Morzine Biking

Been out in Morzine the lost week biking with my friend Andy. Staying at the Riders Retreat in the center of Morzine. On the first night meet Fione by random, who I know form the UK Gravity Enduro. On the first day out there we where doing to Passport du Soleil. Which was going to be a nice 70km for a warn up for the start of the trip. It was a great was to work out the way around all the different lift and how to get over to Switzerland. On the way got to meet Mandil how was over from Napal and ran mountain biking holidays out there for Himalayan Rides. 

Looking like a good day

A happy andy on the first lift

Great views off the lifts

Over the top

Time to stop for the view

Something not sound right

Bike still working

So we made it through the first day without any mangersly going wrong. Just the odd noise coming  from bits. Head out with Steve, Adi, Adele and Mandil how oral staying in Riders Retreat with us too. We head over to Morgins in Switzerland. Getting over there was great adventure having to ride through snow and some great views off the tops. Getting to Morgins had a head down the blue and like more of ride on a Hardteil was a bit of work but great fun had. Sadly Andy managed to brake his forks on his last run before heading back. Which meant he was riding with a pogo stick. That afternoon spent finding someone to fix them.

A bit on snow

Onwards 

Adi enjoying the snow

Great views

Fixing flat 3 of the trip © Adele Woodbridge

In the end we got up early the next day and drop them off with someone to work some magic. So with Andy without a bike I did the best this and I head out to Les Gets by myself. To get a play before everyone else come over in the afternoon. Some how the forks where fixed with a bike puncture repair kit ( so for of magic I think) and where working ok.

Mandil leading the way

Into the woods we go

 After three days of sunshine the weather was on the change. But out we went anyway heading over to Châtel Bike Park hoping it would hold off for the day. Getting to there it was a bit wet but ok. We had a bit of a mud fast to get down to the bike park. When there I had a big crash for the trip. Which end up upside down in a hole fun time. After some more runs the the rain ended come so we called it a day and head back. For the joys of a hot tubs.

Muddy times

Crash time

Into the cloud

Sadly it did not stop raining till the morning so a muddy riding day it was going to be like. So to save going far we head up Super Morzine lift into the mud fast that it was. Even with all the mud it was a great day sliding and falling everywhere. I doing thing there was one bit of me that did not have mud on by the end of the day.

Mud slid

Andy show how its done

The deeps pond

Trying to ride the pond

Looking Clean

The trip had to come to an end but at less the sun had come out for it. We planned to head over to Champéry on the way there one of the life where not running so we changed plans to head back Les Gets to meet up with everyone else for a fun ride there. Heading had a blast on the runs that we enjoy for week. Getting to Les Gets meet up with everyone and had a great time blasting down the main run there.

Andy favorite moment 

Having a play on a 5

© Adele Woodbridge 

Happy team © Adele Woodbridge

So in the end had a great week of biking with so cool people. Now back to the smaller hills of Scotland for biking for a bit.  Thow I think I might have to move into the big boy world of a full sus but we will work on that.

Blog up date

Its been some time seen up dating this. Been a made time with uni finishing for the summer, climbing, biking and even a bit of real world work.

Before all that madness started had a great trip to France with UHI Mountaineering Club. A week on none stop banter and climbing now and then. Nice to be able to enjoy sunny climbing weather. We mangered to climb all but for one day. Thanx Sally Hudson for some of the photo.

Great craging in the sun

Sam enjoying the sun

What to do on a wet day in France.  © Sally Hudson

Le tube neural the best route of the trip for me. 

The Team. © Sally Hudson

Next up after that was time to work on reports for uni so not to much got done outside. Got the odd evening out to Heather Hat with Rach and on the bike up to Nevis Range/Cow Hill. The summer start with uni all finished. The first summer fun was a over night ride at Laggen Wolftrax. Head out after work for a couple of laps of the Upper Red and Lower Red. Then a fun ride down the Orange. The a night in the 5* van accommodation with a morning ride before Rach had to be at work.

Rach enjoying the even sun 

A worn out whippet

Last Run for the evening

The next this to do was to get out climbing. Head out with Ewan to Sheepfall Wall in Polldubh Crags. A bit of a mad days as we walked in with the sun out looking like it could be to hat. Too end climbing in a mix of passing shower and gusts of wind. We got on with it anyway as it Scotland after all. There was some great climbing there. Ewan getting on Gambit** a nice climb is a bit green in place, then getting on Sheep Fank Direct*, Sheep Fank Wall* and Bardhinaghi**. With me getting on the other star route of the crag Tonis* , Pay No Poll Tax* (did like the name of this climb) and Haul*. All great climbing if feeling a bit wild in bits like.

Gambit S**

Tonis HVS 5a*

Sheep Fand Direct HS*

Sadly back the real word for a work at UK Gravity Enduro for The Billy Can. A mad week with great weather in Hamsterley. That then lead on to a week of biking with meet Andy starting off going to Hamsterley to do the Red and Black routs. Great fun with not to big climbs and the downs where wall wherth it.

At the top

The we head on to Dalby Forest. Wicht we where not so happy with a lot off pedalling for not much downhill fun. So on to the Peaks District to Glossop. The best day of the trip. Was meant to be of a epci day but my knee was giving me pain so we cut it down. End up doing along the Pennine Way for some fantastic technical ride.

The Climb

Lunch spot

The Way we came

Just about at the end

Not good

Getting back to the Fort. Head out to High Crag with Ewan to do Autobahnasfahrt. The longst route in Polldubh. Great day for it nice a sunning loving summer cragging. Great climbing and toping out with a great view up and down the Glen

Enjoying the view

Been getting out on the bike for a trip out to Morzine going up the Glen with Rach. Then time for the Downhill World Cup. A great weekend and even great weekend for it seeing friend form Aberdeen.

Mad Riding

Sadly that seed like the end of the good weather but me and Ewan feel like trying Centurion on Carn Dearg Buttress. One of the best routes I have done on the Ben. Shame that it started rain a bit on the top pitch but still made it a great like.

Second pitch

Steeping out

Wet top pitch

Happy at the top

Had a GoPro on so made a short edit of it.

Climbing on the Ben from Mark Chambers on Vimeo.

The last day be for heading off for UKCC Level 1 Couch me and Rach head down to Kinlochleven. A good ride a bike of a long ride but with so great climbing and view. Just on of them ride I had a big smile on me face the hole way.

Getting to the top now

Time for down

Black water dam