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Post by Richard on Jun 25, 2015 7:53:52 GMT
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Post by Richard on Jun 26, 2015 8:43:51 GMT
Seven sleeps and a wake up Elliot knows it makes sense Whilst Stevo noses it makes sense
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Post by Fishybob666 on Jun 26, 2015 10:07:30 GMT
Heatwave coming next week with temps up to 40C in Rhone-Alpes!!! let's hope it lasts for an extra week...
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terry
FreeRider
Posts: 1,212
Faster on: his latest bike
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Post by terry on Jun 27, 2015 8:31:58 GMT
20c dry with some sunshine would be great, after last year just dry would be a bonus!
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Post by Richard on Jul 1, 2015 13:33:11 GMT
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Post by Richard on Jul 2, 2015 20:16:24 GMT
one more sleep and a long drive (with possible French industrial action) before we see this view from our bedroom windows
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Post by Richard on Jul 2, 2015 21:53:56 GMT
the YT Capra's hit Morzine, I've a feeling this will be exactly like me and Terry riding
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Post by Richard on Jul 3, 2015 7:26:51 GMT
well, well, well. The day has finally dawned and me, El Tel and Fishy will be setting off for Morzine providing those pesky French mother-dockers don't stop us.
I've still got to pack but the new bike is ready, new full face lid and goggles have arrived although I'm still waiting for Superstar to deliver the spare brake pads.
The car needs a brush up which i will do later but I've got the aircon man coming around later this morning cos the aircon seems to have gone on the blink...
Passport and Euros in my pocket and other than that we are away and driving, driving, driving...
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Post by wobem on Jul 3, 2015 10:47:40 GMT
Have a good one lads. Lock those bikes up well . Good luck with the tunnel chaos. The weather is looking better than last year at least.
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Post by Richard on Jul 3, 2015 10:53:20 GMT
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Post by Richard on Jul 3, 2015 22:48:58 GMT
Well we made it past the HGV's but migrants on the tracks at Calais meant that we were delayed for an hour but we've finally touched down on French soil. Just a f+ck off long drive to go now. www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-33393593
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Post by Richard on Jul 4, 2015 5:45:59 GMT
Deep in France now with less than 200 miles to go. Been sharing the driving and all managed to catch some zzzzz's (but not at the same time). Its 7-45 local time and already 23 degrees cee ( batbling - that means its hot not cold)
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Post by Richard on Jul 4, 2015 18:42:56 GMT
Circa 31 degrees today and we were melting as we drank beer and dozed in the bar as we watched the world cup DH in Switzerland this arvo with Leon and Amy who just happens to be Greg Minaar's mechanic's wife! Apparently Greg was out here last week riding the trails and getting hammered every night. Who says we aint well connected
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Post by mrzr2005 on Jul 5, 2015 7:49:13 GMT
Circa 31 degrees today and we were melting as we drank beer and dozed in the bar as we watched the world cup DH in Switzerland this arvo with Leon and Amy who just happens to be Greg Minaar's mechanic's wife! Apparently Greg was out here last week riding the trails and getting hammered every night. Who says we aint well connected We are all looking forward to seeing your silly picture with her!
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Post by Richard on Jul 5, 2015 20:51:50 GMT
We are all looking forward to seeing your silly picture with her! She asked me to keep it just between the two of us
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Post by Richard on Jul 6, 2015 15:16:37 GMT
Another great ride today, over into Switzerland for the 'Swiss National baby'. Now in the bar in Morzine drinking beer with Hannah Barnes, Matt Simmonds and Sam Dale (well they are in the same bar, I'm not sure they know we exist). Also speaking to some other guy who reminds me of a Scottish davebus (don't ask why he's here on his own). Weather is scorchio, mid 30's for second day running and sweating like a Radio 1 DJ at a children's xmas party...
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Post by Richard on Jul 6, 2015 17:40:15 GMT
Sunday ride report
We overslept yesterday and missed the supermarket opening hours so this morning saw an early start, shopping in the Carrefour and a breakfast of Croissants before we roll up to super Morzine lift for 9-30 to met Leon.
He's not there so after buying our passes we head up super Morzine then up the second lift at the top and play on the blue trials to get ourselves warmed up for the week.
A FEW PRACTICE RUNS ON THERE AND Leon turned up in the lift queue and we head over to Les lindarets. We've just overtaken a woman out walking a small dog on the cross country path to lindarets when Terry manages to cross up his bars and he's over the bars with the rear wheel six feet off the ground.
Fortunately I was following him and managed to record the whole lot. Wait, no hold on, fortunate Terry was okay and after brushing himself down we head down to lindarets and cover some of the trails over there. A number of blue trails, it's our first day don't forget then lunch
After complaining of the small portions of pulled pork and getting a discount we head up to tackle the red run. Its a bit more technical and lots of loose rock and it's my turn to take a tumble. This time we've got it on two cams, mine and Laurent who is following. But it's only a small one and we crack on.
