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In this section we have tried to think of the little things that can make a big difference to your riding holiday in Morzine, and some of the things we get asked regularly.
First a gentle reminder -
The Portes du Soliel area is friendly towards bikers but just remember that there are other people using the tracks so be sensible when you pass walkers or slower riders. Imagine it was your granny or your child on the track. Let them know you are coming and reduce your speed when you approach so you don't crash into them or spray them with gravel as you ride past. If you don't want to worry about walkers stick to the purpose built downhill tracks where you can go as fast as you want to! The future of mountain biking in Morzine is in your hands - if too many walkers complain or someone gets hurt mountain bikers may not be allowed on some of the great tracks in the area. |
| Are there any goods maps I can get of the area? |
| Can I go road riding in Morzine? |
| Can I still enjoy the riding in Morzine if I am a Beginner? |
| Do I have to use the chairlifts? |
| Do I need medical insurance? |
| Do many girls ride in Morzine? |
| Do you have any tips on packing bikes for flying? |
| Does it cost extra to bring your bike on the plane? |
| How do I find the good tracks? |
| How do I get my bike to Morzine? |
| How do I put my bike on the chairlifts? |
| How fit do I have to be? |
| How much does a lift ticket cost? |
| I never use protective clothing, why should I wear it in Morzine? |
| Should I use protective clothing? |
| What about freeriding in Morzine? |
| What are the cross country tracks in Morzine like? |
| What are the downhill mountain bike tracks in Morzine like? |
| What can I do if I want a rest day from riding? |
| What can the kids do in Morzine? |
| What gear should I bring to take out each day when I ride in Morzine ? |
| What happens if I have a crash? |
| What if I have a mechanical? |
| What is the best kind of bike to ride in Morzine? |
| What is the Freeraid Classic? |
| What is the weather like in Morzine in the summer? |
| What kind of helmet should I have? |
| What kind of mountain biking skills would be good to have? |
| What kind of tyres are best? |
| What language do people speak in Morzine? |
| What should I do with my bike before I come out to Morzine? |
| Will my hardtail bike with slicks be alright to ride in Morzine? |
| Will the altitude affect me? |
Are there any goods maps I can get of the area?
Good topographical maps available in bookshops in Morzine are:
? 3528 ET map of Morzine, Massif du Chablais Les Portes du Soleil
? 3530 ET map of Samoens, Haute-Giffre
You can also get a rough mountain bike map form information centres with rides colour coded according to difficulty.
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Can I go road riding in Morzine?
There is great road riding to be done around Morzine, most rides will involve some climbing but what goes up must come down! Some previous Tour de France climbs that you could do include:
? Col de Joux Verte from Morzine up to the ski station of Avoriaz (plenty of switchbacks) about 800m vertical climb
? Col de Joux Plane from Morzine up to Lac Joux Plane about 700m vertical climb
? Col de la Ramaz a circuit from Morzine to Lets Gets, Tanninges, Mieussy over the Col and then back down to Lets Gets and Morzine.
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Can I still enjoy the riding in Morzine if I am a Beginner?
Even if you haven?t done much riding there are tracks that you will enjoy in Morzine and you will find that during your stay your riding will improve if you give things a go and get some tips from the guide at your mountain biking chalet. See the skills and fitness questions for things you could practice before you come out. Remember what ever level of rider you are if you get to anything you don?t want to ride it is fine to get off and walk. Maybe after you have seen how other people ride it you will be able to give it a try.
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Do I have to use the chairlifts?
There are 23 Chairlifts open in the Portes du Soleil area over summer (some variation depending on mechanical work etc). Using the chairlifts helps you to gain height and hit the great tracks that can take you into the Swiss Alps and beyond. If you are worrying that you won?t get enough of a workout we promise there will still be uphills. If you are in Morzine for the downhills silly question, of course you will be using the chairlifts so you can get as many downhills in as possible!
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Do I need medical insurance?
Yes, you would be stupid to go riding without medical insurance. It doesn?t cost much and usually according to Murphy?s Law if you have insurance nothing will go wrong. If you have got insurance and anything does happen you know you don?t have to worry about money.
