What Skill Compensator for the Alps?

Define 'cheap'.

Eldest still loves his Rocky Mountain Altitude - as ever Pauls Cycles have them on offer.

Seriously quick, burly, lovely handling and well made bike with what feels like huge travel to me. A proper nippy bike yet also seems to just absorb big, square hits....
He has both raced in Alps and supported the Trans Savoie on it, raced DH and Enduro up to EWS in UK....and got regular top 10 places...

available, cheap, awesome

Specialized Status, the longer travel one. Bargain Bike Park Smasher.

You have it wrong.

No bike will allow you to keep up so you need a bike that will give you an appropriate excuse whilst also boosting your macho image. A hardtail undoubtedly, potentially rigid. Everyone will say you're mad but really they're mightily impressed that you got down that track alive... Which isn't a guarantee by the way.

Bird Aeris 9?

Mate loves his and is taking it to the Alps this time next week

A Sur-Ron. Leave 'em for dust.

I bought a Cotic Jeht for this exact reason, funnily enough they're doing a deal on Frame & Shock for £1299 currently...

Also good deals on full builds, although if you want a full #gnarsled the RocketMAX might be the better option but they're all UK built frames so not as cheap but still quite good value I think.

The Specialized Status does seem to be the objectively more correct answer from where it sits on the value/travel/gnar scale though and it looks quite nice for a Specialized.

No bike will allow you to keep up so you need a bike that will give you an appropriate excuse whilst also boosting your macho image. A hardtail undoubtedly, potentially rigid. Everyone will say you’re mad but really they’re mightily impressed that you got down that track alive… Which isn’t a guarantee by the way.

Absolutely this. We held a mates race enduro event and one of the lads turned up on his hardtail. So that was his excuse 100% sorted.

I bought a Cotic Jeht for this exact reason,

And yet i was on here a few weeks ago asking exactly the same question as the OP. And I own a Jeht.

Another vote for a Specialized Status. Great downhill, not so good up, but passable.

Or just give up and get a hardtail. Bonus points for navigating it across razor sharp rocks with no pads or body armor and just an XC helmet too. That way everyone will just be glad that you're alive at the end of the day, including possibly your offspring too.

I probably have lower aspirations of the gnar levels I wanted to achieve than you two, as it was the perfect steed for me to semi-mince down various Reds without feeling like I was going to die and actually start pushing my boundaries a bit 🙂

I don't think that's because I'm super hardcore so a 150/140 Enduro bike was plenty, but I could maybe convince myself that was true I suppose! (it's not true, I'm very average)

If it’s just for Alps trips and the occasional bike park day then you probably can’t go far wrong with the Status 160 for the money. There were a lot of Commencal Furious out there last week which I think are 275 and look nice.

Specialized Status. Absolutely hundreds of the things in Morzine. Perfect cheap bikepark smasher.

When you're having a bad day you can just blame the crap brakes.

I’m currently sat In Morzine having similar thoughts as the OP.  Here on my cotic jeht (popular on here it would seem!) as my eldest is on my old airdrop edit. He is flying on that and I’m struggling to keep up. I’ve had a wander around town this afternoon and the cheapest deal I could find was an ex hire commencal furious for 1700 euro. Or a 2020 commencal supreme dh for 2500 euro! Think I’ll Nick the airdrop back off the boy!

For me it would probably be a Stumperjumper Evo Expert which depending on size can still be picked up at a bargain price.

Last couple of bikes have been purchased after great days out in the Alps whilst browsing in the evening

Second hand Turbo Levo off Pinkbike whist sat outside the van in Pila and a Enduro that Evans was shifting at 50% discount that was still in the basket next morning after a late night session in Interlaken.

Kevin got badly injured the next day and so the Enduro didn't get ridden till this year's trip. He had a Stumpy Evo in his basket for the first week just in case he didn't get on with the Enduro but by the end of the holiday had decided its a keeper.

