sez pets, obv. I've still got 4 rides left on a lift card from this July. Franky found it a bit stressy staying ahead of the teenagers on the reds, plopping onto the middle of tabletops, so bailed early down the mainly natural trails (bourgeois) back to Samoens happy not to have broken something and realising that's probably more my sort of thing really. Every time I ride away from a bike park these days it's with a feeling of having got away with it again which is probably not the ideal attitude
I recommend the loop that TheGeneralist gave me, but I reckon you’d need to either have all day, be super fit or have an ebike. The only other people we met (or overtook us) were on e-bikes.
Bit busier today, bit more queuing, but not bad at all.
@johnx2 I wouldn't worry about it, I'm landing on top of every table, often got my 9yr old with me, no one seems bothered if they catch you up.
Tried to do one if the xc routes today but got lost and gave up. Found a great off piste decent via Strava that dropped me out by the luge thing, was excellent
Cycled the Fuel up to Avoriaz today. The boy has his last day with GF who flies home tomorrow so I didn't want to semi waste a day's pass.
I'll be out on the trails tomorrow though for sure.
Sadly due to injuries etc I'll be riding alone all week I think . Not to worry, what's the worst that can happen 😀
In Morzine with the e-bikes and looking for some kind of longer loop we could do to give ourselves a break from park laps.
any recommendations?
you could ride up / get chavannes lift from led most of the way up to col de Joux plane. From here ride to cross on hill and descend down the ridge to road and find more paths down to Samoëns. Download topo gps for ideas or get the blue ign map. Lots of ways down from Col.
There is a bus from samoens lift station back up to Col that takes bikes that runs a few times a day costs 2 euros. Back at Col, find your way to enduro route F back to Les gets. There are some signs but not many so again you may need to use a map
I really recommend the ride from Les gets - up to M’ont Chery, round by Col l’encranaz, then up to col de La basse, then down to Paissy (?), and then down to Essert Romand. Cracking trail.
What a day,
Over the mosettes side of Champery, riding Swiss national, that was sooo steep and at one part too techie for me.
Back via tutti frutti in the end of a massiveday
She's had "the best day ever"... Rented her a little polygon full suss to try rather than the Vitus 24 which is full rigid, absolutely buzzing!
She's done all the blues and the green at Les gets now. Gonna get a couple more in tomorrow before we pack the van up to leave on sat am.
Not been too adventurous with it being out first time, but we'll be back next year and will venture out across the rest of the port du soleil for sure
She's had "the best day ever"... Rented her a little polygon full suss to try rather than the Vitus 24 which is full rigid, absolutely buzzing!
She's done all the blues and the green at Les gets now. Gonna get a couple more in tomorrow before we pack the van up to leave on sat am.
Not been too adventurous with it being out first time, but we'll be back next year and will venture out across the rest of the port du soleil for sure
Fab stuff and great to see. Fantastic
Meant to add.... Lifts were empty today, done half a dozen rides or so and just walked right up every time, no queues at all. I was expecting it to be mad busy all the time, but it's really eerily quiet a lot of the time (which is fine!)
SM wasn't in the morning, about 25 mins, down road and round corner.
The one up at Avoriaz you take to get back by Tutti was 10 mins about 3pm.
The rest were empty.
We're out wandering tomorrow so Mrs Weeksy can see.
Can someone just confirm route for strolling to top of mosette?
Drive to Ardent, bubble to lindarets then walk to mosette?
Does anyone have any recommendations for transfers from Geneva last week of August? All the scheduled shared transfers seem to stop before then and private transfers are pricey.
Do you mean walk to the summit of Pointe de Mosettes or catch the chairlift up?
If the latter, I'd park/ start at Les Linderets and then make my way to Les Cascades du Brocheaux where the lift starts from.
There's a couple of ways to Les Brocheaux. Simplest is to use the gravel road out the far end of Les Linderets. Very open to the sun- so hot and sweaty as well as being a bit dull.
Second way is to get up into the woods and follow the PPdS route via the snow cannon reservoir to Les Brocheaux. It's longer, has a steep start (from the hairpin on the road above Les Linderets) but is far more pleasant. It crosses the MTB tracks coming down from Avoriaz.
Walking to Pointe des Mosettes goes (as above) via Les Brocheaux and then up the gravel road to Grande Conche. Go left and head everywhere upwards.
