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It’s years since I’ve biked out there but I’m going again this July which makes me a very happy boy. I’ve taken brake pads, mech hanger and cables etc previously but it’s been suggested I take a spare mech, shifter and tyres too. Obvs there’s plenty of bike shops in Morzine but they’ll have your pants down with their top whack prices. How many bits do you accumulate prior to going without spending a small fortune and adding weight to an already tight weight limit?
Tyres (wet weather) & Mech hanger, if the bike has a mech, anything proprietary/hard to replace easily.
Headset and frame bearings. I take the tools for the frame bearings too. Easy job on campsite etc.. When you have everything. I struggled to find a particular bearing one year.
Mechs etc... Are easily purchased if £££
Mech hanger and anything yo won’t be able to replace out there. Spare tyres and brake pads.
Just get everything serviced and working properly before you go out and make sure anything that needs changing is done.
We used to fill half the van with spares for everything (sometimes a complete spare bike) but now it’s usually brake pads, tyres, rear mech and mech hanger. It helps that the wife and I tend to make sure gears, brakes, etc are compatible between ours bikes (so she can nick my nice bits if her’s break!!).
collar bones and wrists
I'm guessing you're flying? Driving out I'm not far off having spare everything other than frame and forks. Flying I'd only be taking things that are bike specific and brake pads.
MECH HANGER x5
try finding a Cannondale one the day before megavalanche after qualifying
Ask yourself, how owfen (even on your hardest, gnarliest rides) do you need to replace parts? Pads, YES. They are a no-brainer esp as they are cheap, portable and have a long shelf life. Gear hanger; yup. Frame bearings- nope, just make sure that the bike is properly seviced prior to the trip. If you are driving chuck in some tyres but if flying, don't fret, loads available out there, inc. if you are lucky some bargain reductions in eg. Intersport
Over the past twenty plus seasons visiting the biggest problems have been due to lack of preparation on my part prior to the trip.
I've always driven. So I've pretty much taken enough bits to build another bike, lifted from other bikes in the garage.
And definitely a small roll of duck tape - amazing what trailside lashups can be had with it to enable the rest of the day's riding to continue in some form after damage. Providing it's in your bag !! (I re-roll a goodly amount of it around the body of my pump so it's always available).
Tyres and mech + hanger
You really don’t want to pay “in resort” prices.
Also, a few spokes of the right length. Often the resort shops don’t have a great range.
Brake lever. I’ve snapped one and I’ve seen 2 other people bend them on trips.
Chain ring. Unlikely but damage can happen if you don’t run a bash guard.
I make sure bike is serviced before I go, and if I'm flying I bring nothing but brake pads, mech and hanger. Bring a bleed kit and some basic tools.
It's only a few days riding and the shops in town aren't as bad as you think. Startline are really good for spares (and are now based in a hotel with a beer garden), and I've had a wheel build inc rim and spokes from The Woods which came in pretty similar to a UK shop.
I don't over do it. I don't break stuff very often at home. I take tyres, mech hangers, brake pads and a tool kit with anything specific to the bike. Forks and shocks get serviced before we go.
If I ever brake anything big and expensive I'll take it on the chin and pay for it. The most expensive thing I've had to replace so far was a Troy Lee D3.
I'd do no more prep or take anymore then if I was going bike park wales, Revs or Dyfi for example.
Bolt, brake and tyre check few days before, Mech hanger and quick link are already on the bike for all rides. If you're driving feel free to chuck everything from your garage or shed in the vehicle, but if flying you've got weight limit to consider.
Are the alps shops really more expensive then the BPW shop? I didnt think so when there!
I’ll take:
Mech hanger
Rear mech (saves cost)
1 tyre, for front or rear.
Spare rim and set of spokes for re-build (as I build my own anyway and fits easily in bike bag)
Brake pads. 2 pairs. (But I put freshies in before I go)
I also have a spare rear shock that I pack, because it’s small and I have it.
Anything else would be random chance and I’d have to solve out there.
There are bike shops out there, they are used to being helpful and squeezing in broken bikes asap to get folk back out.
I have taken and used:
Brake pads.
Spokes.
Tyres.
Bleed kit.
I have taken and not uses:
Mech hangers.
I broke the bottom off the air spring stantion of my '07 Boxxers out there in 2012 (the circlip land sheared clean off the end). A trawl around the various shops found the last leg in France it seemed. I was quite happy to pay whatever they asked so I could get riding again. Think it cost me £100 but it may well have been £200. I was glad I took a lower lube kit so I could do the swap myself though most of the time I'd have been happy to have done a refresh before going and it would easily last the week.
As others have said spare tyres (mainly rear) and maybe wets if you get unlucky though I'm not sure you'd really need proper wets out there unless it's raining for a prolonged period.
As others have said spare tyres (mainly rear) and maybe wets if you get unlucky though I’m not sure you’d really need proper wets out there unless it’s raining for a prolonged period.
Back when I still had a DH bike I did a week in Morzine where it rained for about 18 hours a day every day. That was an expensive trip as I bought spare trousers, shoes, socks etc. But, it was the only time I'd ridden with a pair of Shorty's on and it was some of the most fun riding I've ever done.
So yes, weather can happen. And when it rains, it properly rains.
I was there the week that Danny won the Worlds and that day was a bit wet but beyond that I've never had more than a few hours rain which pretty much dried up by the next day. I couldn't imagine how depressing a wet week would be.
get a good service before hand, you really shouldnt be needing to replace bearings then.
spare mech / hanger/ chain / tyre / sealant
And to that ends -
Front Mudguard
Pads
Mech mount
Cables
Levers a good shout...
Spokes and rim tape/gorilla tape
@akers till that trip I'd never even considered it. Suppose its one of the perks and pluses of Hopes!
Just make sure the bikes serviced and then ridden a few times before you go!
Think "what would cause me a big issue if I can't get a replacement?"
Are you on 10, 11 or 12 speed?
Should be able to find 12 speed stuff easily, 11 less easily, 10 might well be an issue.
I'm on 10 still, so i would take a rear mech and shifter too.
I'd take 2 mech hangers, spare spokes, a few sets of brake pads and a tyre.
Spare shock too if you have one.
Should be able to find 12 speed stuff easily, 11 less easily, 10 might well be an issue
DH bikes are still 10 (or the shimano ones are) so chains and chainrings at least should be no issue.
-Frame hardware and bearing kit
-Spare tyre
-Brake pads
-Spare brake
Paint mark every bolt, you will ride a lot more than you normally do and you can see whats moving. 15000ft was a fairly normal day!
Make sure the bike is serviced before you go, forks, shock and there is nothing thats going to need attention.