Many injured riders are helicoptered to hospital, and we can tell you from personal experience that helicoptors don't come cheap, especially in Switzerland!
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Do many girls ride in Morzine?
Girls don?t be shy you will love riding in Morzine. There are more and more girls riding in Morzine. If you stay at a mountain bike chalet there will probably be other female riders that you can trade stories with. Morzine has riding for all levels whether you want to do hard core downhilling or just cruise along next to the river.
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Do you have any tips on packing bikes for flying?
Don?t be silly bikes can?t fly. No seriously, let some air out of your tyres and out of suspension if air sprung (jot down the pressure you usually have your suspension at to help when reassembling your bike in Morzine). You will need to take one or both wheels off your frame. Put a spacer between your forks and frame to stop them from getting bent, you can get these from bike shops. Take off your pedals and seat and pack them. It will be a long weeks riding without a seat! It is also a good idea to unscrew your rear derailer and tape it up so it will not get damaged. You may need to take your handlebars off, make sure you wrap these to protect them. If you have disc brakes we would suggest placing a spacer between your pads and if you have time take your rotors off and package them separately.
Common things we see damaged are bent derailers and hangers, warped disc rotors and snapped brake levers.
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Does it cost extra to bring your bike on the plane?
It depends, ususally as a general rule of thumb no, but we do hear some horror stories about excess luggage from time to time. The key to not being charged seems to be having your bike well packed and arriving for check in early.
Make sure when you book your ticket that it clearly states that you are travelling with a bike!
++ Update ++ From 2005 EasyJet are adding a ?20 supplement for bikes on their flights.
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How do I find the good tracks?
The best way to find the good tracks is to stay at a mountain biking chalet. Most of these chalets will have a guide who can show you tracks to match your ability and the riding you would like to do.
You can buy a mountain biking map at local information centres for about three euro. The map has a rough outline of tracks colour coded depending on difficulty and with useful information like bike washes and view points marked. There is some signage on these courses although without the help of a guide you will probably get lost a couple of times!
The Free Raid Classic ride held when the chairlifts open towards the end of June is a good way to check out 76km of track in the Portes du Soleil area. The course includes a variety of terrain and is clearly marked with plenty of places to get food or technical help. It is a fun way to see the area and find tracks. If you can?t make it for the Freeraid classic you can register at local tourist offices in the area for a passport and ride the circuit in you own time. There are 6 checkpoints, if you visit them all you earn a certificate of achievement. For your registration fee you will get a number plate for your bike, a road book and a mountainbikers map of the Portes du Soleil area.
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How do I get my bike to Morzine?
Check that your bike is going to be up to the tough terrain of Morzine. If it is get yourself a cardboard bike box from your local bike shop or a specially made bike bag or box. Pack your bike carefully and bring it as part of your luggage.
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How do I put my bike on the chairlifts?
All the lifts are different and all the lift attendants have a different system of putting bikes on ? helpful! Have a look for instructions at the lift. For example, the telecabine Mont Chery from Les Gets and the telesiege de la Pointe to the top of Mont Chery have previously had a picture or written instructions of what to do. A good tip is to watch someone in front of you first and see what they do. The lift attendants will usually help you too although sometimes they help after you have tried to do it the wrong way! The guide at your mountain biking chalet will also be able to show you what to do.
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How fit do I have to be?
If you have done some riding before you come out to Morzine you will be able to ride longer and harder. If you are not that fit don?t despair the lifts will make things a lot easier!
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How much does a lift ticket cost?
You can buy single trip passes ( ) a day pass ( ), a three day pass ( ) or a week pass. If you are going to spend a long time in Morzine you can also get a seasons pass ( ).
You can buy lift passes from bigger lift stations using cash or credit card. If you get a 6-day pass make sure you get one with a magnetic strip. With a magnetic strip you can just leave the pass in your pocket, when you go through the barriers just wave your pocket with the pass in the vicinity of the sensor and the barriers will open ? watch someone before you do it first if you are not sure!
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I never use protective clothing, why should I wear it in Morzine?
It is up to you but you have paid a lot of money to take time off and come out to Morzine riding. If you crash with pads on you will probably be able to get up, shake yourself off and keep going ? without the padding you might be off the tracks for the rest of the week.
