Megavalanche

Hi,
Idea of this blog is to give some ideas to anybody interested in doing Megavalanche race. I completed Megavalanche this year but before I went to France I wanted to do some research about:
• What bike would be the best, what components?
• What clothing will I need?
• How should I prepare myself physically for this race?
I didn't find all information I needed on internet at that time.
So let’s start then, first

The bike:

I took to France my Giant Glory with fox 40 forks but for 2016, I will take definitely my Mondraker Dune with talas 36/ 160mm as Megavalanche it is not DH race it is enduro race, yes if you are really fit and lucky you can win race on DH bike but true is enduro bike will be the best so bike not too heavy full suspension frame and forks single crown 160mm travel plenty enough.

At this point I think it is important to mansion other critical bike components:

• Tires, I had maxxis dual ply 2.35" and being about 8 days in France never had any puncture and I will take the same ones next year or maybe maxxis wet scream 2.2” or 2.3” as top of Megavalanche is probably always in snow

• Pedals, really solid strong flat pedals not cheap crap, I had shimano saint and they are not bad but for next year will take something stronger. I hit rocks with pedals so many times that if they would be cheap they would brake straightaway. For next year I will take spare set not for Megavalanche race but for general riding

• Rear derailleur hanger, I snapped one during Megavalanche race and didn't have spare with me this cost me going down from ¾ of track to finish without derailleur nor chain and completing race in not very impressive time, for next year I will take two spare hanger one will be in my back pack during race

• Rear derailleur, I snapped rear derailleur as well but not during race but during general riding I didn’t have spare one so had to buy whatever was available from local shop and pay almost double what you would pay in chainreaction, for next year will have spare one. For me best will be shimano zee short cage cheap so if I snap it this won’t ruin my pocket like for example saint or X0 would

• gear cable spare definitely required, and even Outer Gear Casing cut to size would be idea as I managed pinch mine and gear changing wasn’t smooth anymore

The clothing, body protection

• This year weather was excellent everyday about 27-29 degree, but Pic Blanc 3330mm was covered in snow but the time you spend on top is not very long as well as adrenaline won’t let you feel really cold. I had body armour and on top of it t-shirt and I was perfectly fine, quick dry jersey is good idea too and some comfortable short good for pedalling.

• Some light body protection as heavy armour causing trouble when pedalling.

Physical preparation

• This is most important part of all three, if you really fit you may win race on bike from TESCO with some upgrades obviously ;-), I wasn’t prepared good enough as first time for me it was just for fan but for next year I will spend some time to get myself fit. Length of Megavalanache is 32km, the best riders complete it in less 50min for me it took about 1.30min.


That’s is really it what you need to know about Megavalanche, If you think race is not for you are wrong I seen people like 60 years old on DH bikes completing race, also people not exactly slim ;-) or I would rather call them with busy stressful job ;-), people on hardtails like Megavalanche would be for them Sunday xc trip ;-).


Below some pictures to have some ideas how it is like.

Giant Glory

Pic Blanc 3330m Start of Megavalanche


Queue to get to lift for Pic Blanc: