[Closed] sensible advice for a very confused girl!!

Your bike should be fine if you don't get over-ambitious. Plenty of places to hire big-bikes if you get braver, you don't need to buy one just for a single holiday.

I rode the passporte du solieil in 2004 on a 100mm XC bike, and my mate was still running v brakes. You'll be fine.

Having said that, you will have a lot more fun on a longer travel bike

That will work fine. Maybe get some big tyres for a bit of confidence, some spare brake pads and enjoy yourself!

Cue someone having done it on a hardtail....

Your bike will be fine. It's not about the bike.

It's a [b]holiday[/b].

Relax and enjoy yourself.

Lots of people buy second hand bikes for this type of trip then sell them on afterwards, much cheaper than hiring unless you are unlucky and buy a wreck.

Having said that you perhaps won't be riding much harder stuff, so your current bike could be fine. You could always hire in resort (pricey) if you feel massively underbiked after a few days.

Hi Emma,
For the XC stuff there your bike will be perfect.
As you've said, you're not an aggressive rider, and you know your limits.
It's not all 'radical extreme' there. There are some super XC trails as well. You'll be fine.

SB

5" bike is perfect for XC round there, and will get you down most popular DH trails fine.

(been out to that area 7 years or something)

It'll be perfect for the XC routes out there. I've been maybe 6 times to that area, and only had a FS for one trip. most other times I was using a HT with 100-120mm travel. The [u]only[/u] thing I ever do before going is change the brake fluid; if you're on hydro brakes.

As some-one else has said, relax, it's a holiday.

You will not die. You will however think that you might have- and ended up in MTB heaven. The riding there is stunningly wonderful. I'd be happy to ride there with your bike. Don't worry about bouncy climbs either- the chairlifts do that for you.

There are loads of threads regularly posted about the suitability of various types of bikes for various trails out there- don't take everything that is said as the gospel truth, because different people have different views (myself included). I am an XC rider, the XC trails out there are all suitable, as are some of the DH's. I've seen Black runs ridden with style grace and panache by people in 3 inch hardtails, and I've seen testosterone fueled 'experts' dressed like stormtroopers really mess up riding some of the simplest runs imaginable.

Top tips- take bigger tyres than you would ever imagine you might need. Take spare brake pads. Wearing leg pads makes you feel more confidant- so you ride better! Take your time, don't feel intimidated- it's a holiday- have fun.

If you wish I can send you some great GPX routes for Morzine/Les Gets.

hearne_ogwen52AThotmailDOTcom

Rode loads of XC stuff over the valley from Les Gets on my Reign but never used all the travel. Met lots of other riders doing similar things to me on bikes with less travel. Not everyone wants to go flying down ready made trails. There is a lot of natural stuff which is a lot of fun. Mind you there is also stuff that is terrifying. I thought I was following the trails marked in the book and ended up faced with, what looked like, a vertical wall of trees and roots. Suffice it to say I walked it!!

Cue someone having done it on a hardtail....

yo!

Souldrummer- would that be bits of the Chapelle de Jacqincourt run by any chance?

Thank you all, just the reassurance I wanted. I couldn't quite see how it was going to be a problem. I fully intend to cover as much as I can but relax at the same time! Really excited!
Thank you!
Emma x

Big DH tyres and roll on you'll be just fine...

on my 6th trip to morzine, have been overtaken on a gnarly rooty black run by aguy on a hard tail with 100mm forks and v brakes. It's not the wand it's the wizard waving it.

You will be absolutely fine, no death, only smiles, ride whatever you feel. Its just like home only with lifts, and larger percentage of steep bits, long runs that just always go down, but the terrain is exactly like that you will have seen before.

People do talk such sheeeeeiiite sometimes, ignore them.

Echo most above thoughts...

Have been out there on everything from a 5" travel XC bike like your Stumpjumper, to a full on DH bike. Anything and everything is fun. Even a hardtail if you're mad enough like one or 2 of my mates!

Just fit some bigger grippier tyres (something like a 2.35" Maxxis High Roller, any bigger will not fit your frame probably), get your brakes serviced, and possibly fit bigger rotors... Oh, and take spare brake pads!

Otherwise, just ride and have fun... The worst case of lack of fun in the Alps I have seen wasn't due to the amount of suspension travel, or lack of grip, but brakes boiling over constantly causing the guy to have to walk down the hills!

You'll be fine. Make sure you fit proper dual ply dh tyres, get your brakes serviced and fitted with soft pads (plus spares).

I first when to Morzine for a DH holiday with a 130mm bike and was fine despite being new to DH. One guy in our group was riding a 100mm xc bike and was fine.

emma there is some stunning singletrack there. Down the back of Les Gets to Morzine is some stunning swooping stuff that brings you out by a Chapel halfway as well as loops around Mont Cherie (sp?) etc etc.

Bigger tyres, spare brake pads and a bike you're comfortable with is all you need.

I've never ridden a bike with more than 120mm travel abroad and never had a problem, you'll enjoy it and naturally ride within your limits. Good technique will get you down most trails, even some of the DH courses. Taking a bigger bike and you might end up injured if you find yourself at speeds you can't handle.

Agree with all those above that your bike will be fine.

I did Morzine/Les Gets 2 years running on a 100mm Epic and did all the excellent DH runs umpteen times, 1 year on a 130mm Stumpjumper and this year Les Arcs is coming up with a 140mm Orange 5.

The bigger the bike the faster you can go and in some respects the more forgiving the ride will be until you loose it and hit a tree but you won't die, you'll have loads and loads of fun and you'll be looking forward to next year when you're on the plane home.

I thought I'd be xc'ing it when I went out there the first time as the DH stuff sounded daunting, but soon ended up sessioning the excellent black (think trail centre red with a few black bits) World Cup Le Plenay run in Morzine day after day.

I would recommend you buy a full face helmet though, around £50 quid for a perfectly good basic one at CRC at the moment, and some knee/shin & elbow/forearm pads (which you can hire there along with a helmet if you wish).

Have fun!

The first time I 'did Morzine was on the original Fox 125R forks. Loved it. Doesn't matter if the mountain was waaay faster than me.

Yeah I would echo the brakes and tyres advice, widest tyres you can, biggest rotors, superstar do 203mm for 13.99 each, adaptors on CRC, and yes loads of spare pads...

I've seen people ride the easier bits of les arcs on a bog standard spesh hardrock, and I mean stuff like black8 and the simpler footpaths. You'll be fine, just a bit scared for the first hour or so 😉

Thanks all- imnotamused - will be getting a full face and my other half is treating himself to new pAds so I'm going to have his old knee and elbow pads and will, having read all the Above get some bigger tyres. Think my first post was I'll placed as it was on a forum that I now know really only attracts the hardcore dhillers so a the above is great, very reassuring And making me wish June would hurry up and arrive although we are going to afan and llandegla before france. Bring on the summer !! 🙂

Ambrose; can't remember exactly where it was without digging out the books. All I remember is one minute I was admiring the beauty of the Alps, chatting to a group of riders and congratulating myself at having negotiated (a) the map/guide (which didn't always tie up) and (b) the trails when I hung a left and was faced with something I really didn't like the look of at all: even more so as I was on my own!!!

With regard to some of the suggestions of hiring a bike I remember someone once saying that it was better to take a bike you know rather than trying to deal with new and bigger trails and a new bike you are not familiar with.

Get fx a schwalbe fat albert folding 2.3 on front and rear stunningly good tire,(get the newest edition, they made it lighter) and you will be fine.

Only thing i would add is to make sure your bike is well serviced before. Especially a brake bleed plus new pads & a fork service. With a nice set of big tyres that will make a huge difference.

I took my Giant trance 100mm travel to Morzine and did the pass portes Du Soleil. I just upgunned the front disk stuck downhill tubes in, put Schwalbe alberts on and that was it. Bought some elbow/shin pads and a full face helmet.

The first afternoon I was there I was in the bar when the rest of the group turned up and wanted to try Le Plenney. I'd had a pint at this point. It was good fun. Although a downhill run it was rideable for someone who doesn't even get small air, in fact the only injury I picked up on that tripped was leaning over to take my pads off at the bottom of le Plenney and getting a belt off the electric fence keeping the cows in. 😳

Rather than worry if the bike will cope why don't think about the setup of the bike. As other people have said make sure you have new fluid in your brakes and they are running well. If you will be doing more gravity type riding think about investing in some more DH'ey parts for your 'XC' bike such as a short stem, wider bars, possibly bigger rotors (check your bike can take bigger rotors), dual ply tyres with bigger casing, DH inner tubes. All these things help make any bike more suited to these type of environments. Also some decent armour and full face helmet will help with the confidence and have FUN!!

+1 one on brake servicing and DH tyres, try to ensure your suspension settings are dialled in as well. Trying some slightly rougher uk trails is a good idea. I know it's not lady like, but alpine trails are harder on the arms than anything over here, so some workouts before you go with light weights or a power ball can make things a little easier.

There should be less braking bumps in June although it can be a little wetter. Hope you're not going before all the lifts open!

+1 on a familiar bike rather than something 'more suitable' by someone else's standards. and yeah - rode me HT there with 130mm air fork. i survived!
i took dh tubes with me but only used one in the back on the last day on the way back to the chalet. maxxis do 'freeride' tubes which i'd recommend if you're quite a light rider.
it will be quite hard on you and the bike - probably 10 days uk riding over 5 days there equivalent, so do think about brakes ( bleeding, as above ), fork and shock servicing ( even if you just take spare shock bushes ), and organic pads for the brakes.
have fun!

Emma.. Have been to Morzine and Les Gets... still alive 😉

No arm or leg pads.. Normal Helmet.. 180/160 mono mini brakes and a xc santa cruz 4" travel and 120mm forks... and was perfectly fine on all of the runs!

Only thing maybe to consider is getting a good set of tyres for the job

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Went to Les Arc last year. The main trouble I had was my brakes overheated a few times (old style minis with 160mm rotors). They would pump up really badly and then without warning go straight down to the bars. Wasn't very good for my confidence. Some of the decents are very long. Bought better brakes with 180mm rotors when I got back. One of my friends was riding a hardtail with 80mm travel, he did fine. Big tyres is a good idea as long as they are not too big for your rims.

My gf of the time last year went on the Flowmtb dirt girls week. I believe there were girls with hardtails there?
You'll be fine on a 120.

I would recommend you buy a full face helmet though, around £50 quid for a perfectly good basic one at CRC at the moment,

I went with an Orange Five (so 140mm not 120mm but whose counting), open face helmet, gloves, no shin pads or any other body armour, 3 yr old son on a LOCT seat in front me (Druidh will be along to accuse me of being a bad father in a minute) and a smile.

That was OK on the red down hill off Chavannes (not particularly extreme really) including the 4X(ish) bit at the bottom. And I wasn't overtaken, nor did I have a queue of folks behind me.

My wife didn't like watching though (but she was OK with us doing it), and it seemed to wind up some of the guys done up as stormtroopers. That said some of those stromtroopers were very good.

Juan - measure your head then buy the correct sized helmet referring to the chart on the web page? That's what I did and it seemed to work. Alternatively go somewhere else to buy one.

Nice pics xcstu!
😀

I've ridden the alps DH and XC on a 120mm stumpjumper - and kept up with an SX trail rider 😀 you'll be fine, but don't be tempted to try anything you are not confident with (drops, jumps etc) - although saying that, you will be more confident after a couple of days 😉

I went last summer wiv da missus. I was on a 120mm Marin and she was riding a 100mm travel Santa Cruz. All the XC stuff was easily done and I did most of the DH runs as well. As has been said already it's only tyres and brakes you need to worry about.

The only poblem we had was that the weather was awful and all the mountains were ugly.