I suppose you have to decide taking into account what your riding at the moment

I'm recommending the Airdrop Edit to everyone for everything. I love mine. You're not too far away for a test ride either.

Yeah I can highly recommend my new Edit MX and I believe they're selling off demo bikes at the minute.

I threw mine together the night before I left and the first run was on the Pleney. Two weeks of smashing and it never made a single complaint.

The problem is if you buy one your excuses for not keeping up with junior are gone.

Really big bikes can be a bit tricky to adapt to, there's a lot to be said for the bike you're completely familiar with even if on paper it's less capable, as long as it's basically up to the job- which pretty much all modern bikes are.

So as long as already have a suitable bike, I'd say stickier tyres and if possible a better fork. First speaks for itself, the latter will keep you less tired and more able to handle stuff.

I was faster on my bike than a dh bike I rented while mine was broken

So my answer is the biggest tires you can fit on yours for confidence boosting.

I'd go for a geometron G1 if I was buying an enduro skills compensator.

available, tick

cheap, massive cross

awesome, tick.

Massive sticky dh tires

Available - surely they must me some in any alpine resort bike shop.

Cheap- cheaper than a new bike?

Awesome- it always feels like I've become a riding god when I smash through some rocks on heavy duty tires after riding around on tires I'm prepared to pedal uphill.

I just spent a couple of weeks in various alps locations riding my specialized enduro with 180mm travel and hated it.
The previous year I had a mk4 airdrop edit over there which was incredible so it’s the bike not the travel that’s important - some are straight line smashers (like the enduro) and some are made for fun (like the airdrop).

since coming home I’ve bought the new airdrop edit mx and love it.

Great to see the airdrop getting so much love!!

Go on then, since we're on the subject...

(Fork was deflated from being in the car boot)

For me it would probably be a Stumperjumper Evo Expert which depending on size can still be picked up at a bargain price.

I can confirm that it’s a very good Alps bike.

Get a Privateer 161 or 141

Get a Privateer 161 or 141

That's a great idea. There's an awesome 141 in the classifieds.

Currently in Les Deux Alpes. We brought DH bikes (Scott Gamblers, great value) after wondering if we should bring our normal bikes (Firebird and Megatower). So pleased we brought the DH bikes.

The bikes have taken a hammering, and they have been perfect. You can hire them everywhere, and I’d not think twice about what to bring next time.

Whatever you bring, stick tyres on with DH casings. We’re on Assegai DH and I can’t believe the abuse they’ve taken without any fuss, a lesser side wall would have ripped on day one I reckon.

Bring a spoke key, you’ll need it if you’re hitting the (horrific) braking bumps at speed. Bring spare brake pads and bring goggles for the dust. Bring grease, and be ready to repack the headset and maybe main pivot bearings when they get dry, dusty and creaky. Bring ibuprofen, and ibuprofen gel for your forearms… ?

We leave on Saturday, and two weeks hasn’t been anywhere near enough

We leave on Saturday, and two weeks hasn’t been anywhere near enough

We've been here 10 days I guess. I've done 4 half days so far. 1 was great, 1 was ok, 2 were shit.

We’ve been here 10 days I guess. I’ve done 4 half days so far. 1 was great, 1 was ok, 2 were shit.

Why so?

Starling Murmur

Saracen Ariel 60? Cheap, long, low, slack and with good shocks for the cash.

Been looking at min 160mm travel bikes recently. Marin Alpine trail, Merida 160 & Scott Ransom can all be had for about 2k.

Cotic are doing a rocket Max full build for about 3.2k which looks like a beast!

Ive  used Osteoporosis and crushed vertebrae I'm my spine to explain my DH mincing for the last 15 years, works every time.

A Specialized Status 160 is £1500 all day and a bargain

I built up a couple of cheap 2015 Spec Enduros for our visit. Being an XC trail rider these things are a hoot. My 12yo is on a hard tail and I only get to keep up with him on the lift :0)

@thegeneralist we're hitting Chatel in a bit if you want company and talking rubbish.

