Mountain biking Holidays in the Hautes Alps |
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As
featured in Singletrack mountain bike magazine (issue
36) click on the pages to see a bigger version |
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From mid April as the winter snow melts away the Pays des Ecrins area opens up more than 1500km of mountain bike trails and we get out on our bikes to find the best routes for you to enjoy. High altitude passes on technical and twisty singletrack (our favourite) and all out downhill on the ski slopes and bike parks. Whatever your preference it's all here for you in the Hautes-Alpes.
In the AlpSun apartments you will find laminated maps and instructions for local rides we think are the best, many of which start right from the door of your accommodation.
We are very keen mountain bikers ourselves and have explored many of the local routes as well as creating new ones. In our accommodation you will find details on the best rides in the area as well as being able to speak to us to get the fine detail that makes all the difference.
The riding here in the Vallouise valley is simply stunning and unlike some of the other more frequented areas of the Alps it is quiet too. This means you are not going to be coming across walkers or other bikers every few minutes, leaving you more space to let it rip, or take in the views at a more leisurely pace.
We have often done a whole day's riding without seeing a single soul. This area is a hidden gem so why not come and discover it before too many other people do.
It doesn't matter what your level is, there are rides and terrain to suit everyone from a short, flatish hour, to the muti-day traverse of the Hautes-Alpes from La Grave to Orpierre.
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- Puy St Vincent and Pelvoux ski resorts: the lifts are open 6 days a week in the summer. Pelvoux has a dual slalom course too!
- At Briançon (just 8 miles away): you have the descent from the top of the Prorel cable which gives around a 14km downhill!
- Les Orres now offers a stunning bike park with some excellent north shore style sections and a World-cup level downhill course as well as easier alternatives.
- Vars/Risoul also offers a small bike park and a stunning downhill course.
We have secure storage options at all of our apartments for you to store bikes safely overnight and we also have bikes that you can rent should you not want to bring your own.
Ryanair charge £15 each way to carry a bike and Easyjet £10 each way.
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Backcountry Mountain Bike Holidays |
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The backcountry terrain for mountain biking in this region awesome. Be a mountain bike backcountry pioneer and come and ride it before everyone else finds out it's here!
In 2008 AlpSun will be offering accompanied mountain biking holiday weeks in the Hautes Alpes region offering Enduro/Freeride style riding along the lines of the ride featured in Issue 36 of Singletrack World magazine. If you would be interested in a Mountain bike holiday in the region please contact us. |
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Courses |
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The perfect combination for mountain bike courses
AlpSun has teamed up with the OTC in the UK to bring you a number of mountain bike courses in this fantastic area.
The next scheduled course will be a technical leader course in 2008. Dates have not yet been confirmed, but if you are interest in doing an OTC course here then please contact us.
To find out more about the Technical Leader course click here.
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Maps for the Area |
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Click here to view the details of the maps covering this area
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Mountain bike events in the area in 2007/8 |
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VTT Ecrins Date : 3rd June 2007 A one day event with 15km and 50km cross country non
timed rides amongst the high alpine summits. Special
courses will be provide for children too.
La Vallouise TOURISK
TROPHY 2EME EDITION
Coupe de France VTT trials Ailefroide will host the 3rd leg of the Coupe de France de VTT SUBARU Trial with 12 sets of natural obstacles on the on and over the boulders Contact
: Champsaur Evenements Maison du Tourisme
Raid off road champsaur A two day event with biking activities for all the family
including 40km and 60km races and pleasure rides.
Les 3H de VTT en Ecrins A XC circuit relay race for teams of 3 adults for 3
hours. A friendly event with music and fun.
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Bike hire, Guides and Lift Systems |
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Bike hireBike hire is available at a number of local sports shops. Prices range from 15€ per day for a basic bike (rim brakes, simple front fork) to 70€ per day for a 4000€ full downhill or freeride bike.
Mountain bike GuidesAlpSun can arrange Mountain bike guides for you if required. Just ask us.
Chair liftsThe Bergerie ski lift at Puy St Vincent and main Pelvoux
ski lift are open in summer for walkers, bikers and paragliders.
The main chair lift at Chantemerle and Prorel at Briançon
in the Serre Chevalier valley is also open during the
summer. To check access dates and times here are the contact numbers or just ask us: Puy St Vincent: telephone 04 92 23 43 43 Pelvoux: telephone 04 92 23 31 48 or 04 92 23 36 12 |
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Recommended Mountain biking books for the area |
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The VTT Hautes-Alpes (Author: Xavier Buffet) is a fantastic Topo for the area giving detail instructions and maps covering 59 rides from 10km sprints to 90km epics. Also newly published in 2007 are 3 VTOPO guides by Benjamin Farrudja and Maryline Millau. The guides are available from local shops in the region or via Amazon.fr with the links below. Although only avalable in French the guides are easy to follow in a topo style format with good maps for each ride. The Xavier Buffet guide also contains all the section descriptions for the 9 day Traverse of the Hautes Alpes too!
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Copyright
© 2005 - 2007 AlpSun.com. All Rights Reserved |
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If downhill MTB is your scene a number
of ski stations open up the cable cars in the
summer for this purpose:
We
can currently offer self-guided mountain bike holidays
in the Northern Hautes Alpes region. We will provide
you with self-catering