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[IMG] [/IMG]

Is there plenty of XC stuff out there to keep a relative newbie entertained?

Bunch of us are going out for 2 weeks at the end of July and my missus is coming and bringing her hardtail, she's not planning on riding every day but I'd like to spend some time riding with her and know that the DH/freeride is going to be a no go for her.

loads of xc there, but get a guide - better spend money there than on bike upgrades i think.

to OP - everyone told me that before i went there the first time and it's a load of rubbish! try a weekend riding in the Lakes, Snowdonia (Rangers Path for ex) or Brecons. The Alps XC is similar to that terrain-wise, but descents are longer and can be more sustained and tiring, plus it's easy to forget that altitude makes things subtly more difficult. Bigger rotors / better brakes (arms get tired fast) and bigger, tougher wheels and tyres are all you need. 120mm of travel is plenty for XC there and geometry can be more important than travel. I'd be happy riding the right hardtail out there, it's not the bike's travel that's important but more how comfortable you are with it, and your limits.

sensible advice for a very confused girl!!

Now it would be criminal not to explore the hidden fruit in that title

Mrsnonsense is a cracker Nonsense...

Ah today I am like the Bastard lovechild of FatSimon and SFB 😀

Emma rest of pics here to give you idea... few years old now back in 07 😉 great fun!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stu007/sets/72157600878930330/

Thanks stu and nonsense, looks amazing. cant wait now! 😛

Hora - I dont know what you are insinuating - I was indeed very confused and until I posted on here and you all came to the rescue was in need of sensible advice. 😆

To echo what everyone else has said, you'll be fine. I've been on my juliana, but also on my hardtail rockhopper that I had before that. Tyres and pads, that'll sort you.

Did it on a hard tail and it was fine, take the chicken runs if you dont want to fly. Some great XC stuff to be had. I was lucky I met some super cool people who were kind enough to show me around.

Beware the rain gulleys on their forest roads get those wrong at your peril.

Yes, she's lovely.

Our first trip there many years ago was on fully rigid bikes with "canti" brakes. The guides did laugh at us, but we all survived and kept up with the group.

We've been back many times since with a variety of XC/AM (I hate that term!) bikes 4"-6" travel is perfect for the XC trails. As others have said some good tyres and spare brake pads are more important.

I first went in 2004 and took a 1994 Kona Fire Mountain with ancient Pace RC35 forks on and old fashioned brake pads! Within 2 days I'd ground away the elastmers and had a fully rigid bike, had an awesome time. You'll see blokes there with 5 inch DH bikes that you can over take!!!!
I would suggest a full face if doing any DHing and some pads but otherwise like others said XC is very much like riding in Wales or other places. Awesome place. Been 7 years now .. banned this year after Mr MC broke his knee on first DH run of day 1!!!

Hora - you're too late. She's 5 months pregnant, hormonal and round now.

Edit this quick. She'll read it and you'll be in trouble! 😆

Safe now?

Munqe - I have a feeling that is exactly the sort of thing that will happen to my OH on the first day so will just ban him from the DH!!!
Cheers

Phew. Trust me, I know a certain angry/hormonal woman who (edit as its embarrising and gone now)

Emma.. the only thing I can say is make sure you have your medical insurance sorted! The Dr's over there were ace! 10am accident, 11am trumpton take him off the mountain (1 hr was us faffing about as Mr MC kept thinking he may get better and be able to get off), 1/2 hour later Dr in Morzine x rays and says "broken surgery" about 1 hour later (giving me time to get changed and pack bag!) an ambulance arrives and takes us to Thonon-les-Bains, within 10 mins of being there, consultant comes in from golf range looks at x ray "yup broken surgery back later 1 to do before you" he returned around 6pm like they said and into surgery! pin in knee and 3 days in lovely private clinic with his own room!

However being SO it sucked ... don't do it!

However do do loads of awesome riding, even try Le Pleney DH there are some chicken runs .. my favourite .. or one of them! Just go easy on day one and build your skills up gradualyl over the week, you will be amazed how much your skills improve! happy days I'm very jealous!