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Should I use protective clothing?
For downhill you should wear body armour ? a vest and leg armour. For cross country and free ride it is a good idea to have leg and arm armour. Many mountain bike chalets have body armour for hire at reasonable prices.
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What about freeriding in Morzine?
Freeriding in Morzine and the Portes du Soleil rocks!! With the help of the chairlifts to gain elevation you can ride to some great descents down ridgelines, cols or long fast ski roads ? you almost feel sorry for downhillers missing out on these great descents ? can?t have too many people doing them though!!
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What are the cross country tracks in Morzine like?
Cross country riding in Morzine is something you will keep telling your friends about when you get home until they have to come and check it out for themselves! You can spend all week in Morzine riding different tracks. When you plot the rides you have done on a map you will be amazed at the terrain you have covered in the French and Swiss Alps. Usually riders use the lift system to gain elevation then ride on fire roads, single tracks down ridges or through meadows, dual walking/biking tracks and mountain roads. Most rides will have up hill sections to keep you honest. Because of the elevation you gain most rides will also have some steep downhill sections. Some mountain bike chalets even offer rides into Switzerland with an overnight in a mountain refuge for something a bit extra!
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What are the downhill mountain bike tracks in Morzine like?
There are nine permanent downhill courses in the Portes du Soleil area. (black - difficult, red ? difficult enough, blue ? medium, green easy)
? Morzine ? le Pleney (black) 2.5km, 420m vertical drop
? Lets Gets ? Chavannes (blue) 1.2km, 225m vertical drop
? Lets Gets ? Mont Chery (black) 3.8km, 620m vertical drop
? Avoriaz ? Le Crot (black) 4.5km, 600m vertical drop
? Champery ? Les Croset/Grand Conche (black) 3km, 470m vertical drop
? Champery ? les Croset/Crosets 2 (red) 2.5km, 258m vertical drop
? Chatel ? Super Chatel (blue) 2.5km, 420m vertical drop
? Morgins ? Foilleuse (red) 2.8km, 500m vertical drop
? Torgon ? Tete du Tronchey (red) 3.5km, 650m vertical drop
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What can I do if I want a rest day from riding?
Check out the other activities listed in Things to Do.
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What can the kids do in Morzine?
There is lots for kids to do in Morzine. Favourites include: swimming at the swimming pool or Lac de Montriond, horse or donkey rides, tobogganing, skateboarding, the adventure park and the Indiana Park. There are of course plenty of places they could go riding or walking. Check with the mountain bike chalet you are staying with or the tourist information centre if you need a baby sitter so you can leave the kids busy while you hit the tracks!
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What gear should I bring to take out each day when I ride in Morzine ?
It is a good idea to have a small pack that has a drink system ? it gets pretty hot out out there. Throw in a waterproof jacket, a spare tube, tyre levers, pump, puncture repair kit a multitool with a chain breaker on it, a small first aid kit, sunscreen and depending on the weather extra warm clothing. If your bike has any unique parts like different spokes take some spares. Someone in your group should have a cell phone and know the telephone number for emergency help in case there is an accident. If you have a guide with you they will be able to help with accidents and some mechanicals.
Remember to take some snacks and some money for lunch!
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What happens if I have a crash?
Hopefully you will be able to laugh, get up and keep riding without any injuries.
You should have a small first aid kit to deal with small injuries. If there is a serious injury on one of the downhill courses someone should notify the lift attendants telling them what has happened and where the injured person is. The lift attendants can then contact the emergency services and help will be there quickly. If the lifties don?t understand much English sign language usually works well!
If you are out on the tracks the emergency number to ring in France is 18 and in Switzerland it is 144. There will usually be someone who can speak to you in English. Tell them what has happened and give as accurate a location as you can to help assistance get to you as quickly as possible. The rescue services pride themselves at being able to get to you and provide assistance within a set time.
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What if I have a mechanical?
You should have some basic tools with you to fix punctures and broken chains. If you are staying with a mountain bike chalet the guide will often be able to help with mechanicals. Otherwise, you are never too far from a chairlift and will be able to make your way back to Morzine or Les Gets where there are excellent bike shops who are very good at helping to fix problems on the spot so you can get out riding again.
