Alps trip - stuff to take and tyres to fit

I'd PM Mediocre or Timbo - they seem regular MTB wanderers.

I'm of no use other than that, unless you want to know what to take for a trip to Cannock 

Big balls ..and a spare set in case you bust them ..

And some KY

id get dh casing tyres or go tubeless. i ran tripple compound kendas one year and tubeless minnions the second. spares are expensive but you can get crc deliveries in 2 days if something expensive. loads of bike shops and mms at the bottom of a few lifts with mobile mechanics vans if they are still there. get a spare set of brake pads for the pds as youll burn through a set easy id guess. make sure your bike mechanically sound and all bolts tight and torqued. take out basic tools and alan keys. need ff helmet and pads. some kids ride in t shirts and look good untill they crash and get fooked up. body armour and knee/shin pads id sugest. everything can be hired but buy used on pink then re sell when back alot cheaper. me and my lad top of les gets red run


www.pinkbike.com/photo/10093519/

Cheers for that - very useful. We're doing the Passportes Du Soleil in June - the Friday and Sunday rides. Was planning on some beefier tyres but wasn't sure what to get as I'm not that sure what the terrain will be like. I'm running some pretty thin WTBs tubeless at the moment, so will definitely swap them. I guess as long as it's a downhill tyres with a thick sidewall should be OK?

flatoutcycles.co.uk/maxxis-high-roller-26x2-35-supertacky-downhill-mtb-tyre-43426

flatoutcycles.co.uk/maxxis-high-roller-26x2-35-supertacky-downhill-mtb-tyre-43425



en.passportesdusoleil.com/



last year

funnily enough as i posted them i wondered lol. so many sizes now tbh.

bottom of super morzine lifts after a day on the blacks. sweet.

Cool, so tyres will be ordered shortly (once I decide between Magic Mary & Maxxis Minion DH). Mech hanger ordered from Whtye. Various other bits & bobs will be on their way from CRC.

Now, far more importantly than all the above, what the heck shall I wear?!?!? Don't worry, I've not just turned into my 15 year old daughter, but seriously what is the weather likely to be? Wrap up warm or t-shirts? Average looks to be about 18-21 degrees, which is lovely. That about right?

Sorry for asking, but I don't have the will to read all 821 pages of the PinkBike thread

if you live any where near stoke on trent buddy i can lend you some gear to save buying if that helps. got everything dh youd need. give me a shout if any good.

Tims top travelling tips:

Cardboard bike box, they're about 2-3kg lighter than most bike bags and you can stick them upright on an airport trolley, which means you can fit through the security bollards in and around the airport, you'll fit through the flappy doors on departure and you wont bulldoze through crowds of rabiis and angry euro totty. They're also stronger against crushing, free and if you wrap them in cling film, waterproof.

Doesnt matter how fit you are, long before the rest of your body fails, your hands will end your holiday if you dont look after them. Get decent gloves and comfy grips, personally id strongly recommend you tape up around your palms with cheap (cheaper is generally thinner and more compliant) duck tape, itll prevent blisters and it makes you feel like a badass brawler. Youll need duck tape for your bike box too.

DH tubes justtake priority over DH tyres, getting constant punctures isnt fun, having grip is, but bear in mind the rear will be dead by the end of the week.

Spokes, a few spares, especially if you have weird pull spokes or anything like that.

Thread lock, for when all your pivots rattle loose, or if you're prepared do them all before you go.

Sintered brake pads x3 sets, just in case its wet.

Check those frame/wheel/headset bearings, you wont get a sealed bearing at the top of a mountain or in decathalon... even if you do itll rob you of half a days riding while you try and work out the french for it.

A chain device if you arent already running one, ive been on a trail riding holiday where my clutch mech died, chain spent most of its time dragging along the floor or wrapping its self around other stuff, that was crap and ill not take that risk again for the sake of £25 ish off superstar.

It rains in the alps, a lot and heavily, make sure you have plenty of spare clothes and all weather gear.

Guides are awesome and worth their cost.


Thats about all that springs to mind.....?

Save the gloves for the evening entertainment i reckon.

Duck tape basically acts as another layer of skin, yeah. Itll slip over the fabric of your glove so you can move around on the grip, i think using sticky gloves like that would do the opposite and end up being abrasive on your palm? Also sweaty as hell, which will make your skin softer.

Its the bit of palm between you forefinger and thumb you need to protect the most, a good full loop of tape across the palm and over the back of your hand should work, it feels awkward at first, but after a while it softens to the point it moulds to all the little wrinkles and folds of your hand.


Also worth pointing out airlines are bastards and the french arent much better. Read the small print, find out what the weight limit for each of your bags/bike is, read it again, print it off in full and take it to the airport, be the first at check in. Aim to pack your bag to within about 2kg of the limit, take everything you can because itll cost a fortune from the shops there, if you have to order stuff in from crc its either a day off riding (whatever the value of that is, £150-200 per day id guess?) or you rent out a knackered old vario/kona which will probably cost you more than that.

last time i flew to geneva they wouldnt let you have any fluids in with your bike, so no chain lube or anything in there, thatll want to be in your hold luggage, or you'll be made to unpack and bin it.