Frequently Asked Questions.
There’s a lot to think about for a trip to the Alps, here’s some of the things what get thought about most:
How good do I need to be?
You need to be as good as you are! There’s such a huge variety of trails to pick from in the Alps that as long as you’re comfortable riding along a 4×4 track then there’s something for you. Obviously, the better you are the more options you have, but there’s a trail for every level of rider.
What about the “Bike Ban,” I thought bikes were forbidden in Chamonix?
Yes and no. The infamous Chamonix Bike Ban only applies during July and August, during which time all the main trails are too busy with walkers to be any fun on a bike anyway. Fortunately there’s a huge number of lesser known trails that are completely legal, much quieter, and way more entertaining to ride during those months. So the bike ban really isn’t an issue……if you know where you’re going.
Where do you guide?
Alpine Flow MTB guiding is based out of Chamonix, but I’ve worked and guided in Valais, Aosta, The Italian Lakes, Savoie, Haute Savoie and Scotland. With over 25 years of mountain biking experience and 10 years of living in Haute Savoie behind me I’ve been lucky enough to have had the time to explore and get to really know lots of areas, and it’s great to be able to share that hard won knowledge with other riders.
What bike should I bring?
A
SCOR 4060LT, obviously! And ideally in midnight disco colourway… (although an
Airdrop Edit would also work very very well) You can ride the trails on any bike, you see everything from rigid fat bikes to full DH sleds, but generally an “all mountain” or “enduro” bike with relaxed angles, 140-170mm of suspension travel and light enough to pedal around the mountain a bit works best. The more powerful and reliable your brakes, the happier you’ll be. Tougher, bigger tyres would be the other key component to look at. EXO/Snakeskin style casing as a minimum, but you’ll see plenty of riders on full DH casing. Set up tubeless helps a lot too.
What kit do I need?
A helmet, your riding clothes, a bike and a positive outlook on life will see you a long way in the Alps. Some food and drink, a waterproof jacket plus spare warmer layer and spare parts appropriate to your bike (inner tube, derailleur hanger, brake pads) will help you keep that positive outlook going through the day.
Alpine descents are longer and more sustained than most riders are used to and mistakes happen, so knee pads, elbow pads and full finger gloves, whilst not mandatory, can help reduce the consequences of a crash. At the same time, riding on natural trails isn’t the flat out affair that bike park laps are, so it’s best to rely on riding within your ability to prevent the crash rather than dressing up like a stormtrooper to reduce the consequences!
Do you provide equipment or accommodation?
No, Alpine Flow MTB guiding just provides the guiding, it’s what I know best. But, you don’t live somewhere for a decade without getting a few friends and contacts, so if you’re looking for recommendations get in touch on hello@alpineflowmtb.com
When are the lifts open?
The majority of the lifts in the Western Alps run from the start of July to the end of August, whilst the Chamonix lifts are open from early June to late September. Away from the best known spots though there’s plenty of other options that means, with a bit of local knowledge, we can ride uplift almost all year round.
Can we bike from the top of Mont Blanc?
No. No we can’t. Although with some of the climate change predictions, it might be possible sooner rather than later 🙁
