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flag m3Aj3K1M
Posted: Feb 7, 2024 at 18:20 Quote
Now that the WC schedule is out I have been thinking about planning a trip to Europe with the goal of biking/riding trains between races. My goal is to watch DH and enduro while over there so I am thinking about starting with Val DI Sole, heading to Crans Montana to watch the XC and see the area. Then heading to Haute Savoie with a pit stop in Chamonix to finish with DH, enduro, and XC. At that point it seems Geneva would be the place to fly out of.

I’m considering a few bike options.
1. fly my enduro bike/ gear over there and be able to ride trails at each location, but have to jump the big bike down the roads.
2. Don’t bring mtb, rent a road bike for traveling between locations, rent mtb at locations to ride trails for the day.
3. Rent road bike do no mtb (not ideal but efficient and cost effective)

I’m curious to hear anyone’s experience, suggestions, thoughts on how to make this happen. Is anyone else planning a similar trip? Where to stay? What to be aware of? Any other recommendations?

PS don’t speak any other the languages and have never been to Europe so this is a bit of a huck.

Thanks
flag Oregon29
FL
Posted: Apr 12, 2024 at 1:08 Quote
m3Aj3K1M wrote:
Now that the WC schedule is out I have been thinking about planning a trip to Europe with the goal of biking/riding trains between races. My goal is to watch DH and enduro while over there so I am thinking about starting with Val DI Sole, heading to Crans Montana to watch the XC and see the area. Then heading to Haute Savoie with a pit stop in Chamonix to finish with DH, enduro, and XC. At that point it seems Geneva would be the place to fly out of.

I’m considering a few bike options.
1. fly my enduro bike/ gear over there and be able to ride trails at each location, but have to jump the big bike down the roads.
2. Don’t bring mtb, rent a road bike for traveling between locations, rent mtb at locations to ride trails for the day.
3. Rent road bike do no mtb (not ideal but efficient and cost effective)

I’m curious to hear anyone’s experience, suggestions, thoughts on how to make this happen. Is anyone else planning a similar trip? Where to stay? What to be aware of? Any other recommendations?

PS don’t speak any other the languages and have never been to Europe so this is a bit of a huck.

Thanks

Great looking plan man wish I could do the same! Fellow american here but been based in the UK for the last 10 years with lots of trips around europe with bikes under my belt.

First thing, don't worry about the language. Do yourself a favor and learn to ask "Do you speak English" or " Can I speak English with you" in German, French and Italian. People will say they know only a little but then speak fluently with you. Only in really in Paris do you get any kind of pushback but since they places you're likely to be going want tourists there there should be no problem.

Next, instead of looking to fly in one place and out another i'd just look at one centerally located airport with a train station and fly in and out of the same place. I'd look at Zurich, Milan, Munich or Geneva. Factor in price and travel time at the start and end of your trip and you should come up with an obvious answer. flights.google.com or sky scanner will be your friend here and you can enter multiple destinations or just Milan to cover all of it's airports.

Bike options. I would always travel with my bike, a bit of hassle in some situations but well worth it in my opinion. While padded EVOC bags are the best, I'd look at just packing it in a cardboard box that you can then ditch when you arrive and build you bike back up. Bikes will go fine on trains but just check you don't need a reservation for it on some journeys. Then near the end of your trip when you're in you last riding location. Chat to the guys at the bike shops and ask if they will have any boxes in a couple days time. Buy a roll of tape in the supermarket, pad it with your dirty clothes and you're off. Also with luggage try and have only 1 bag that everything can go in when riding your bike. I'm thinking duffle bag with backpack straps.

Getting between locations can be done in hardman, Matthew Fairbrother style but equally you could also hop on a train and get yourself much closer. Lots of local busses, that can carry bikes, will get you the last bit up the hill at more remote resorts but plenty have train service to the base.

In between VdS and Crans i'd look at riding in Zermatt, Verbier and Champrey. All easily accessible by train. Between Crans and Clomboux it'd be rude not to stop in the Portes du Soleil which includes; Champrey, Morgins, Chatel, Morzine and Les Gets. The only challenge there is transportation as french busses are a bit less friendly to bikes than Swiss so look into this one.

Can't think of anything else at the moment but any questions you have i'll be happy to answer.

 


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