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Top of the bucket list finally ticked!
I'm entering my 55th year and was starting to think my chances of going on a lift assisted mountain bike holiday in the Alps was slipping away. However, I've been given the go ahead by the rather wonderful and infinitely patient shewhomustbeobeyed, and have just booked The White Room's Classic Singletrack guided holiday in early August.
Other than getting much fitter, slimmer and confident on the bike, having watched them all slip away over the last 30+ years of riding ( I have a Rocky style training montage all worked out in my head for this), what else should I be daydreaming about while I'm supposed to be in the lab working?
I'm planning to fly Edinburgh to Geneva with my trusty 2018 Orange 4. It's currently kitted out with a 150mm Pike on the front, 140mm Rockshok something or other at the back. 28t front ring and 11-46 10sp cassette on the rear. Wheels are 27.5ers with 2.3in Maxxis Minions front and rear. Brakes are Hope 4V4's.
I don't have a bike bag, but will hopefully be able to borrow one from either the bike club or a biking buddy. I'm open to recommendations though. I'm going to get Polly fully serviced before I go and will swap my clipped pedals with the vicious spikey flats I currently have on my e-bike.
Anything else before I start packing my bags in anticipation?
🙂
Might see you there! I'm out on the 2nd Aug with three mates, also flying from Edinburgh...
Try I-cycles or Ebay for bike bag hire. Bike sounds good to go, but take spare brake pads. The guides are all great and will ask you in advance for your skill level and adjust the trails to suit.
Bring trunks for the pool and a good appetite for the food- Hopefully Kirsty and Colin will be in the kitchen again.
I'm also in the lab trying to concentrate on work...
I did it first time last year as a 65 year old as was fine - despite my riding being all XC and easy trails.
We did hire Firebird Pivots from Gravity Lab in Bourg, and they were fantastic bikes - seemed much more suited to these trails than my usual Tallboy. If your budget will stretch to a hire, I’d recommend it. Otherwise as mtnboarder above says bring some spare pads, you’ll be doing a lot of braking.
As someone reasonably fit I was surprised how much my lower arms and my legs hurt after the first day, from a lot of braking and a lot of non seated descending! The flat pedals are a good idea, I found my usual SPDs a real nuisance. And don’t forget knee pads, elbow pads and camelback.
Pack spare pads, lots! And a tyre doesn't hurt. Enjoy it Stevo and Iona run a fantastic place.
with my trusty 2018 Orange 4. It’s currently kitted out with a 150mm Pike on the front, 140mm Rockshok something or other at the back
Do you mean Orange 5?
Whether it's a 4 or a 5, if you haven't already fitted an angle-adjust headset then I'd strongly recommend doing so.
Superstar do cheap and good quality -2deg ones. I've used them on a couple of Oranges of that vintage with great results.
Further to the above - superstar angleset cheap here -
The white room is fantastic. We did the backcountry enduro with them last year. Rab and Poshman Pat are great guides!
Nice one Beagy, it's a great area to ride. Les Arcs is very much my preferred type of Alps riding over bike parky stuff. Was shown the trails by ex-SBCer young Ben (Jones) before he got famous, although much is on Strava/Trailforks now.
Advice: fit the biggest diameter rotors you can and take LOTS of spare pads. Tougher side walled tyres aren't essential but are nice to have (EXO+ front, DD rear). Kneepads and elbow pads for me along with an EVOC backpack inc protector. Helmets I've worn everything from my regular open-faced trail lid* to a budget DH full facer, but my preferred option is something like my Troy Lee Stage. Pedals just ride whatever you're used to - no need for flats but I prefer them out there, but I split my riding back here about 80% clipped / 20% flats.
I got to introduce my 9yr old and 11yr old mini a11y's to Les Arcs trails this summer for the first time and they had a blast.
And if sh*t h happens - as happened to me on a trail called 'Axe Wound' last summer - bookmark this location now: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GbXeDEprzv91UV638
Learn how to ride switchbacks if you don't know already
@Chakaping Well spotted sir, yet again I've been caught over exaggerating the length of my Pike. It's actually a 130mm model on my Orange 4.
Not sure about fitting an adjustable headset. Polly's kitted out with matching orange coloured Hope headset, hubs, bottom bracket and 203mm floating rotors. A different coloured headset might throw off the handling. 😉
I’m tempted for this year too, back end of the season for “better” chance of favourable weather.
Flights look pricey though, the train looks tempting but getting to St Pancras adds a bit off faff for me, coming from Yorkshire.
@Beagleboy I am in Kinross and have some well used standard bike bags that you are welcome to borrow. If you want to borrow one, let me know before the end of June a we are usually away during July/Aug.
Got a couple of bike bags here if you want to borrow them.
Tweed Valley area.
So much great riding in that area you're going to love it.
So jealous!
Some of my mates have been with them a few times and said it's an absolute blast. Their enthusiasm was such that the remainder of our group tried to book a trip with them a two years ago. They were fully booked up, we ended up going to Morzine just because that's all we could find. I'll never go ride a bike there again.
Anyway a trip with the White Room is on my bucket list
Interesting (and a slight thread diversion) about the slacker headset thing. If I go, it might be with my son who has a 2017 Orange Five. It a big old bouncer of a thing, Cane Creek DB shock and 150mm Pikes, so the headset mod might make it more Alp’y.