Hey Steve. Not sure what the plan is today, but I think I'm getting dragged to Champery.

If you see a fed up bloke with a blue Occam and a beige FF then say hi.

Whatever you can pick up secondhand in good nick for about a grand.

Something like a NP Mega, YT Capra or Vitus Sommet perhaps.

I did my alps trip this summer on a MK1 Privateer 161, coil shock, 180 zebs, sturdy build. The bike was great, a very injured hand and wrist meant I was wishing for a big dh fork in the braking bumps but other than that the bike was plenty.

Were off to morzine in a couple of weeks, trying to decide what bike to take.

I was last in the alps about 10 years ago, back then I was riding a 26 inch wheeled ibis mojo HD in les arcs.

This time I have a choice between a 170mm travel 27.5 inch wheeled enduro bike from 2018 with geo to suit, or a 2023 160mm front, 145mm rear, 29 inch wheel  all mountain/trail bike with more modern geo (slacker head angle, longer reach etc)

I'm leaning to taking the more modern trail bike despite it having less travel than the older enduro bike, simply because I'm more familiar with it as its the bike I ride all the time now,  it's a bit slacker/longer than the older enduro bike and it has 29 inch wheels.

Any words of wisdom on this choice?

The modern bike will be far better IMO.

Any words of wisdom on this choice?

You still have time to buy a new bike 😉

But if not, what kind of trails will you be riding in Morzine? If you're not smashing the bike park tracks, the newer bike would probably be best, yeah.

Geometry is more importanter than suspension travel.

But if not, what kind of trails will you be riding in Morzine?

Probably a bit of everything, possibly more of the bike park stuff than off piste stuff, but who knows. I know I need a bike that can do it all though.

Go on then, what models are the old and new bike?

Go on then, what models are the old and new bike?

2018 Yt capra cf pro 27.5 - totally stock as it came from yt, except for new suitable for alps tyres

2023 trek fuel exe - 160mm fox 36, magura mt7 brakes, conti tyres (suitable casings for alps)

My Privateer 161 was excellent in Morzine - enabled me to master berms.  Jumping is something I have to work on but the bike was everything I could ask for.  Until I fell off and broken my scaphoid ( mine, not the bike's fault)

Plus they can be had for not a lot of money at the moment

Also met a guy in Morzine who was on an Ohlins 141 - and was more than happy with it

Unless there's an easy way to knock 2 degrees off the Capra's head angle, the Trek will probably suit you better eh.

Maybe get the optional extra headset cups (?) to slack it right out? The motor will probably come in handy too 😀

After descending a few fire roads, and standing in some long queues ( only time I've been pleased to find long queues) I've binned off the Off road and am doing a few road miles instead. Bloody hot in the FF though!

Unless there’s an easy way to knock 2 degrees off the Capra’s head angle, the Trek will probably suit you better eh.

Maybe get the optional extra headset cups (?) to slack it right out? The motor will probably come in handy too 😀

That was my conclusion too. You can't get the slackset headset cups for the EXe though, they only fit the fuel ex, but  with that 160mm fox 36 (standard bike use 150mm fork) ,the head angle is 64deg . You can use the slackr angle set from 9 point 8, but that lifts the front end by another 10mm.

I reckon a 64deg head angle is OK. I could put a 27.5 inch wheel in the back and that would slack it out even further, but not sure it's worth it.

The motor was an added bonus/complication.

Also met a guy in Morzine who was on an Ohlins 141 – and was more than happy with it

I took mine to Malaga which is 10 times rougher than the PDS and it was awesome there. I would have happily taken it to Morzine if I hadn't bought the Edit.

I've been going there so long that the majority of my trips were on 26" wheels and 400mm reach or similar. We used to have to spend every night fixing all the damage and nursing our bikes through the week. I've also done whole days ripping around on an old Cotic Bfe when my DH bike was knackered.

