Picture the scene, its early 2011, I was riding bikes more
and more, and after 12 months of discussing it I had decided. 2011 was the year
where I would eventually follow my head and my heart and make the summer
pilgrimage to the Alps where a week’s mountain biking would satisfy my hunger
for some top quality climbs, descents and single-track. So March 2011, I paid
my moneys and decided on going on a fully guided back country week (imagine off
piste skiing but on the mtb) booked for Sept 2011. All was going well until
disaster hit. Early July 2011 I crashed hard when riding some very large mtb
jumps in Cheshire, breaking my spine in 3 places, and my hip socket. Disaster.
A few weeks in hospital including theatre, and a long rehabilitation period
meant that the holiday which I had wanted to do for years was cancelled for the
year... Bummer.
Fast forward to April 2012, and I was feeling fit. Strength
was coming back and the pain of last year had subsided. Putting the
difficulties behind me I decided that this year was the year I would go on the
holiday I’ve wanted to go on since I started riding bikes as a proper hobby at
age 13. Holiday was booked, flights booked, and started riding more. I was out
on the road bike putting an average of approx 170mi per week, and had even
started racing. So the legs were coming along, but the upper body was lacking.
Spinal injuries aren’t to be taken light-heartedly as I was in a rigid spine
brace for 3 months in 2011 which had destroyed any sort of core stability and
strength I had. This takes some time to overcome. Anyway, the year passed and
with a few road races under my belt and an ever increasing amount of mtb rides,
meant that my strength and confidence was coming back. Time flew, and all of a
sudden it was the end of August, and I was ready. Stronger and fitter than last
year, I was looking forward to riding some awesome trails which would test even
the most competent and technically minded rider.
So at 1am on 8th Sept, I loaded up the car and
headed down to Luton airport. Hours later I was in Luton, checked in my
luggage, dropped my bike bag off to the oversize luggage counter and made my
way through to the gates. 4 hours later I touched down in Geneva. Luggage
collected and waited about for my transfer. We eventually got to the chalet at
about 5pm, just enough time to build the bikes ready for the next day, before
we settled down for dinner and a generous helping of red wine.
Early night meant that all of a sudden Sunday had
appeared. 9am came, and fully fed and
watered riders came out of the chalet and we split into our groups. 2 groups of
5 with 2 guides per group. First day was nothing but tiring. Easy trails to
ease us into the week, but warning signs came 10 minutes into our first run
when two of the five of my group had already boiled their brakes! (Imagine a 30
minute constant fast descent which requires a LOT of braking with hydraulic
disc brakes). We stopped to allow the brakes to cool and the lovely aroma of
disc brakes was slightly overpowering. We kept going, using the minibus as a
cheat pup the climbs, and after a 6 hour day full of descending, it was time to
hit the sack. Day 1 – 4000metres of descending.
Monday came and we were ready to do one of the epics that are
on offer. HEIDI is a long ride which climbs and descends over mountains and
through forests using natural trails. The scenery was nothing but stunning.
It’s not all open barren landscapes, once we get into the
forests, it gets steep, loose, rooty and err, rocky?
The descent down was well worth the climb. Starting at the
top of Mont Juvet, down to the Mont Juvet refuge where we stopped for lunch,
then the scarily fast 4km long gulley run which caught me out at one point,
pinballing me all over the trail. Brown trouser moment over, and my heart rate
dropped I set off again, catching up the slower riders. After the open section
came the sam hill section, a series of bermed and slightly loose and rooty
switchbacks that again, caught me out, sending me upside down into a bush. Rest
of the trail was fast. Very fast. Scary in bits. More of the same as we
descended down the hill, finishing in a village where the orangina and a ‘serious’
beer was very very well deserved! Back to the chalet for dinner, and then a
fair few beers ready for the day off on the Weds.
Well, Wednesday was errm.. rubbish. The rain came. It belted
it down non-stop from when we got in on the Tuesday until the end of
Wednesday. But this is where the magic
came... Snow. Lazy day was in order. Quick walk around town with a few lunch
time beers then back to the chalet.
Thursday was another long ride. Up to destination – X (or
destination kiss as I got everyone calling it!) for some ridge riding and then
descending into Beaufort. The ride started in the snow which came on the
previous day.
More descending again and the snow had made the going very
soft. Wet and muddy roots, combined with a scattering of electric fences
definitely kept you on your toes. Letting the bike slide was the key to the
descent. Trusting your tyres to grip again was key, alongside letting go of the
brakes, and pointing the bike.
The day went slowly, and we moved on for a final run of the
day. One of the guys in my group said that he had had enough for the day, and I
got an offer of a bike. A rather nice pimped out intense tracer VP with all the
bells and whistles.. Have to say, he missed out on a good trail. We descended
for 30 minutes straight down the hill, dropping 2000metres. Switchback after
switchback after switchback. This was such fun. If you hit the turns too fast,
you just turned harder and go higher on the corner, carrying your speed. This
went on for a good 30 minutes and I was at the bottom of the hill with a
massive grin on my face. After this, we went back to the chalet and got fed and
watered.
Final day came and another big ride was on the cards.
Problem. I had no bike. Luckily the chalet chef had a spare bike which I
borrowed. Fridays ride was Meribel. A long climb with a ridge ride and then a
long descent down to the valley floor. Again, the weather was perfect and the
snow on the caps made the scenery absolutely stunning...
More descending followed, more of the same, just harder in
difficulty. Sharp, steep, rooty, rocky switchbacks all mixed in with pedally
sections. Best fun you can have on 2 wheels.
The week was rounded off with the tightest and steepest
trail of the day, made especially for us by the local farmer. This trail was
brand new and we were helping to cut the trail in. This was loose, steep,
tight, included a mass of line choices and was scary in bits. Best way to finish off the week. And what was
better, was that it was within riding distance of the local bar at the chalet!!
So, approx 90mi later, with 3000metres (3km vertical) of
climbing and 13000metres (13km vertical) of descent the week was over.
Out of the 10 of us that went, there were a fair few
crashes, many mechanicals, two punctures, lots of silly falls, one snapped
bike, and lots of destroyed brake pads. But guess what.. It’s the most fun I’ve
had on 2 wheels since I’ve started riding the bike. I’d definitely recommend anyone who enjoys
mountain biking to experience a week’s guiding in the Alps. It’s well worth it.
Strava ride details;
Saturday;
Day 1;
Day 2;
Day 3 (Garmin died mid-ride)
Day 4; (Bike died at Lunch
Time)
Day 5;
No comments:
Post a Comment