Want to ride your bike in the biggest Mountain Biking area in the world? 2.0

[Guest Omega Man]

So do 2014 with the Morewood and then go back in 2015 with a DH rig?

 

Yes oh voice of reason!

I'm kind of in 2 minds about this one. To extract the most fun out of the PDS you want to take over the burliest bike you own.

 

If you are dead set on getting a DH bike maybe contact DSV (They have Izimu's for 1000 euro) or Torico (nukeproof pulse) or skiset (Scott) or even FB Freeride (Santa Cruz) and buy one of their ex rental bikes. These shops are all in Morzine.

 

They usually sell the bikes at the end of the season/beginning of the new season. The bikes are usually covered in inner tube to protect the frame and fork and are given new running gear and a full service before you buy them so they are usually in good nic.

 

But they have lived a hard life.

 

The problem with that plan tho is you will be riding an unfamiliar bike down the steepest trails you've ever seen. I've dropped into Chatel on a rented bike and the experience was. Um. Intimidating.

[Whatsup!]

Hi All

 

I have been reading this thread with interest and thought I would add my 2 cents, from a non DH rider perspective.

 

I was riding in Morzine a week ago and it was brilliant.

 

To set the picture, I am not a DH rider and usually ride marathons on a HT or 100mm travel full sus. I had a 160 mm travel bike about two years ago but sold it as I was not using it living in JHB. Only really used it when visiting Tokai or Jonkershoek.

 

Technical skills:

I am not bad on a bike and really enjoy fast flowing single track with small jumps and drop off etc. If your idea of mountain biking is long district roads and mowed veld, then Morzine is not the place for you.

If you are comfortable and enjoy single track like you find on Tokai or going into the Umko valley, then you will love Morzine.

I went with the missus and we rode mostly green and blue tracks, and the PDS trails in between. The trails where great. You don’t need to be smashing the super technical black runs to be riding the best single track you have ever riding.

I will post some pictures to show the quality to the “family” green runs to see how good they are. The great thing was the misses could go slower and handle the tracks without too much issue, while I could go a bit faster making them a challenge and there was still plenty on jumps etc to more than challenge my ability.

The trails to suit all abilities and the views, no traffic, and the warm weather during our winter, makes this a fantastic mountain bike holiday. You can even hire a road bike and ride some TDF category 1 climbs in and around Morzine if that is your thing.

 

 

Own bike v hiring

I was in Europe for a couple of weeks before going to Morzine, so I could not take my own bike. I hired a car to drive down from Paris so no bike racks. The advantage of hiring a car is that it gives the ability to do some site seeing and we where able to catch a stage of the TDF on the way back to Paris. I also stayed slightly out of Morzine so I could easily drive into town to go riding the for diner etc. The price off accommodation was better slightly out of town. We left the hired bikes at the shop everyday and just picked them up in the morning and dropped them off when we where done.

I hired an AM bike, which was in good condition and could more then handle anything I could through at it. Unless you are a serious DH, and AM bike is all you need. What is important is the slack head tube angle and at least 140 to 160 mm travel.

For 2 bikes for 4 days cost me R6 700.

 

If I was going directly to Morzine and was going to use an AM when back in SA, I would look at purchasing one.

 

Equipment

Almost all the riders where in full face helmets, neck braces and pads etc.

We where the idiots with a normal riding helmet and no padding etc. It was good enough for me, but there where a few jumps I would have hit harder if I had the added protection. But there where also a few occasions when me in my dorky helmet and no pads was outrunning fully kitted riders in DH kit. The cool thing is that everyone is there to have a good time and no one cares what you wear or what runs you do etc.

If you have the cash and can see your self using it again, a purchase or hire of the full face helmet and pads is recommended.

 

I would not go back without a kidney belt!

After a few days of bouncing around and not used that type of riding, my kidneys took a serious hammering and had to take a day off then buy a kidney belt. Riding until you piss blood is a term a don’t use often!

[Whatsup!]

what's the best way to post pictures?

[Guest Omega Man]

what's the best way to post pictures?

Click on more reply options

[Guest Omega Man]

Click on more reply options

Click on more reply options and look at the bottom. There will be an attach files link.

[Whatsup!]

Green "Family" track

[Whatsup!]

more Green "Family" track

[Guest Omega Man]

Green "Family" track

Panoramic in Chatel. Correct?

[Whatsup!]

more Green "Family" track

[Whatsup!]

^{100% correct}

[Whatsup!]

The "Easy" Blue runs

[Whatsup!]

more "Easy" blue runs

[Whatsup!]

Thanks Omega Man for all the info and advice that convinced me to go to Morzine.

I did not bump into you along the trails but I owe you a beer or two

[Guest Omega Man]

Thanks Omega Man for all the info and advice that convinced me to go to Morzine.

I did not bump into you along the trails but I owe you a beer or two

Pleasure man. You owe me nothing. Hopefully we can slowly convince other SA mountain bikers that mountain biking is best done in the mountains.

 

We bumped into a group of guys from Durban and interestingly an elderly couple from Grabow who were hiking in Chatel approached us for directions. You should have seen the tannies face when my mate Ray replied in Afrikaans.

Edited July 22, 2013 by Omega Man

[olram_df]

 

 

Show me, where??

 

 

Here you go bud:

 

http://m.gumtree.co.za/giant-reign-3/v?adId=502236979#giant%20reign

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Here you go bud:

 

http://m.gumtree.co....979#giant reign

 

THAT'S the one I was looking for!