I'm over stressing about the 'ideal' bike. Just take something half decent and enjoy it.

A colleague just bought a used Bird V3 AM9 for a grand. Complete with Ohlins fork and shock complete with GX Eagle AXS.

@thegeneralist if you can read your messages on her you have my number if you wanna catch up mate.

My riding mate may be a collar bone down so tomorrow may be chilling a bit. Be good to meet up and talk crap and set the world to rights

Not surprised to see that the majority of answers to the thread have settled down into the standard STW response of recommend what you ride.

Forget nostalgia (who cares what you rode in 2006, bikes have changed for the better), hardtails, 26 inch wheels, dated geometry etc.  Assuming you're riding the bike park trails i'd want:

1. Good suspension front and rear with a decent amount if travel that has been set up well - fast and rough tracks / braking bumps take their toll very quickly.

2. Something that can take a beating - fast and rough tracks / braking bumps take their toll very quickly.

3. Something you're not too precious about - fast and rough tracks / braking bumps / flying rocks take their toll very quickly.

4. Decent brakes

5. Decent tyres

6. Modern geometry - slack H/A, longer wheelbase etc is much better for fast and potentially steep tracks

7. Dropper - to get around there are a few traverses, having the seat up is nice.

8. Water bottle mounts - riding with a big bouncy pack is eurgh!

Previous 2 visits I was on a Megatower V2.  With the arrival of my ebike I downgraded that to a Megatower V1 (with cash my way) which I now keep as an uplift bike.  It ticks all my boxes above and can also be had relatively cheap these days.  One of the great things about modern Santa Cruz is that they are easy to maintain.  I'd love to try a full on DH bike there though.

We used to have to spend every night fixing all the damage and nursing our bikes through the week

^ this is important IME: durability. Less faffing = more riding / beer time. I prefer singletracky/off-piste stuff so perhaps avoid the worst of the rough Alps park trails that break bikes more quickly, but I've always needed some unplanned evening maintenance with previous bikes.

No such issues with my current bike. Doesn't have to be expensive either, I bought my 2018 G16 frame 2 years ago and even with a new shock it cost me <£1k. And being a Geometron the geometry is still up to date. Absolutely solid and not a single issue* in Les Arcs this year. Ride it, chuck it in the van, ride it again, change brake pads, keep on riding.

*Apart from binning it and knackering my shoulder and wrist - I'm not as durable as the bike...

A colleague just bought a used Bird V3 AM9 for a grand. Complete with Ohlins fork and shock complete with GX Eagle AXS.

That sounds like a bargain!

Massive sticky dh tires

I was going to say this. Your bike that you're used to + more appropriate (and new) big sticky slow rebound tough tyres is a winner.

Having said that... I've built up a new RocketMAX for this stuff for next year... much calmer going on first few rides than my older bike (that's going to get the opposite... faster tyres for smaller landscapes).

Not surprised to see that the majority of answers to the thread have settled down into the standard STW response of recommend what you ride.

Why is this even a thing? Why would anyone be surprised that people recommend what they ride, or to turn it around causally, ride what they recommend.

"Yep, that Airdrop Edit is a fegging excellent bike, I'd love one and I've got the money... but I won't buy one because otherwise whenever anyone asks me for bike recommendations in the future I'll have to effing lie or be called out on STW for being one of those lowlife scummers who buys a bike they like and recommend..."

Haha yeah I probably should’ve gone with recommending something I’ve read is decent rather than first hand experience of something I have owned for a while and ridden in the alps!!! Any modern enduro bike should be decent I reckon, geometry is pretty sorted these days. I will add that the O-Chain has been a fantastic addition to my bike for rougher tracks, apologies for recommending something else that I own and use 🙂

Forget nostalgia (who cares what you rode in 2006, bikes have changed for the better),

Yeah no shit. I was just pointing out that I, and thousands of other people, have been riding over there for decades on all kinds of crap and we managed to have fun every year anyway. No need to overthink every minute detail of bike design in typical STW fashion when there's no chance you'll keep up with the kids anyway.