Hi Emma!

I live (and run bike holidays!) near Les Arcs. We've had guests come out on all sorts of bikes from skinny hard-tails with SID forks right through to full-on DH rigs. Most of them get on just fine!

My other half just sold her Specialized Stumpjumper FSR 120mm (from 2005), very similar to your FSR XC 09. She rode it everywhere round here, mostly singletrack but the odd run on the DH courses as well. It's not the bike you'd choose if you lived out here, but it's perfectly capable for a holiday.

Pads are probably a good idea, just because you'll be doing so much more descending than back home. Full-face helmet is up to you. I only wear mine about 25% of the time as we ride mostly singletrack rather than mad jumpy stuff and there's usually a small amount of pedalling involved.

Give me a shout (website in profile) if you're interested in guiding or just want some trail advice for around here.

Cheers,

Stevo

(Mr MC posting)

Have you booked camp sites? there is an outstanding campsite in les gets "le grange au frene" or similar, has on site showers, washing facilities, drying room, access to kitchen and cooking facilities, daily visits from baker first thing in the morning etc etc. Can dig out their number if interested.

MC in 2007 full-on grrr DH mode (on chevannes side of Les Gets if memory serves). Dont be put off much of it is basically lift-assisted XC. We're only no going back as my ambition has overtaken my talent 🙄

[IMG] [/IMG]

daily visits from baker first thing in the morning

... who insists on having a stupidly loud conversation with the campsite owner when you're trying to have a lie in 👿

imnotamused if you can sleep thru the cowbells you mean!!!!

MMM before someone else comments. . I'm still not sure why I thought sleeveless top with pads, full face was a good idea! Luckily that day I didn't crash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As others have said, you'll be fine.

[img] http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=y4zd88&outx=800&quality=70 [/img]

That's me (in about 2003) on one of the DH runs in Morzine on an S-Works FSR (old 3.5" travel XC-race version of the Stumpjumper basically), the only changes I made to it were some heavier duty wheels/tyres instead of my normal XC race ones. A friend was on her Kona XC full sus and again, she was able to ride most stuff. OK so neither of us were thrashing the DH gods but we weren't there for that, it was just a holiday!

You'll be amazed how much better you are at UK downhills when you get back as well. 🙂

Hi munqe. Campsite number / detAils wud be great, we aren't really sure where we are going to stay yet so any advice wud be welcome, we are going down in our camper. Will def be getting travel insurance too.like the pic! I won't look half that determined, probably more scared but am going to give it all a go. If I get the hang of it I might even show up a few stormtroopers.
Stevo-thanks for the offer. Wats ur company called-can look u up when we get there. Will be arriving around 20th, does it get busy round the resorts around that time of year? Just thinking whether we need to book campsites etc, a lot of people with vans don't seem to bother asu can stop onthe side of the road.
Ta all

Emma- if you plan to visit Wales beforehand I'm more than happy to show you and anyone else around Afan Argoed/ Glyncorrwg/ Brechfa/ Natural stuff. Mail me.

Stevo-thanks for the offer. Wats ur company called-can look u up when we get there. Will be arriving around 20th, does it get busy round the resorts around that time of year? Just thinking whether we need to book campsites etc, a lot of people with vans don't seem to bother asu can stop onthe side of the road.

We're [url= http://www.whiteroomchalet.com ]The White Room[/url]. Be aware that there will be no chairlift uplift available at all in the Les Arcs area around the 20th of June. The Les Arcs lifts don't open until the weekend of 3rd July, although some of the lifts around the valley might open for a day or two during the previous week (no confirmation on this yet). We'll be running van uplift for our guests, whether staying with us for the week or day-guiding clients.

Given that, I don't think you'll have any great hassles with busy sites, etc. Camper-van camping at the side of the road is possible if you do it discretely. There's a designated area up here in Sainte Foy where you can camp for free in your camper van, but there's not much in the way of facilities.

Further to the pad comment, it's not that much that you'll fall, but more to protect your legs from the nasty flying rocks...

