Alps 2010

rainbows and blue sky

We were all looking forward to a dry and dusty weeks in the Alps…it may not have worked out quite like that but in true Cakeriders’ style we managed to ride in the mud, break bikes, have stupid falls and eat nowhere near enough cake. We did manage to have fun doing all of these things though!

flick(ish)

The signs about the weather were there from the first day in Morzine with the folk driving finding they were in the car for hours in the pouring rain. The phrase “this would be nice in the dry” would be used for the first of many times during the week.

Sunday morning (well just, although wasn’t exactly crack of dawn as we woke up to continuing heavy rain!) meant meeting our guide for the week – Lionel (like Messi not Blair) from Synergie VTT.

Thankfully as we got off the lift there was a glimmer of sunshine and Lionel grinned and welcomed us to “his office” before encouraging us through a series of silly games designed to show off our bike skillz… Some better than others – and some a lot more willing to show off!! Rest of the first day was spent riding some of the trails around Les Gets including the bottom of the 4x track that was fun despite the breaking bumps.

Monday was a different kettle of fish entirely with driving rain near freezing temperatures and closed chairlifts. A hardy group of 5 (surprisingly including Cathy who usually looks for any excuse to stay inside in the dry and warm) made it out in the morning, all clad in full face helmets just to keep warm and a bit drier!! A morning of splashing through (and for two of us face first into) puddles ensued.

The only slightly worrying element being the risk of losing the rest of the group in the mist ahead – a good reason to keep hands off the brakes as encouraged by Lionel, who seemed to be revelling in the frankly Scottish conditions! Unsurprisingly we only made it until lunchtime before calling it a day. This short day of riding and lack of evening meal resulted in alcohol being consumed early on leading to a late night at the Dixie Bar and some poor games of darts and pool – Rich thinking he was skilled enough to play both at once. The night was ended with rumours of sickness but it would be impolite to comment on this – just a good job we’d found the hose for the next morning.

pre-ride lunch

Slow start on Tuesday morning and took us an age to get going. Special note must be given to El though, who ventured up (up – by pedalling – surely missing the point??) mountains and into Switzerland, meeting only German men for company and directions home. Most of the rest of us managed to get the lift and stop for lunch before considering riding down anything – what holidays are all about!!

An easy day for everyone bar El on Tuesday as Wednesday was the “big one” riding the majority of the Portes du Soleil, which involved many chairlifts, goat village and maybe a crash or two.

Top day out, though not sure why nobody wanted to use the jump in to inflatable mattress landing… Was amazing dropping over 1000m vertical height barely having to pedal at all (except to go that little bit faster!!) – definitely the biggest difference between the Alps and anything over here – could get used to it if nerves and arm muscles could stand it!

charles and charles on subtle top day

Memory gone a bit hazy now but think this was the first consumption of mutzig of the week. That may be the affects of said beverage…. Anyhow, if it was, it then meant a couple of hours of everyone in excitable mood followed by crashing out early.

Thursday saw us split in to 2 groups with those going out in the morning being shown some off-piste riding by Lionel. This included the canyon, captain drop and some rather slippery shore – once uploaded check out the video. This was also the shocking riding-top competition – joint winners shown. An afternoon followed riding the red and blue runs from Les Gets in almost dry conditions, before repairing back to Bar Robinson for more Mutzig – interesting replacement for the more traditional post-ride cake!

Hopes were high for a dry last day. The first hour of riding was indeed dry and tracks we had ridden before started to feel a little different and less claggy. This lasted about 2 hours before the rain started again and turned the top layer to slime. A few of us battled on (once we had found Poddy again newly returned with his second lift-pass of the week) for a few hours in the afternoon riding a couple of “interesting” steep rooty trails from the Super Morzine.

lionel and his non-whistling frame decoration

Bikes packed up, perhaps less perfectly than on the way out, we all repaired back to town for some traditional Alpine sustenance in the form of raclette and fondue, followed by some pretty interesting desserts, which while not actually cake did at least go some way to redeeming us as “cakeriders”!!

All in all an excellent first cakeriders jaunt to the Alps and definitely planning another trip.

Big thanks must got to Lionel for top guiding and keeping spirits high in not the best riding conditions – c’était une semaine fantastique, en dépit du temps!

Finally, it did lift the spirits to wake up on the morning of departure to warm temps and not a cloud in the sky. There is no way we would have wanted that all week!! Thanks to Fabrice from Morzine Ski Chalets for reminding us to book the “sunshine package” next time, if only that had been in the brochure.

** Unfotunately Poddy is yet to provide us with a photograph of Monsieur Maurice the Marmot, in the meantime take a look at the photos below of the whole week. There will be a video to follow once all the footage of people riding slowly over roots, jumps, puddles and a bit of woodwork has been edited. Worth it for a certain northshore crash-watch this space!!