Post by Mary on December 5, 2021
The snow is falling heavily here in the Alps and we’ve made the switch from trail bikes to fat bikes. I was out earlier this week on a very snowy valley floor ride to Lac Verney. It was great to feel the crunch of snow beneath my tyres again. As the end of the year approaches it’s a good time to reflect on the year that has passed and look ahead to what’s in store for Ride the Alps 2022.
Both Jamie and I are most looking forward to a full season of guided trips in 2022 – with guests! Our last full season in 2019 seems like such a long time ago now.
Apart from that I am excited to put together a short point-to-point tour in and around the Aosta valley. Jamie and I had a couple of trips to Aosta this year and already have a good idea of the shape of the trip. We’ll need to head back early season to pull it together properly. Over the years I’ve had many requests for long weekend point-to-point trips. I’m hoping this will be the trip to fill that gap in our repertoire. It will also provide us with an early or late season point-to-point trip. The warmer, dryer climate on the Italian side of Mont Blanc means that the Aosta cols can be clear of snow by June.
I’d also like to explore more of the trails around Moosalp in the Swiss Valais with the kids. There is so much fantastic singletrack there with some of the best scenery in the Alps. Really fun, flowing trails with hardly a tyre track on them.
Jamie is super-keen to complete the second part of his Chamonix to Nice ride. Chamonix to Briancon is now one of our established point-to-point trips. The ride from Briancon to Nice is the next instalment. Jamie has spent many hours poring over the maps and has a route planned out. He’ll be heading off early season next year to do a first recce. This will enable us to offer our guests a truly long distance Trans Alp bike route. The two parts can be ridden separately or together as one epic 10 day adventure.
Jamie and I have been discussing the idea of Epic Enduro riding camps down in Olargues in the Hérault region of Southern France. Jamie absolutely loves the riding down there. It’s dry, rocky technical riding and there’s a huge trail network to explore. Jamie has ridden the Epic Enduro race 3 times now and he still wants to go back for more. Because the climate is drier and warmer than in the Alps, early and late season trips would be a possibility. We’ll keep you posted!
I know that travel restrictions between non-EU countries and France have toughened-up again this winter. It is still possible to travel so if you’re looking for a winter adventure our fat bikes have been serviced by Jamie and are ready and waiting to be put through their paces in the snow.
I’m sure that when the warmer weather comes the restrictions will be lifted once again so please don’t be put off booking you summer adventures. We’ve all done way too much postponing over the past 2 years! It’s time to get back to adventuring. We have the following weeks available for Ride the Alps 2022:
Between 30th May – 25th June – suitable for centre-based trips (Alpine Singletrack and Alpine Enduro) and Aosta Explorer (not yet on our website) in June
10th-17th July – suitable for centre-based trips and any point-to-point trip
24th-31st July – suitable for centre-based trips and any point-to-point trip
27th August – 3rd September – suitable for centre-based trips and any point-to-point trip
Between 21st-30th September – suitable for centre-based trips, the Eiger Tour point-to-point and possibly Aosta Exlporer
We also have places available on a Chamonix to Zermatt trip running from 4th-12th August with van support. Single riders welcome.
Please do get in touch if you are interested in riding with us during any of these dates. We would love to see you out here for Ride the Alps 2022.
