Come Ride With Us - Video

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nprace (Nov 13, 2015 at 5:05)

Valais is simply the best the swiss alps has to offer, but I don't want to think about the state of the trails in 10 years. The classics are already so beat up and worn out...
Unfortunately a) there doesn't exist the culture of trail building on these lines b) were one as a private person to build you'd probably very quickly get a fine and c) these are trails with 2000m vertical drop and 15 km in the alpine without any dirt so fixing them is a monstrous and difficult task...

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GVArider (Nov 13, 2015 at 6:51)

Trail building/maintenance is more common in France than in Switzerland - I hope the culture emerges here at some point. Otherwise, we'll have to pay to access trails and have an association or the government maintain them - at insane cost. MTBers are starting, slowly, to organize.

Please play your part - find a local group that supports the sport and volunteer or support them!

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nprace (Nov 13, 2015 at 7:51)

Do you know of one in Valais?

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EvilGarfield (Nov 13, 2015 at 4:45)

Yeah the guys at alpine-trails are the kind of people that know a lot of cool trails but are only willing to share them with you if you pay 1500 CHF for one of their tour. Nice mentality.

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Alpine-Trails-Switzerland (Nov 13, 2015 at 5:00)

@EvilGarfield why dont you open up a guiding company and offer hotels, transportation, shuttling, etc. for free and dont pay your employees a salary? ;-)

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nprace (Nov 13, 2015 at 5:19)

And...Evil Garfield. The Alpine Trails folks found these trails somehow which means so can you, but you need to get out there. I've ridden most of these things and have not once gone with a guide so get out there and try some new stuff.

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EvilGarfield (Nov 13, 2015 at 5:21)

I'm not saying everything should be free but a simple link on the website for a map of the good trails in the region would allow local riders to discover new things while maintaining the paying offer for those who wish to have everything planned for them.
Don't get me wrong, I think that your tours are very well organized and I can only imagine how cool it is to arrive in a foreign country, worry about nothing and just ride.

I just think that trail location and information should be shared, not kept secret to maximize profit...I don't think one should have 1500 CHF to be able to access information easily. In the end I'll still find the trails used for your tours by trial and errors...it will only take me time, I'll be pissed and it still won't help you pay your employees.

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GVArider (Nov 13, 2015 at 6:46)

Don't be a hater. No one is stopping anyone from riding for free. And there are trail maps available, don't blame Alpine Trails for not advertising.

Their trips include 7 days of hotel - and minimum wage in Switzerland works out to over 3500chf/month. No one is getting rich out of this. I for one am grateful there are successful companies that are growing the sport - and working to open and keep open trails for mountain bikers.

Alpine Trails provides an awesome experience that is worth every penny. If you can afford a $5K+ bike, and a trip to the Alps, you owe it to yourself to have the best experience possible - and unless you live in Zermatt you are gonna need a guide. Good luck AT!

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spitznagel (Nov 14, 2015 at 9:38)

I know this place :-)
www.pinkbike.com/photo/10785019
Amazing trails up there, and Tim is a very talented rider. Keep on the great work.

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pakleni (Nov 13, 2015 at 3:48)

Yep! Lovely country, fantastic trails, cup of tea 8 - 12 CHF, ... come and join us. Sell your kidney if you have to!

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hansharz (Nov 15, 2015 at 13:53)

yes,ALPINETRAILS, do their best to make the money out of the trails,without doing everything for it. they are not even from that region. however this exactely why these trails are worn out. Sustainability does not exist. but great rider with nixe clothes, and full of color, without attitude. ps. they blocked me once already, therefore I needed to open another account, just to commet their advertising, real freedom..

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fercho25 (Nov 13, 2015 at 7:09)

Im offended a swiss mtb video without a dt swiss fork.