Pass'Portes du Soleil
Discussion
OK, here goes...
The Passportes is a lot of fun. Its one of those annual events that now having done it twice i would be very loath to miss.
Its a really chilled out event, not really a race to be honest. For those who don't know its basically a clockwise lap of the perimeter of the PdS. Total distance is about 75km with 6something thousand meter descent (can't remember) and about 300m of climbing. Riders start in groups of about 200 in each 'base camp' and everyone rolls round the course in the same direction.
There are food stops all the way round (free) a couple of trailside repair tents with mechanics to help those in need and in a few places like Morzine and Chatel, bands, trails demos etc etc.
Its not competitive (there's even free beer on the way round) but it is loads of fun. The course itself is wicked, lots and lots of fast flowing descending single track. And the climbs are few and far between - you take i think 10 or 11 lifts on the way round to regain height.
The event is run twice over a weekend, saturday and sunday. Makes no difference which day you do. If you are a quick rider you spend most of the day mashing past people which is fun rather than a stress as the course is sooo long most people are strung out.
Dont get me wrong. It is TOUGH on the body. Its a very very long day, we started riding at 9am and did the whole course finishing at 4.15. That was with a few stops, a couple enforced by a ripped rear mech and other assorted mechanicals. If you are not fit it will kill you as a day out! You need bike fitness to enjoy this. If you are slow you'll end up getting stuck in the wrong part of the valley when the lifts close necessitating a long push/climb/taxi ride or even sweaty night in a different village!
Some pics of this years event to give you an idea.
mechanicals!
there is SOME climbing!
People ride a mixture of of steeds. I've always gone for full-sus trail bike (enduro) with full face and leg/hip armour but not upperbody. Its too long to pedal all day in upperbody and the trails isnt that narly. Both years i've felt that i've got it right. I would rather do it on a hardtail than a DHrig - it would be too much bike for the distance.
hope this helps
Overall - DO IT!
The Passportes is a lot of fun. Its one of those annual events that now having done it twice i would be very loath to miss.
Its a really chilled out event, not really a race to be honest. For those who don't know its basically a clockwise lap of the perimeter of the PdS. Total distance is about 75km with 6something thousand meter descent (can't remember) and about 300m of climbing. Riders start in groups of about 200 in each 'base camp' and everyone rolls round the course in the same direction.
There are food stops all the way round (free) a couple of trailside repair tents with mechanics to help those in need and in a few places like Morzine and Chatel, bands, trails demos etc etc.
Its not competitive (there's even free beer on the way round) but it is loads of fun. The course itself is wicked, lots and lots of fast flowing descending single track. And the climbs are few and far between - you take i think 10 or 11 lifts on the way round to regain height.
The event is run twice over a weekend, saturday and sunday. Makes no difference which day you do. If you are a quick rider you spend most of the day mashing past people which is fun rather than a stress as the course is sooo long most people are strung out.
Dont get me wrong. It is TOUGH on the body. Its a very very long day, we started riding at 9am and did the whole course finishing at 4.15. That was with a few stops, a couple enforced by a ripped rear mech and other assorted mechanicals. If you are not fit it will kill you as a day out! You need bike fitness to enjoy this. If you are slow you'll end up getting stuck in the wrong part of the valley when the lifts close necessitating a long push/climb/taxi ride or even sweaty night in a different village!
Some pics of this years event to give you an idea.
mechanicals!
there is SOME climbing!
People ride a mixture of of steeds. I've always gone for full-sus trail bike (enduro) with full face and leg/hip armour but not upperbody. Its too long to pedal all day in upperbody and the trails isnt that narly. Both years i've felt that i've got it right. I would rather do it on a hardtail than a DHrig - it would be too much bike for the distance.
hope this helps
Overall - DO IT!
Edited by theboymoon on Thursday 10th September 16:47
Edited by theboymoon on Thursday 10th September 16:53
oh i've started in both Champery and Avoriaz. They both worked fine. Morzine is probably best but it sells out 1st.
