- 1. Pass'Portes: Mountain Biking and Ski Lifts
- 2. A New Experience
- 3. Pushing the Portes du Soleil
- 4. A Tourist in the Land of Mountain Biking
- 5. Roots and Goats
- 6. Instructor's Tips
- 7. The Mountain Biking Atmosphere
- 8. And What About Women?
- 9. The Pass'Portes by the Numbers
- 10. In Practice
- 11. Saddle Up!
Pass'Portes: Mountain Biking and Ski Lifts
The mountain in summer, do you know it? But how many of you have ever tried to descend ski slopes on a mountain bike? That's the experience we discovered during the Pass'Portes event, held at the Les Gets resort.
A New Experience
When I was offered the chance to explore the region of Savoie Mont-Blanc in summer, I didn't hesitate for a second, my first winter stay having left me with beautiful memories: vast landscapes, charming villages, nature ...
But the setting of this trip is completely different: this time, I'm not following in the footsteps of the dogs from The Great Odyssey, but of course those of mountain bikers ...
Pushing the Portes du Soleil
The Portes du Soleil really is > both in winter and summer: the ski slopes transform, the ski lifts are repurposed ... and let the youth roll!
The Pass'Portes du Soleil MTB is the European mountain biking event of the year: across the Franco-Swiss domain of Portes du Soleil, at an altitude between 1000 and 2450 meters, cyclists enjoy a variety of mountain biking trails and stunning landscapes.
Held at the end of June over three days, the Pass'Portes event celebrates the opening of the mountain bike trails, with the entire area remaining open until the end of August.
A Tourist in the Land of Mountain Biking
Riding a bike? Easy.
Mountain biking? Never done it, but it can't be too different.
... Wrong!
Forget your experiences riding on flat, paved roads: mountain biking in the mountains is a whole different ball game!
After this first discovery, here's a second: there are many mountain biking disciplines! The Pass'Portes offers various routes to cater to all tastes: cross-country, enduro, freeride, downhill ...
Throughout the day, I learned to distinguish the different styles of > based on their gear: some, looking like samurais, are heavily armored for high-speed descents; others, with lighter frames, opt for more varied paths, tackling some ascents.
It's quite confusing to see cyclists well-equipped everywhere, taking the ski lifts with their bikes.
And here I am, dressed up, a helmet on my head, knee pads on my knees, and (of course) a backpack on my back. I join the beginner group, guided by a professional instructor: I am in good hands.
Roots and Goats
After a few brief stops for technical advice, our instructor takes us to conquer the mountain.
The Pass'Portes aims to be open to all, regardless of the cyclist's level ... A beautiful project that tackles a significant question:
how to create easy trails in a hostile environment?
In the heart of the mountains, in the forests ... the obstacles are numerous!
To preserve each person's experience, paths have been organized by levels: skiing enthusiasts won't feel out of place on the color-coded trails. Nonetheless, some sections remain common and, let's be honest, even at the beginner level, the difficulty is present.
But with our will to push ourselves, to have new experiences, and under the guidance of our instructor, nothing was impossible for us (... on the beginner trails at least): the taste for challenge!
Some sections require sustained attention: between roots, stones, and mountain bikes zooming past at high speed, you must be able to maintain your direction ... And let's not forget about the goats that roam freely in the village of Les Lindarets!
I suspect there exists a specific highway code for mountain biking: the fastest cyclists have priority and choose their side to overtake randomly, while pedestrians wait ... except for the goats, who dominate this unofficial hierarchy with their four legs.
Instructor's Tips
For motivated beginners seeking good advice, here are the lessons I learned from our accompanying instructor.
- Look far ahead and not at your tire. The gaze goes where you want to go!
- Learn to brake before you launch. Gentle on the front brake and always keep an index finger on each brake.
- Adjust your saddle up and down based on the terrain. Raise it to go uphill ... and lower it for steep descents! This allows for better seating to pedal and ensures better balance for speed (and the ability to easily put a foot down if needed).