I’d love to try a full on DH bike there though.

Awesome on 'some' trails. Slower and less fun than an enduro/trail bike in most places and a pig to get around town on. For years I went there and never pedalled up a single hill, it's like a different place now on a more versatile bike. DH bikes are cool but I won't bother going back.

And being a Geometron the geometry is still up to date. Absolutely solid and not a single issue* in Les Arcs this year. Ride it, chuck it in the van, ride it again, change brake pads, keep on riding.

That was my approach for a few years. It still would be if my G16 never got swiped. I gather it's quite hard to sell a Geometron judging by the ones which have been up for sale for months and months. Might be worth making some offers.

Why is this even a thing? Why would anyone be surprised that people recommend what they ride, or to turn it around causally, ride what they recommend.

I don't have an issue with recommend what you ride as such, but it does get tedious when you just get the response 'I ride bike x, it's great', it's good to understand the justifications, what actually makes it so good?  Also it's not uncommon to hear that what was once fantastic was never quite that good once it has gone and been replaced by the new bike.

Forget nostalgia (who cares what you rode in 2006, bikes have changed for the better),
Yeah no shit.

Sorry, wasn't a direct dig at you, more the general notion that just because we rode 26ers, and perhaps hardtails at one point in time that it's still a 'good' option now.  I've got no desire to get back on either, and especially to be shaken apart riding down Les Gets mainline!

I’d love to try a full on DH bike there though.
Awesome on ‘some’ trails. Slower and less fun than an enduro/trail bike in most places and a pig to get around town on. For years I went there and never pedalled up a single hill, it’s like a different place now on a more versatile bike.

Agreed, but there's always that itch, I've not ridden a DH bike since my M1 back in the noughties.  I felt there were more DH bikes this year than the previous couple of years (when enduro bikes were definitely getting more common).

There was definitely hundreds of red V10 demo bikes being ridden around all over the place. I might try one of those but at over £100 a day I'd need a good excuse.

I just got a stumpjumper Evo for an Alps trip. Some good deals out there.

There was definitely hundreds of red V10 demo bikes being ridden around all over the place. I might try one of those but at over £100 a day I’d need a good excuse.

Yeah, they looked great, although I was dismayed to see one muppet ghost one down 10% after he decided he couldn't ride it down!

This is my freshly built compensator, purely for the Alps:

Cheap simple SS DH bike made out of old parts, CRC bargains and a few custom bits. However if I could only have 1 bike out here, it would always be a decent Enduro ebike. The Orbea Wild I was riding to Samoens is pretty amazing for most situations.

Riders are faster because they pump, pedal and pickup/gap the bike where you just plough through.

What you can do is what most of the wheels-on-the-ground bridleway bashers do. Run as much of the softest plushest suspension you can, on the longest slackest bike. So at least your bike handles all the rough shit you're ploughing through and gives you a touch more confidence to leave off the brakes!

Its funny, 15 years ago i wouldn't have dreamt of taking anything but a DH bike to Les Gets/Morzine

I imagine smashing runs of the Plenny/Super Morzine/Chatel would ruin even a "modern" enduro or trail bike after a week.

The last bike i went to the alps on had a 67deg head angle.......i'm not dead (i also wasn't very fast)

Just close your eyes and let off the brakes, everything will be fine!

I have a similar thought for my BPW trip with my lad in a few weeks. I've always used my old (OLD! 2015!) RM Instinct there before and until the last few times, could almost keep him in sight. He's now a nutter on a Commencal SX - I've chosen to ride a Trek Slash from the BPW hire fleet. I won't keep up with him, but its gonna be fun trying !

