Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone. Robbert spent two weeks in Bourg Saint Maurice and you can't go racing every day. Right? He takes a slightly different approach, with a day of mountain biking. What's more, downhill himself. Those are some great tips for a long holiday in this alpine paradise.
Train up
When we go to Les Arcs for the day and take the funicular up the mountain, the little train is again full of mountain bikers. All wear bodyprotection and hang a fullface helmet on the handlebars. As we go up in a chairlift, I see the same mountain bikers downhilling below me. That seems like something I'd like too. I decide to just do it! In Les Arcs, I hire a Scott mountain bike and the protective clothing to go with it. I also buy a day pass for the chairlifts. The cost of a mountain bike (including helmet and protective clothing) costs me €79. As it is Saturday, a day pass for the chairlift costs only €18.
'Have you cycled before?'
The bike hire guy asks if I have cycled before. I reply that I mountain bike regularly in the Netherlands, but that downhilling is unknown to me. The advice: avoid the black route, green is for children, red and blue are suitable. I cycle to the first chairlift and hang my bike in the stirrups. At the top, I initially take the wide gravel paths down. I just stick to the Les Arcs signs and get to know the bike and downhilling a bit. With a big grin and full of adrenaline, I reach the bottom. During the second run, I pass a blue sign saying 'downhill legend'. Whether I'm already a legend I doubt, but it's a blue colour, so I should be able to do that.
Fear as a bad counsellor
Again: Often too scared. The trail down is a lovely flow trail. Saddle down and go. Bowl bend after bowl bend, small jumping hills and non-stop standing on the pedals. Halfway down, I have to stop to catch my breath and let my soured calves relax for a while. What a kick this is. As I enjoy the view for a moment, I am passed by a father and his 10-year-old son. They are clearly adept at downhilling, because the son also has a pace that I have great respect for.<br>All in all, I make the trip up by chairlift about 5 times and each time I come down with a big grin. What a cool experience.
More frequent enjoyment in mountain sports paradise Bourg Saint Maurice
I spent two weeks in Bourg Saint Maurice with my wife and daughter. If you love mountains, this really is the ultimate place. I made 4 bike rides there on my road bike and 3 walks in the mountains. I also rented electric mountain bikes for a day to head out through the Tarentaise Valley with my wife and daughter. The e-mtb climb to Cote d'Aime was quite manageable for them. Especially the wide smile on our daughter's face after descending was priceless. And the downhilling? I definitely want to do that again
read also:
- Cycling around Bourg Saint Maurice - Cormet de Roselend - Rosier - Petit Saint Bernard
- Why you should go cycling from Bourg Saint Maurice - Part 1
- The 5 most beautiful climbs from La Plagne