You can also get to the top via Lac Vert and the GR5 from Chatel bike park. Take Chaux Fleurie chairlift up from Les Linderets.
It's all pretty well signposted. Lift stations may have a walking trail map for you.
Just getting the long long lift is perfectly fine.
We ended up there yesterday. Before we went down then hit National. I just thought she'd appreciate it as a little adventure.
There's a new-ish footpath from the Lindarets bowl to Brocheaux/bottom of Mossettes. When you walk out of the ardent telecabine it's right in front of you at the end of the tarmac, cutting across the grass. Signposted to cascade Brocheaux, it follows the stream and is nicely shaded pretty much all the way. ~25 min walk
There's a new-ish footpath from the Lindarets bowl to Brocheaux/bottom of Mossettes. When you walk out of the ardent telecabine it's right in front of you at the end of the tarmac, cutting across the grass. Signposted to cascade Brocheaux, it follows the stream and is nicely shaded pretty much all the way. ~25 min walk
Top job, worked a treat. Thanks
What's the pretty lake that's featured on ppds route, ice cream stand/shop.
Trying to think of pretty places for non riding days for Mrs Weeksy
Lac Montriond?
Lac Vert?
Lac Montriond by the sounds of it. Swimming, SUPs, cafes etc.
Deffo not Montriond, but we'll likely head there tomorrow
Day as a tour guide today showing mates round the area. So so so hot here. I was dying.
Mutzig in bar Robinson now.
Did you find the lake on your travels?
Here for two weeks and day 1 was fabulous. Even just playing on Chavannes and Nauchetts was fun with the kids. Everyone was very tolerant of the little one riding green and blue trails. Triple eight on rigid forks seemed appropriate..
I survived my 2 weeks with no drama. I just realised I didn't really check the forum at all while I was there and I was too busy riding to take pictures.
No one from here recognised me or commented on the bike though.
Can attest to the heat out here, wowsers. On week one of two with family and the boy who is new to MTB in the Alps has christened himself with a fractured wrist on only our second day... annoyingly on Alpage en route back to Morzine having mastered berms on the blues
So... Ideas for what to do with a 13yr old who is in a cast that can no longer go rafting, swimming, high wires etc? Still got my daughter to take out and hopefully some time to myself whilst trying to ensure mum isn't hand maid to the boy!
Oh bugger. Hope he's mostly ok.
Last night for us tonight, although Mrs Weeksy is staying till Sat. It's her birthday tonight so out for a meal, then up early tomorrow morning to drive back to UK.
It's then straight to Llangollen for track walk and bike rebuild on Friday in the field and a weekend of racing for the boy while I collapse in a heap.
His bike has mostly survived the trip, but one rim on the back may need replacing after Gollen. My Fuel has been ace and today was Pleny laps for us. Was supposed to be a rest day for wife's birthday but she fancied the pool so we hit trails.
Still soooooo hot. Just been out to fill the van with fuel and it's showing 34deg currently. I have no reason to disbelieve it
Cold beers now and melting on the patio
Couldn't make it this year for various reasons and I'm jealous of you all
Im heading out to Chatel on Sunday. Can’t wait! Hope we haven’t missed all the good weather. 34oC sounds a bit much, but it’s much preferable to pissing rain!
It was 38c on my last day and to be honest, it was much more enjoyable the previous week in the pissing rain. I love a wet Pleney.
My mates are already making plans for next year but I'm not sure. There's too many other places I want to visit.
It was 38c on my last day and to be honest, it was much more enjoyable the previous week in the pissing rain. I love a wet Pleney.
My mates are already making plans for next year but I'm not sure. There's too many other places I want to visit.
I'm hoping the boy is done with this place, the trails are ok but I'd rather play elsewhere like Andorra, Finale, somewhere.
Morzine has been great again this year but I'm kinda peaked
I’d go back tomorrow if we had the money to quit work. Being back for the last 4 days has been hard. But I’ve been there so much over the last 17 years (usually at least a month a year before kids) that it feels like a second home sometimes.
Weeksy why don't you leave the boy to it and go explore the grand massif? Or the Chamonix area for the odd day?.
I just don't think you can knock the whole morzine area for bang for buck. 15000ft of descending today for 38€
I’d go back tomorrow if we had the money to quit work. Being back for the last 4 days has been hard. But I’ve been there so much over the last 17 years (usually at least a month a year before kids) that it feels like a second home sometimes.