Thanks for the maps ambrose, will have a look at them all later, not sure when we are heading down/up depending which way we go, probably wont be long if the weather picks up.

Stevo - hadnt realised the chair lifts might not be open. Do you know if that's the case around the other resorts? I wont be too upset because I'm sure we can find our way up but wud be good to know in advanced so we are not too disappointed when we get there!
Emma

I think at least some of the lifts in Morzine/Les Gets area will be open, but definitely nothing in the Tarentaise valley (i.e. Les Arcs/La Plagne/Sainte Foy/Tignes).

Cheers Steveo - how exactly do you use the lifts? Sorry, stupid question but they don't look particularly safe if you ask me? Do you have to just jump on them? I have visions of me getting accidentally hooked onto something and dragged up the hill or my bike falling off the lift and landing on someones head! 😛

go on then, buy the Zesty 😀

The lifts are sooooooooooo easy! The bikes vary depending on what lift you are on but normally there is a lift dude who will put your bike on the lift foryou .. to ensure it doesn't fall off. Then you just jump on, they move so slowly at entry and exit you will struggle to get injured unless you are being a numpty!

If you think about it they are designed for people with planks strapped to their feet to be able to get on and off...

Normally the lifts in Morzine/Les Gets don't open until the weekend of the Passportes du Soleil which I think is last weekend of June.

I might buy the Zesty but not just yet! I do like them..... but if I'm ok on my current bike I really shouldn't. 🙄

Bit confused with the lift openings, I presume they are just not all open at that time of the year, some of them definitely must be because they are listed on some of the sites I've looked at, will find out when I get there I suppose. We aren't intending to keep to one area so will have a drive around see what we find I think. Can't wait now 😮

Thanks MC - glad there will be someone there to help me! You would be amazed at what I am capable of, especially when it comes to making a numpty of myself!!

What MC said (re. lifts). There are a lot of different systems, but it's usually some variation on hooking either your front wheel or your fork stantions onto a hook on the lift.

There are definitely lifts in the Portes du Soliel area open during June, but it's not my local area so I don't know any details, sorry. The Morzine or Les Gets websites should sort you out.

Just to echo what's been said before: stick to a familiar bike with big tyres (2.3+) and be prepared to keep the seat down. Definitely leg & elbow pads. XC helmet fine for general trail riding, full-face not a bad idea.

Mrs Burts & I did 5 Alps trips from 2004-07 on 100mm XC hardtails, you'll love it. Mrs Burts on a Giant XTC:

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Burts 2nd foto is deceptive because over that little crest is a brill 4x type section, leading you down to the triangle shaped hotel. Top hot chocolate in that triangle shaped hotel at the bottom. Its hard to see, but the white oval going left to right is a six man express lift on the hill opposite that hotel , and great short run coming down, see the corners on the left of that little hill. You can session that and get about 10 runs an hour. ahh Morzine love it.

top pic is chatel bike park,
middle looks like on the way to les crosets
err guess on 3, somewhere near champoussin

an awesome area though - some cracking stuff, just don't get stuck on the roads in switzerland on the passportes route....

oh and buy the zesty, its not a move you will regret...

Dasnut beat me to it! I was about to start mentioning where they are! Ooo brings back so many memories, 6 times I've been there, Mr MC only ended up in hospital on 2 occasions 2009 and 2007!!!! I love the Chatel Bike Park (pre le joue .. or however you spell it!).But don't miss the waterfall if you are in the Les Lindarets valley so many people do and it's an awesome scene.

Stop encouraging me to buy bikes I can't afford!!! It's making me want to buy it 🙁
mc- I'm really hoping my OH doesn't wipe himself out on the first day, or any for that matter. He has a broken rib at the moment and is driving me bonkers because he can't get out on his bike or go to the gym. Men are such a pain. ( no offense meant men!)

emma if you want to email me a postal address I have a guide to camp sites in the Haute Savoie region with loads of numbers and a general map of the area showing where they are (including Les Gets and Morzine).