All your bike holliday needs in Morzine & Les Gets

Since the development of mountain biking in the 1970‘s the term has grown and now includes many styles of riding, each with its own uniqueness. The variety of terrain that is characteristic to the area surrounding Morzine ensures riders of all styles a wide range of trails to enjoy.

For those of us who are not familiar with the different styles of mountain biking, here is a short description of two of the main styles. The next Blog will bring a description of a two more:

Cross- Country (XC) is the most common form of mountain biking, and the standard for most riders. It generally means riding point-to-point or in a loop including climbs and descents on a variety of terrain. A typical XC bike weighs 22-28lbs, and has 0-4 inches of suspension travel front and rear. There are many trails fit for XC riding in the vicinity of Morzine, such as the trails surrounding Les Gets and Champery. See more info about mountain biking in Les Gets.

Downhill is, in the most general sense, riding a mountain bike downhill. While cross country riding inevitably has a downhill component, Downhill (or DH for short) usually refers to racing-oriented downhill riding. Morzine is known worldwide for its Challenging and enjoyable trails descending from the heights of the French Alps. Downhill-specific bikes are universally equipped with front and rear suspension, large brakes, and use heavier frame tubing than other mountain bikes. Downhill bikes are not meant to be pedaled up hill, therefore downhill riders and racers frequently employ trucks or ski lifts to be shuttled to the top of the hill. The lifts in Morzine operate from late June to the beginning of September. Downhill courses are one of the most physically demanding and dangerous venues for mountain biking. Downhill bikes typically weigh 40-50 lbs. Downhill frames get anywhere from 7 to 10 inches of travel and are usually mounted with an 8 inch travel dual-crown fork.

Find out more about mountain bike holidays in Alps.