OP - there are a few bargains to be had on here https://www.privateerbikes.com/collections/nearly-new-privateer-bikes?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linktree&utm_campaign=nearly+new+privateer+bikes  

Say what you ride? just got back from two weeks on my bargain basement nukeproof giga, didn't miss a beat, and took everything in it's stride.

The thing about Morzine/LG/Chatel is that you need to be decent at jumping to make the most of it. Also, it can take a while to get your cornering speed up enough to clear some of the jumps there (thinking particularly the Les Gets blues/reds on the back of Chavannes).

I find some of the building there quite tight in terms of jumps straight out of berms. Where I normally ride in Leogang/Saalbach they give you a bit more time to set up for the jumps.

I was in the PDS the other week and to be honest, it wasn’t until the last day that I felt I was riding decently.

@thegeneralist

Have you ridden the Pleney blue that starts at the top by the route to Les Gets?

That’s a nice mellow track that’s a good one to build your speed on, get your mojo so to speak.

Sometimes if you’re trying to keep up with people who are a bit too fast for you, it messes up your riding and can really be disheartening.

I was riding with my lad and his Austrian mates (WC racers) and I was struggling. As soon as I chilled out and rode with someone my own age (55) my riding came together again.

I got a capra uncaged 12 just before heading to Andorra this year it was great fun. Much better than my 2018 enduro. Also it's faster on everything I ride. Setting pbs most times I take it out.

Another vote for a Specialized Status.

Hmm. Totally put off Specialized after my Enduro borked 4 rear shocks and onto a fifth.

Stumperjumper Evo Expert which depending on size can still be picked up at a bargain price.

Want more travel. My Occam is 140/150, so want something different

Last couple of bikes have been purchased after great days out in the Alps whilst browsing in the evening

Second hand Turbo Levo off Pinkbike whist sat outside the van in Pila and a Enduro that Evans was shifting at 50% discount

Mmmm. I kicked myself for not buying one of those Spec'duros. Which is ironic given that my previous one was so shit.

recommending the Airdrop Edit to everyone for everything. I love mine. You’re not too far away for a test ride either.

Seems to be a lot of love for them. Problem is the mullet. CBA with additional wheel/ tyre sizes in the household. Although I have to admit that the 29er rear wheel has sucked a bit on the steeps. Keep nearly getting my BO55 ACK hauled into the seatstays

Was rather drawn to the Transition Spire... Not for any good reason.

Although I have to admit that the 29er rear wheel has sucked a bit on the steeps. Keep nearly getting my BO55 ACK hauled into the seatstays

That's exactly why I went mullet. Totally eliminated body/tyre contact and it's much easier to throw into tight turns and switchbacks and stuff.

It's much more fun than my 29er with very similar geometry.

That’s exactly why I went mullet. Totally eliminated body/tyre contact and it’s much easier to throw into tight turns and switchbacks and stuff.

It’s much more fun than my 29er with very similar geometr

But, but but.... I'd not be able to swap wheels and tyres.....

Was rather drawn to the Transition Spire… Not for any good reason.

Always heard good things about the spire and frames at good prices currently:

https://shop.windwave.co.uk/components/transition/bike-frames

Not check sizes tho!

But, but but…. I’d not be able to swap wheels and tyres…..

What do you mean? Can't even tell if this is a serious consideration.

What difference does it make? I've got 2 bikes and the rear wheels don't match. It makes zero difference to anything.

Are you regularly rotating your rear wheels between all your bikes? How often do you switch?

Are you regularly rotating your rear wheels between all your bikes? How often do you switch?

Well I regularly change them in my bike. 1650 with inserts for most rides. EX with fat inserts for uplift/ Alps. Carbons for long XC.

Fair enough I wouldn't want the carbons on an Edit, but would be nice to be able to use the others.

Sorry but you're far too STW. Your days of keeping up with the kids are over.

We hired Monkraker Superfoxy's for all for one day when we went to Lenzerheide with our ht's.  They were amazing 🙂