More riding, more trails and suddenly it's getting close to 4pm so we head back to Morzine
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Post by Richard on Jul 6, 2015 17:51:39 GMT
It's not about the bike as an infamous American once said. Well Lance, I know what you mean but you obviously weren't trying to ride my SX trail around for the last few years. The YT Capra is so much better at handling these trails. The Rockshox Pikes up front soak up all the bumps giving a much better ride and the monarch shock in the rear allows me to pop the bike off small boosters and I'm even getting smallish air over the doubles that abound on these trails. And what's better is that I'm enjoying my riding again, it's much more,fun and doesn't feel like I'm flogging a dead horse I'm sorry SX Trail, you're like an old girlfriend. I loved you once but you've become old and tired and I'm now infatuated with a new younger model, sorry 'bout that. More trails today as we head up super Morzine again and throw ourselves down the mountain about five times until Leon finishes his work conference calls and joins us. A quick lunch in Les lindarets ( we try another place this time, le VTT special for just 12 euros is very good) before riding over to Switzeralnd for. The Swiss national course. This is super quick and great fun as we descend from over 2000 metres down to the valley. Up the other side and there's more trails which we ride unti we can ride no more and head back to Morzine for a few cheeky sherberts in the new cool bar in town. All the downhill dudes are hanging here (and U.S. Too!) and we chat to a lonely looking bloke from Glasgow. After the third time of asking why he's here on his own (Laurent, Leon and then Terry ) we decide to. Leave him in his newly found single status and head back to base to wash all the dust, yes dust off the bikes. Oh and it wouldn't be a proper Alps trip without Fishybob666 breaking some spokes as he discover three blown spokes on his rear wheel and a load of Stans juice blown all over the back of his bike
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Post by Richard on Jul 9, 2015 17:08:14 GMT
Tuesday, day three of riding and it's another face melter of a day. Mid 30s which is very hot when you have three layers on and a full face lid with goggles and are exercising too (base layer, body armour and cycling top if you are counting). D Leon is at home with his parents and hopefully a tubeless kit for his rear tyre which we fixed three times over the last two days. so we find our own way across to les gets to sample the bike park and its dusty and rutted as hell. But it's still great fun and we hoon around here for a few hours playing on the doubles and enjoying the DH runs. The heat is really taking its toll. It was difficult to sleep last night and I'm sweating buckets. Even though I'm drinking plenty and using rehydration tablets to replace the salts I'm losing my mouth is feeling so dry with a combination of the altitude and the heat making it sEem like hard work. But the riding is still great and we cover plenty of mileage. It wouldn't be the Alps if Fishybob666 didn't break a spoke or three and he doesn't t disappoint as he blasts down those trails. I tell you, he's got very quick on this holiday and is hitting all the jumps in sight. Maybe he will even be allowed out on a gnarlsters ride when he gets home. The evening is spent repairing his spokes, replacing the rear tyre and getting ready for the next day.
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Post by Richard on Jul 9, 2015 17:20:51 GMT
Wednesday and it's day four of riding.
We choose. A selection of the best trails. We have ridden so far around Morzine Pleney side and back across to les gets, even hitting up the black run on the far side of les gets.
The weather has changed finally. A few drops of rain last night, and I do mean just drops, nothing else and there is plenty of cloud cover today meaning the temp has dropped by over ten degrees and it's much more comfortable to ride.
We even gopro' da game of boules, it was that exciting. The Capra is giving me so much confidence and I'm hitting doubles with confidence and even occasionally getting some air! It doesn't happen very often for me so it's a noteworthy happening. All too soon it falls apart and we are flying down a red run off the front of Pleney and I take a tumble. It's only a small one and caused more by the bone dry and dusty conditions but it knocks my confidence for a while.
Terry heads back early as his wrists are giving him gip and fishy and I hit the blue run another three times as we are really enjoying this route.
Back to the chalet after another big day.
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Post by Richard on Jul 9, 2015 17:24:44 GMT
Thursday, riding day five and we take all three go pros and various. Punts out to capture some trail side action. The weather is beautiful today, dry and sunny but with a nice cooling breeze which keeps the temp down to about 19 degrees. Very enjoyable.
Over to les lindarets for some more trail fun and an early lunch and then over to chatel to sample the trails here. Green, blue, red and black trails are covered and they are all cracking good fun.
Some jumping action ensues and plenty of footage is captured and will be shared later.
Another broken spoke for fishy. He's outside now fixing it.
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Post by robmanns2007 on Jul 9, 2015 22:06:38 GMT
I think he should invest in a hand made decent set of wheels !
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Post by Fishybob666 on Jul 10, 2015 7:05:40 GMT
I think he should invest in a hand made decent set of wheels ! I think he should always be addressed to in the third person
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Post by Fishybob666 on Jul 10, 2015 20:39:52 GMT
I hear he broke one more spoke today, bringing the total to 4 for the week, not bad really.
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Post by robmanns2007 on Jul 10, 2015 21:04:04 GMT
Sorry Laurent !
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Post by robmanns2007 on Jul 10, 2015 21:04:18 GMT
Sorry Laurent !
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Post by Fishybob666 on Jul 12, 2015 10:54:38 GMT
Thanks guys for a fantastic week, definitely the best riding ever, still buzzing. Now let's get through 5h+ of Gopro footage and cut it down to 5mn
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Post by wobem on Jul 12, 2015 15:45:22 GMT
Now let's get through 5h+ of Gopro footage and cut it down to 5mn But please don't let Muddy choose the music Nice one lads, glad to see you all made it back in one piece along with your new bikes, your gnar skills should have stepped up to whole new levels and we will should see you smashing it on G'ster rides soon I hope. Looking forward to the ride summery and photos.
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Post by Richard on Jul 12, 2015 17:09:13 GMT
But please don't let Muddy choose the music Oi oi! My musical taste is perfect
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terry
FreeRider
Posts: 1,212
Faster on: his latest bike
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Post by terry on Jul 12, 2015 17:24:34 GMT
Just one little injury El Tel comes back with 7 stitches in his arm thanks to a nasty little rock after a screwed up drop...... So he took the Friday off.... Be back on the bike Tuesday... But a great week, lots of riding and even a little air. Great company a few beers each night and great food from the French maestro! Thanks to Richard and Laurent for organising.
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