 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I'll be in France (morzine) a similar time and wondering if anyone is going for the event? I'm not entered but will be riding tracks round a bout still.
Any benefit to entering?
Did it a few years back.. not the best trails in the area but a great 'big day out' in the mountains. The price back then included the lift pass for an extra day, food en-route and a Pertex-style jacket.
Did it a few years ago, will be there this year too but haven't entered.
TBH I doubt I'll ride it again, it's a fun time to there, lots going on, but the event is a bit rubbish - it's a long, long ride even with the lifts there's quite a bit of climbing to do and all too much long floods fireroad descents that knock the shit out of you and your bike for little fun. There are some optimal descents, I took some, avoided others at random, it was 32c at max that day (still patches of snow up high though) so I was in my XC lid it's a tough call - endless fireroad or black graded DH track on a trail bike and trail kit when you're pretty tired already.
We started in Morzine and headed in the direction of Lindrets, 6-7 hours later we arrived back in Morzine and stopped for a drink "so, just a loop to Les Gets and back and were done" my mate said, "nah **** it" I replied and ordered a Mutzig.
Benefits to entering for us:
'Race' Number
Dubious looking hydration pack sans bladder.
Bag of stuff, including some snacks.
Insurance for the day, which I think they threw in as some insurance cos might consider the event a race, which it's not, it's not timed and no results shown.
Access to feed stations, melted chocolate, manky sweaty food, rank squash - I'd rather pitch up in a nice cafe for lunch.
I know that all sounds very negative, and it's not bad, it's a good laugh and most people at least at the start of the day are in good spirits and there's a great buzz about, but the trials are fairly plain whilst being hard on bike and body and a lot of the time your in a slow speed train, you can't squeeze 400 people or whatever down panoramique without a bit of a log jam.
Route varies a bit per year. First time I did it the rooty descents into Morzine were excellent (if muddy). Second year it avoided all that.
I enjoy it whatever. Nice scenery, not too challenging being essentially uplifted alpine XC, though requires pedalling. Personally didn't find too much traffic.
I like going places on rides. Though I do mucking about sessioning and loops also, I like to get some distance and explore or feel like it's an explore even if following a route.
Plus, you ride the route one day and then got the whole weekend or a week maybe to do other stuff, and there's tonnes more about, especially off piste. The weekend is a festival and nice vibe. Though maybe a bit busy for some.
Entering the event itself is not required. Just gets you a goody bag of adverts, a freebie of some sort, lift pass for the day plus a bonus day end of the weekend, and entry to the food stops which aren't that amazing (cold meat, cheese, French equivalent to Fosters kind of beer).
You can get a cheap multi-day lift pass for similar money and just ride what you like, and just miss the food stops.
It does sound pretty good but from your opinions it sounds like you can do most of it on a standard lift pass anyway (get involved with all the goings on in town) and just ride what you want instead which is what i'll probably end up doing and had done.
Do the trails get really busy or does it filter out a fair bit?
P-Jay, what dates are you there and where are you staying?
I absolutely love riding in the area and the event can be a total ball's out hoot. There can be queues at the lift stations but the longest I've had to deal with was 1/4 hr.
If it rains it is a total slippery mudfest. Be prepared!
OP i have done it 3 times and its a grand day out in the mountains in the company of other riders. Entry gets you the food & drink and a name plate 🙂 . Its more xc than dh and all the trails are ridable as soon as the lifts are all open. It thins out pretty quickly. Popular starting spots usually sell out quite fast, a bit easier now its three days vs 2. If you do the route its worth seeking out all the dh / trail options