If you have a vehicle Avoriaz is a good shout as it fills up last and seems to have the quickest registration so you can get going in the morning.
oh, one more thing, if one of you dont have an entry but is there, just buy a day ticket and join in. No one seems to care
If you have a vehicle Avoriaz is a good shout as it fills up last and seems to have the quickest registration so you can get going in the morning.
oh, one more thing, if one of you dont have an entry but is there, just buy a day ticket and join in. No one seems to care
To add to The boys comments;
All ages do it and all abilities......... the organisation is second to none and they really do look after you almost whatever happens.
I would echo TBM comments that you need to be quite bike fit but if you're not you can still do it only a lot slower.
Last year was my 1st passporte and was the 1st time I'd ever ridden a Mountain Bike in earnest... it hurt... I was road bike fit but still ached... this year no problems.... decided which day I wanted to do it, where I wanted to start and got both.
Didn't use any body armour and just a normal bike helmet.. but that's how I ride almost every day so no change for me.
It can be dangerous.. this year I saw two people being lifted off the mountain by helicopter both from the Chatel to Lindarets descent.
We organised a group of about 10 who came out midweek, did some warm up runs and then were ready for the event.
Tickets go on sale in January.
All ages do it and all abilities......... the organisation is second to none and they really do look after you almost whatever happens.
I would echo TBM comments that you need to be quite bike fit but if you're not you can still do it only a lot slower.
Last year was my 1st passporte and was the 1st time I'd ever ridden a Mountain Bike in earnest... it hurt... I was road bike fit but still ached... this year no problems.... decided which day I wanted to do it, where I wanted to start and got both.
Didn't use any body armour and just a normal bike helmet.. but that's how I ride almost every day so no change for me.
It can be dangerous.. this year I saw two people being lifted off the mountain by helicopter both from the Chatel to Lindarets descent.
We organised a group of about 10 who came out midweek, did some warm up runs and then were ready for the event.
Tickets go on sale in January.
Thanks for the comments - I was trying to get some opinions for my bike club. I ride in the PdS a lot, so I'm biased, and will do it next year regardless.
Re bikes, I'll be doing it on a DH bike - I've got one out there just for riding the uplifts - but was interested to see what everyone else had used. I can't say I'm looking forward to the fireroad climb to Chatel on a Kona Stab.......
Re bikes, I'll be doing it on a DH bike - I've got one out there just for riding the uplifts - but was interested to see what everyone else had used. I can't say I'm looking forward to the fireroad climb to Chatel on a Kona Stab.......
Mandog said:
Having spoken with Mooonie about it this year, I think I'd like to give it a go next year. I'm not much of a race head but like to give things a go and this looks like fun.
Avoriaz is easy to get to from Morzine or Les Gets if you have a motor.
All depends if we're driving down, to be honest. I've got a place in Morzine, so I'd naturally like to start from there if I could.Avoriaz is easy to get to from Morzine or Les Gets if you have a motor.
If there's a bunch of us (looking like 6 or so are up for it) it might make sense to take a couple of cars down, especially if we go for a week rather than just the weekend.
Next year the dates are 26th & 27th June 2010.
Here's the website:- http://www.passportesdusoleil.com/index.jsp?c=6588...
It's a few weeks before the Mega, which I'd also like to have another go at.
Not sure at the moment if I want to drive there and back twice in a month or do what Moonie did this year. That's fly down just for the passportes weekend and drive down for the longer Mega week.
I'm thinking door to door, flying doesn't really save much time.
costs €49.45.
Not technically too difficult.... there are moments when I think whooooaaaaa wtf was that!! but then I hate wet roots on an adverse camber and used tyres with a low rolling resistance but not great grip..
Probably someone like Theboy will call me a wuss.... but then I'm not a downhill freak and more of a cross country rider!
Not technically too difficult.... there are moments when I think whooooaaaaa wtf was that!! but then I hate wet roots on an adverse camber and used tyres with a low rolling resistance but not great grip..
Probably someone like Theboy will call me a wuss.... but then I'm not a downhill freak and more of a cross country rider!
baxb said:
Thanks Marcellus, I think that is next years holiday sorted then, If I'm a good lad (& save up enough) Santa will bring me something like an Orange 5 Pro to play on. I'm more of an XC rider & this appeals to me a lot more than the Mega, I know, i'm a wuss ! 
I know exactly what you mean.. reading the Mega stories it all seems too hardcore for me too whereas the passporte is more of a sportive event!!
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