BRING YOUR OWN BIKE
This is a guide to help the average rider bring the best equipment for the lift accessed downhill singletrack that you will be riding in Les Arc's. Most downhill/freeride set-ups from the UK will work fine. Cross country riders may want to make a few small modifications.
Most modern well maintained mountain bikes are capable of handling the mountainous terrain, however we recommend full suspension and disc brakes to help you get the most from your time away. Please have your bike especially the suspension and brakes fully serviced before you come. There is nothing worse than finding a crack or losing your brakes on day one. We recommend a few small modifications to your standard UK set-up...
Fat strong tyres and matching tubes (2.3" at least). We use Maxxis High Roller 60's. A shorter stem (65-90mm) these can be quite cheap and put you in a much better position for riding downhill singletrack. A low saddle, some bikes may need a shorter or cut down seatpost to achieve this. Larger disc rotors are also a big advantage on the long hot downhills.
We can't emphasise enough how important good brakes are in the mountains. You will use them more in one week than you would in a year at home so make sure they are powerful, reliable and that you have spare fluid, pads and bleed kits and if possible a complete spare. This might even be a good time to upgrade. We have had the most success with Hayes and Shimano although the newer Hope's seem much better than they used to be.
You should bring as many spares as possible. The main things that get used are:
- Brake pads/Discs
- Tubes
- Cables
- Rear mech hangers
- If you have any unusual or specific parts please try to bring spares.
We have a fully kitted out workshop and all our guides carry tools but still bring all the stuff you would normally take on a ride; Allen keys, Pump etc.
The mountains and terrain demand a certain amount of respect so we recommend the use of full face helmets on every ride. Arm and leg pads are also recommended. These can be rented in resort see Bike and Equipment Hire. You will also need to carry a wind/waterproof jacket in case of bad weather, otherwise shorts and t-shirts or normal cycling kit will be fine.
If you are flying it is very important to spend some time packing your bike very carefully. You should try to pack it and protect it in such a way so that if it is dropped from any angle the bike will be protected. Some tips are:
If possible leave the rear wheel in the frame, this will help the rear end from getting squashed together. If you have to remove it such as in a bike bag try to refit the quick release with a tube mounted inbetween the dropouts. Remove the rear mech and hanger and tape them somewhere inside the frame or back wheel. Remove your bar and stem and seat post and attach them somewhere to the frame. Turn your forks backwards and fit some kind of fake axle between the dropouts. Remove your pedals. Attach the front wheel along side the main frame removing any quick releases. Then pad everything you can with bubble wrap or pipe lagging. The maximum weight for a bike in a box is 32kg so check before you get to the airport or you could be unpacking there and then trying to get the weight down.