Same. We used to have a van, be self employed and had no kids. We used to drive all over Europe doing whatever we felt like.
Now we have a 2 week window, have to think about accommodation months in advance and then entertain a child. It all feels a bit rushed and stressful these days.
Junior did grab me on the last day and say "Dad, can we stay in this place forever?" Which was cute. Safe to say he loves it there. It'll be a few years until he's on a bike though.
Interesting day out today; attempting to ride the route recommended by @GeForceJunky and @thegeneralist. The climb to the top was tough in the heat and on an unassisted bike. Lovely singletrack down into the forest though.
When I got to the trail junction at the bottom of a steep rooty descent with the left turn, it wasn’t obvious as there were lots of trees down. Some poking about found the trail and I enjoyed more singletrack until I suddenly came across a lot of machinery doing logging and was shouted at by the forestry workers. I made my excuses, badly, in French and set off down the treacherous logging route they have made. They were not happy.
So it looks like the left trail which takes you down to Essert-Romand is being logged. The trail which goes to the right to La Cote d’Arbroz may be the way to make it work. Is that the route others are using now?
I saw a few English speaking riders up there so hoping one of them may see this. Obviously if you are reading this in 2036 or whatever, the route may have changed.
Was pretty out:
@davidj: I saw hé logging activity also, when I rode the trail in july. Luckily there were no workmen around. But I’d also be interested if the right turn you mention, instead of the left, is a good choice.
…and to complete the circle, I was checking @thegeneralist profile who inspired me to ride the route above and realised we bought my lad’s bike off him (a giant anthem) a few years ago. The string holding the dropper post down has only just been removed! It is now being ridden hard in Morzine and Les Gets once again:
I absolutely love that post david. So cool to know it's being used and you're getting out to amazing places.
Wicked!
More photos needed!
Woop woop! We've made it to Les Gets this evening. Off to sort a bike for the beautiful MrsA in the morning, plus the usual faff with lift passes. Then it's time to hit the trails. Worn out trails you say?Braking bumps you say? Hah! I laugh in the face of braking bumps...
#famouslastwords
BrotherA is du e to arrive at some point too 😊
Hmm, not so good here. Big day out with lots of fun but BrotherA managed to stack at the end of the ride down into Les Gets. Badly sprained shoulder/ displaced clavicle.
Thank goodness we managed to persuade him that easyJet insurance was not enough. He used the insurance offered at the lift station. €5/ day I think. And blimey, money well spent
Hmm, not so good here. Big day out with lots of fun but BrotherA managed to stack at the end of the ride down into Les Gets. Badly sprained shoulder/ displaced clavicle.
Thank goodness we managed to persuade him that easyJet insurance was not enough. He used the insurance offered at the lift station. €5/ day I think. And blimey, money well spent
There's a lot of that, saw many many people walking round in various states of disrepair when we were there, my mate stacked it multiple times on the same elbow.. lol.
Easily done though for sure.
As we're talking about injuries and insurance I thought I'd share my good experiences again.
2 years ago my eldest broke his collarbone in Morzine - we had insurance from CoverForYou which includes 'mountain biking, not over 2500m and you must wear a helmet*'. They paid out for all the hospital treatment and unused lift passes without a quibble.
This year youngest broke his scaphoid. CoverForYou paid out again with no quibbles.
Really cannot complain about their cover, customer service and speedy payouts. Both times we had family cover that cost about £70 for the 2 weeks. Seems pretty reasonable to me.
*I think racing isn't allowed but there is not specific small print about managed trails or back country riding or anything like that. A helicopter rescue from Col de Cou might test it more than our little accidents within the bike park however...
Mrs A and I knocked off a fair few km today messing around between Zore and Pointe de Mossettetes; but no brother Ambrose after his big off yesterday- but it does looks like he can recoup some of his bike hire etc. Get insurance folks!!!
The MTB specific route down from the lift station at Pointe de Mossettes has gone- a surprising move bearing in mind that there seems to be a definite drive to keep walkers and riders on their own paths in order to avoid inconvenience for each group. There are lots of public information posters up and about designed to keep all mountain users happy by ensuring trails and spaces are used considerately.
I had a very minor tiff with a fellow Brit yesterday when he cut into the queue for the lift. ASFIAC it's not the done thing. My French isn't good enough to deal with locals cutting in, nor my german. What's the protocol?
What's the protocol?
Verpisst dich.
