I currently ride with a group of Swiss guys but it would be cool if anyone else would like to come along.
I'll probably start with a few trips to the Gurten near Bern or Filtzbach, usually trails that are easy to go for the day and not to hardcore. All are welcome to come along regardless of ability.
Reply to the thread and we could maybe look at arranging something in the next couple of weeks.
Cheers,
Matt.
Was in Flims yesterday for the first time. Some great riding around there.
i'll be starting in Les Crosets on Saturday and doing a DH tour of PDS.
Like Eire I've also been to Filzbach, but I'd prefer some longer runs like you get at Lenzerheide or Films etc.
Although I have only an enduro-type hardtail, I can manage most types of downhill trail, although after a while the vibrations do get to me and I need a break!!
I think the location would need to be able to cope with a mix of skill levels though and the trails not so hardcore that you need 200mm of travel and geometry more relaxed then a hammock to ride it.
Finally something about Downhill/Free Ride and it is nice to hear it.
I've never been in Bern Region to ride, but Graubünden and Tessin (Monte Tammaro-Monte Generoso) are for me the best place you can find in CH.
Of course you have Avoriaz (F) (Portes du Soleil). They usually organised, every year in June (last week-end), a special Week-end Pass...so great!
If you interested, you can also participate to the Bicke Attack in Lenzerheide (August) and check on the website the tracks.
Hope to hear from you soon, Elizabeth
UB40 - sure we can figure something out - nothing planned as of yet but sure there will be enough riders out there... don't worry about being a beginner - i really only started this season
The Commencal meta 5.5 will be a perfect bike for days out in the Alps.
well, i don't want to ruin the day but to be honest with you i wasn't that impressed. as you (i think it was you) mentioned before, it is quite expensive - if i remember rightly a 10 journey ticket was 40 euros which i suppose is do-able depending on how many runs you will be doing in a day. saying that, the saleve (by Geneva) is the same price, but i think you get a longer run for your money.
The runs i felt were quite short at Todtnau. there were some technical sections that were fun (i like roots for some reason) and to be honest, the runs are a lot of fun, but there are only 2 runs.
i went on a sunday so maybe it was just bad timing. it was quite near the beginning of the season for me, and i think now i would prefer to go somewhere a bit bigger with more choice and less people! there is a kind of "toboggan run" as well there were a lot of people waiting for the lift.
there were not too many dhers which was good, however a few of the dhers there did tend to burn down the runs as fast as possible mowing down any other biker who had the misfortune to be in the way.
to be honest, i had a good day out. if i would recommend it again? well, if it's close, then definitely. if you are going with a group - some who don't want to ride (but want to do the toboggan instead), some who are beginners, some who are more advanced - then i think it's the perfect place. there is a restaurant, you can walk, you can ride, you can toboggan. it's family friendly and to be honest a lot of fun for a day out. but if you want to go riding (just riding), then i would suggest elsewhere. As i mentioned in the last post, i looooooved lac-blanc so much. i would so happily go there every weekend if it wasn't so far away.
i hope i've not put a downer on Todtnau - it's always good to check out new places and i am glad i went. and i would definitely be interested to hear what others have to say about the place.
Just some riding info so you know how to read this post, i am quite new to dh and only really got into it this year (after a few days out doing two or three easy runs last year). i go every weekend but manage to hobble into work on mondays with bruises due to falls.
I had a good day. It was pretty quiet and cost €27 for the day pass. I thought the infrastructure was good, modern lifts, although a little slow and free parking.
There are two trails (I think) one downhill and one freeride (wildride). The downhill was pretty hardcore! and a downhill rig is needed to take it on, big drops, roots and sheep (pictures to follow) wildride was ok. Nice variety of surfaces, some dirt through the woods and some loose rocky sections.
It would be good to go with a group of rides with varying levels of ability, better rides would find the downhill trail quite challenging and the less experienced rides could have fun on the wildride
so if anyone is still up for it, any ideas for a day trip somewhere... near Bern i suppose... so the Romandie riders can hook up with the Züri riders? I was thinking the Gurten, but have been told it's not good on weekends as there are a lot of walkers... any other suggestions?
There is only the one trail in Gurten though and it is open all year round so its not somewhere that I would rate high on my list to go to during the summer. Some of the ski resorts where you have lots of trails of different types to choose from are better for a day in my opinion, and then Gurten for when the ski resorts turn back into Ski resorts!
how far is metabief from zurich? maybe that could be a spot? unfortunately i only really know the french part of swissy - does the Berner Oberland have anything? Or do you know anywhere else which would be quite central for all? that is of course if there are others who would be interested?