{"id":19465,"date":"2024-10-09T11:47:22","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T09:47:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=19465"},"modified":"2025-01-15T10:56:55","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T09:56:55","slug":"downhilling-around-bourg-saint-maurice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/frankrijk\/downhillen-rondom-bourg-saint-maurice","title":{"rendered":"Downhilling around Bourg Saint Maurice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone. Robbert spent two weeks in Bourg Saint Maurice<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Train up <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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<\/em> 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 \u20ac79. As it is Saturday, a day pass for the chairlift costs only \u20ac18. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Bourg
Cruising down the mountain on this MTB<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

'Have you cycled before?'<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fear as a bad counsellor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Again: Often too scared<\/em>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More frequent enjoyment in mountain sports paradise Bourg Saint Maurice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

read also: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n