- Take a good downhill position. Standing on your bike, pedals horizontal and at the same height (for better balance).
- Don't overthink it. Trust your instinct ... and if not, trust your bike!
The Mountain Biking Atmosphere
On the trails, I feel so small next to all these trained athletes. They come from all over Europe and even further for the event. But these differences quickly dissipate: the friendliness of the event brings together experts and novices, young and old.
Feet on the pedals, the mountain bikers zoom away. I get overtaken, that's normal: everyone has their own pace. I'm not worried; the cannonballs that zip by know what they are doing ... And then we all regroup, feet on the ground, around the refreshment points.
Because after the effort, comfort awaits: giant tartiflettes are waiting to revitalize us! It's also a pleasure to eat fruits ... and to indulge in chocolate fondue (I admit, I went back for seconds at the chocolate pot!).
And for those who prefer to cheer on cyclists rather than hop on a bike, a fair with over 200 brands has taken over the center of Les Gets, for the duration of the event. It's possible to test bikes for free and enjoy various activities: trials demos, fun bike tests, musical shows ... I was pleasantly surprised by Lapierre's electric mountain bikes.
And What About Women?
A big question I asked myself at our first refreshment point: >.
As I passed through the camp, I felt the men's gazes following me. I who feel anything but feminine in this outfit, I nevertheless do not go unnoticed:
Rare specimen spotted: a woman among us!
Following my surprise, our instructor explains to us:
The Pass'Portes is a sporting event, and mountain biking appeals more to men: it's fast, there are rocks and mud everywhere, you get dirty, sometimes you fall and hurt yourself ... and all that doesn't appeal much to women!
Beyond the sexist nature of these comments, I wonder about the rarity of my sisters. What a relief to hear that each year the percentage of registered women (over 10% this year) is increasing! Activities are indeed highlighted to encourage their presence, such as the election of the best All-Mountain Women's Bike, with tester cyclists trying out the bikes presented for a day.
The Pass'Portes by the Numbers
- 11th edition in 2014
- 12 resorts
- 21 ski lifts
- over 50 downhill trails
- 80km of hiking with 6000m of descending elevation and 1000m of ascending elevation
- 6300 registered participants
- nearly 20,000 people at the fair
- 31 nationalities present, including a large majority of French, English, Swiss, Belgian, and Dutch
- 72 children aged 9 to 14 registered for the Pass'Portes Kids
- 210 hikers registered for the Pass'Portes walking event
- 8 refreshment points on the course with 450kg of Abondance cheese, 50kg of reblochon cheese, and 100kg of raclette cheese, 5520 chocolate bars, 1600 liters of beer, and 2180kg of fruit
In Practice
- Cost: €51.50 for registration (22€ for children), including: registration fee, insurance, access to ski lifts, refreshments... Cyclists can only register for one of the 3 days. For the rest of the weekend, they can enjoy the facilities at the resort or the hiking trails.
- Dates for 2015: See you from June 26 to 28, 2015, for the 12th edition of the Pass'Portes du Soleil MTB. The welcome desk for the fair will be in Morzine. Registration opens in February.
- Which bike to choose? The ideal bike for the Pass'Portes should be able to ride in the mountains, absorb shocks for maximum comfort and sensations, while remaining light for more enjoyment on climbs. The Pass'Portes du Soleil MTB organization has selected the perfect bike that allows riders to enjoy all the pleasures of Mountain Biking in Portes du Soleil: the Zesty by Lapierre.
- How to gear up? Essentials: helmet gloves/mittens knee pads It's possible to rent or buy equipment on-site. Also, pack sportswear, shoes for biking, and a lightweight raincoat. For the day, equip yourself with a good backpack. We each tested an Osprey backpack specially designed for cyclists (see equipment test article: Osprey Escapist 20 and the Raptor 14). In your bag, plan for a water bottle, and don't forget your pass for the ski lifts.
Saddle Up!
So, tempted by this adventure?
For more information, visit the Pass'Portes du Soleil website