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What is the best kind of bike to ride in Morzine?
This depends on the kind or riding you want to do.
Downhill -
If you are going to be doing downhills we would recommend a dedicated full suspension bike. If you don?t have quite the downhill beast required the bike shops in Morzine and some of the mountain biking chalets have a few bikes for hire ? try them and you will be hooked!!
Crosscountry -
The circuits that you can do can range from a couple of hours to all day. The terrain varies from fire roads to rocky tracks and lots of ruts. To maximize your enjoyment and prevent yourself from being shaken to pieces we would recommend a full suspension bike with disc brakes.
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What is the Freeraid Classic?
The Freeraid Classic held when the chairlifts open towards the end of June is a good way to check out 76km of track in the Portes du Soleil area. The course is clearly marked and there are plenty of places to get food or technical help. There are also thousands of other mountain bikers doing their own version of the course and a trade fair with all kinds of fun bike stuff to check out. The Freeraid classic goes for two days, you can start anywhere on the course. It is not a race so you can take your time ? or go as fast as you want to! When you enter you get a number plate, map, bag, tickets for food and a two day lift pass.
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What is the weather like in Morzine in the summer?
In the summer it gets light early (about 5.30am) and dark late (about 10.30pm). The temperatures can be around 20 -30 with clear blue skies and balmy warm evenings for sitting outside having barbeques and relaxing.
Just like anywhere in the mountains the weather can change quickly and afternoon thunder and lightning storms with cold wind and rain can happen ? it pays to be prepared. Have a jacket in your bag and check the weather before you go out, the forecasts are usually pretty accurate .
Towards the end of the season (September) the days do get noticeably shorter and the weather is colder.
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What kind of helmet should I have?
For downhill you should have a full face helmet, for free riding a ligher full face helmet is a good idea and for cross country wear an undamaged approved cycle helmet. You should always wear a helmet!
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What kind of mountain biking skills would be good to have?
There are tracks for all level riders. If you are happy to ride some steep downhill sections there will be a lot more tracks for you to enjoy. Good skills to practice are going downhill with your bum back behind the seat to give yourself more control. Also practice feathering your brakes when you go downhill so that rather than grabbing a handful of brakes and holding on for dear life you release the brake levers gently in and out. If you practice a little bit of downhill riding before you come out the guide at the mountain bike chalet you stay at will probably be able to give you some more tips to help you improve your riding during your stay.
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What kind of tyres are best?
Tyres are a personal choice. However, fat tyres are an advantage in Morzine we recommend 2.1" absolute minimum for cross country. Anyone else should have a 2.35" tyre minimum.
Maxxis are very popular in Morzine, and the Super Tacky 2.5" High Rollers are definitely the business on the Downhill courses.
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What language do people speak in Morzine?
French of course! However, if your French is not great most people speak some English. If you strike someone who only speaks French try your best French out, add some sign language if you need to and you can usually make yourself understood.
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What should I do with my bike before I come out to Morzine?
Before coming out to Morzine get your bike serviced. The rough terrain in Morzine ages bikes very quickly. It would pay to get a full service on your bike, including front shocks. Get your gear cables replaced, and consider changing that worn drivechain you've been riding with since winter. If you have discs, fit new pads and bring some spares.
Be warned, some Hope brakes suffer excess heat buildup and can fail prematurely without warning out here.
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Will my hardtail bike with slicks be alright to ride in Morzine?
If you want to go road riding it will be fine but if you want to hit the tracks you will find your arms will be shaken to pieces, your hands will hurt from braking and you will get puncture after puncture. To really enjoy the off road riding in Morzine a full suspension bike with disc brakes is the best option. If you are not sure if your bike is up to it talk to the staff at the mountain biking chalet you will be staying at they may have a bike you can hire or you could hire a bike from one of the bike shops in Morzine.
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Will the altitude affect me?
Most people are fine with the altitude. Usually you will only notice it in the first couple of days on a short, sharp climb. It is always a good excuse if you are not quite as fit as you should be, when you are puffing you can blame the altitude! If you know that you don?t cope well with altitude check with your doctor whether a holiday in the Alps is a good idea for you.
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