Was out there last week the only queue jumping we saw was by a group of British teens, blatantly just pushed their bikes through in front of everyone a couple didn’t even bother with lift passes and just ducked under the rope. Lots of people join friends in the queue, but these guys just rode straight past the queue and cut through, so rude and puts us in a bad light!
Was out there last week the only queue jumping we saw was by a group of British teens, blatantly just pushed their bikes through in front of everyone a couple didn’t even bother with lift passes and just ducked under the rope. Lots of people join friends in the queue, but these guys just rode straight past the queue and cut through, so rude and puts us in a bad light
Joining friends you’re riding with is fair game I think. Helps maximise lift usage. A surprising number of folks won’t ride the lift alone or with strangers.
Was melting hot last week, was tempted to ditch the armour, until I saw someone that looked like they’d spent ten minutes in a washing machine with razor blades and rocks.
Lots of people join friends in the queue, but these guys just rode straight past the queue and cut through, so rude and puts us in a bad light!
No difference in level of evilness imho.
Ambrose, is that the path from the Lac Vert back down towards Les Lindarets?
@kenntaff13, It's the short section of switchbacks that bypassed the steep gravel track down from Pointe de Mosettes to the col where you turn left to Lac Vert.
Thanks Ambrose. We're arriving into Morzine tomorrow and that was part of the route we're doing on Saturday.
First summer trip to the French Alps (based in Chatel) and loved it.
A few mishaps meant we only managed 2 days out of the 4 riding, managed to squeeze a lot in though.
My soon to be teenager is flying, won't be long until I can't keep up with him. He's already talking about next year.
Off to Chur at the end of the week for a couple more days riding, anyone been?
Im in the portes du Soleil for a couple of weeks - staying near chatel. My buddy rented an e-bike in Morgins and came with me on a more pedally/less bike park type day. We only rode one park trail all day.
https://flic.kr/p/2rosHqX
https://flic.kr/p/2rosHqS
Off to Chur at the end of the week for a couple more days riding, anyone been?
Yes, lots of amazing trails. Bike park is good fun, but as per most of CH, the best stuff is the lift assisted natural trail. Have fun, and try not to worry about the cost everything, it's all eyewateringly expensive so just get on with it. Graubunden has the best mtb riding in the world, IMHO! In case you are asking for directions and don't know already, it's sort of pronounced 'Kooor', although locals do a Scottish 'ch' with lots of phlegm at the beginning. Have fun!
https://www.chur.graubuenden.ch/en/activities/summer/mountain-biking
Im in the portes du Soleil for a couple of weeks - staying near chatel. My buddy rented an e-bike in Morgins and came with me on a more pedally/less bike park type day. We only rode one park trail all day.
I’d love to do something like that. I’m considering if I should go back next year, my group are more into the bike park stuff or gnarly tech… I’m a singletrack trail rider, so I’m thinking I’d rather head off and find some of that…. Probably on my own as the others aren’t into pedalling! Thinking I’ll have to study maps to work out routes? Or are there decent ones that are easy to find?
@mtbgecko: I can’t say it was that simple. We’ve spent a fair bit of time searching over the years. Recently I’ve found that the e-bike tour trails were good for having several nice singletrack sections, as well as generally climbing on fire roads.
And actually, searching for info on this forum has been the most helpful source of advice - especially about trails around Les Gets. This thread in particular was very helpful:
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/bike-forum/les-gets-help/
@pedlad: that’s the trail from the top of the Morgins lift, across and up the the hill towards Les Mossettes. Most people ride down from the lift, and across the fire roads. But you can ride up along the ridgelines instead.
By the way, it’s not technically difficult, but you can go back by riding along the Morgins valley floor. There is a beautiful trail which runs alongside the river, the whole way down the valley. It would be graded a blue trail if it was a bike trail. But I find it absolutely wonderful. The trick is to avoid times when there are too many walkers.
It's been raining quite a bit over the last couple of days so the dust has definitely gone now. 12 degrees at the bottom of the French Mosettes lift. Locals chucked it in and spent the afternoon in the bar. We had to get back to Les Gets so missed out on the genepi. The trails were very definitely muddy this afternoon, some riders were looking like they'd been swimming in Nutella all day.
There's a lovely new piece of trail on the PdS route just after Lac Montriond that helps separate walkers and riders on the steeper streamside stretch.
Les Gets is surprisingly quieter than I expected even with the World champs just around the corner.
Possibly as Les gets is in awful condition this year? Seems worse than normal unfortunately!
It's been raining quite a bit over the last couple of days so the dust has definitely gone now. 12 degrees at the bottom of the French Mosettes lift. Locals chucked it in and spent the afternoon in the bar. We had to get back to Les Gets so missed out on the genepi. The trails were very definitely muddy this afternoon, some riders were looking like they'd been swimming in Nutella all day.
There's a lovely new piece of trail on the PdS route just after Lac Montriond that helps separate walkers and riders on the steeper streamside stretch.
Les Gets is surprisingly quieter than I expected even with the World champs just around the corner.
Les Gets is world cup, champery is world champs
Sorry 😔
Anyway, we tend to avoid the main DH stuff except for linking up places if need be. We've seen a few trail repairs going on and to be fair, have no real complaints about the condition of the trails at all although the polished limestone section on the Brocheaux track is as always absolutely the most slippy thing ever in the wet.
It's been raining quite a bit over the last couple of days so the dust has definitely gone now. 12 degrees at the bottom of the French Mosettes lift. Locals chucked it in and spent the afternoon in the bar. We had to get back to Les Gets so missed out on the genepi. The trails were very definitely muddy this afternoon, some riders were looking like they'd been swimming in Nutella all day.
They're my favourite days. Sounds ideal.
Def no dust left. I moved to Chatel for our final week on Saturday and had what is my now last ride yesterday out the back of Morlcan, that was lovely trails were hero dirt and did a new Uber steep trail not done before. By the time I made my way over to the park the weather had really set in and the mud I collected there and down to Lindarets was all but full washed off on my ride home via Vonnes. It's not stopped raining since.
When we were out a few weeks ago they were closing trails to repair them by digger and hand in Les Gets (And Morzine and Chatel). But I think it’s been so dry and busy it’s all just getting battered.
Today was my brother's last day here with his bust shoulder. A walk along the Super Morzine ridge including bilberry 🫐 picking and then a cafe stop. Dropped him off later back in Les Gets in a much better mood after finally forcing him out of his funk and off up we go to ride a bunch of the Chavannes and Nauchetes trails. The rain has helped to stabilise the dust from earlier this week, every is now silky smooth.
I'm at a bit of a loss about those among us who complain about the condition of the trails - the area is one of the most popular riding destinations in the world and as such gets a lot of traffic. There is (as far as I can see) constant trail maintenance going in.
I'm a mediocre rider but am having a blast. Modern bikes are so sorted compared with what came before.
Tomorrow promises great weather and hopefully velvet trails over to Les Crosets and then Morgins. We'll probably drive to Linderets first to get a bit of Chatel goodness under our belts too.
Bon nuit!
Make sure you leave early if driving to Linderats. They close the roads in at 10
Off to Chur at the end of the week for a couple more days riding, anyone been?
We were there 2 weeks ago for a few days.
Didn't do.much in the bike.park but if you want some big mountain routes send me a PM.
Did a loop from Chur, through lenzer and Arosa and back to chur.
Savage bur amazing route from lenzer
There is an unbelievable glacier loop in Laax which isn't far away either....
Lenzer bike park was busy, everywhere else was very quiet.
Thanks for the the CH route offer Matt, if I was on my on I'd take you up on it.
My lads happy riding a single gap jump in the local woods all day, so a lift assisted bike park is heaven for him. Plus, he looks a bit like Stevie Wonder playing the piano if he has to ride uphill for too long.
Last of day in Italy today after 5-days of no biking. Heading to Bad Ragaz tomorrow for 4-days.
And thus it ends. We're off back to the Carmarthenshire Riviera tomorrow taking a whole bunch of memories. It was a pretty disappointing holiday for my brother; he displaced his shoulder at the end of day 1. He's back home now, a bit annoyed.
MrsA's bike died before we even left Wales and will soon be in the hands of Giant in Bristol. Seeking advice, help or assistance from my local branch was a horrible thing. I'm going to do the 100 mile trip to Bristol in preference to the 15 mile local branch when we get back.
Out here in Les Gets MrsA hired an xtra small Spesh Turbo Levo and loved it. Time to start saving up maybe! 🤔 Thumbs up to Evasion Sports, a bunch of heroes. Her hire bike went in trashed on a daily basis but she then collected it pristine next morning.
We got through a few sets of pads, a single broken spoke and my legs are totally borked. MrsA's thumbs ache too.