Hire a down hill rig for the alps...thoughts?

[jenkotvr]

Hey folks,

I'm set to go the alps (Morzine) in June and looking at the possiblity of hiring a downhill rig for the week

I've got a Yeti 575 but looking at the vids on the tube, I reckon It'll break on the first day

Has anyone hired a bike to take abroad....any recommendations for a uk supplier?? Or is it best to hire at the resort?

Appreciated

[shouldbworking]

jenkotvr said:

Hey folks,

I'm set to go the alps (Morzine) in June and looking at the possiblity of hiring a downhill rig for the week

I've got a Yeti 575 but looking at the vids on the tube, I reckon It'll break on the first day

Has anyone hired a bike to take abroad....any recommendations for a uk supplier?? Or is it best to hire at the resort?

Appreciated

I'd expect the 575 to be fine. Granted, I do know of one where the swingarm failed due to a manufacturing fault, but that was after 4 years of the alps + countless other trips, and yeti replaced the swingarm for free.

[Mars]

What have you seen to suggest a 575 is in anyway deficient?

[shalmaneser]

As above, a 575 would be fine I'd have thought!

Some of the rental sheds are a joke too, and cost an abosolute fortune. And I'd personally not spend a few days adjusting to an unfamiliar bike when you could just take your bike from home!

[Jimbo.]

Hiring a DH bike there is expensive: I seem to recall advertised rates being in excess of £75 per day. 'tis far cheaper/easier to get your own bike perfect (suspension serviced, etc) and use that: if anything, at least you know it.

re. the 575. It'll cope with most of the stuff out there.

Edited by Jimbo. on Saturday 7th May 06:51

[Mars]

I know this risks going OT but if a 575 is considered in anyway marginal what frame would you consider hard enough for downhill?

[theboymoon]

I had my Enduro in my then garage in Chamonix for the 3 summers...

For most of the trails except the full on DH and freeeeeeride stuff I was OK. The boys on DH rigs were much much quicker (possibly due to increased skill as well as steed) on the trails which were all down and no up.

On a big rig its so much less physically demanding, particularly through your arms than on a longer travel pedaly type bike.

The upside of something like a 575 os that with a tyre change you can then go pedal around the XC stuff. Which depending on where you are going is pretty epic!

FWIW my 2p would be get the yeti serviced, take it with you, pick up some dual ply Minions/High Rollers for days which are more down than up and also locally hire a big rig for a day or two just to see what its all about. As to which shop is best, you'll know when you set eyes on the kit and see what kind of nick it is in!

[hughjayteens]

I'm going to Les Arcs for the first time this summer with a group who have been several times - we all ride 160mm travel bikes similar to the 575. Last year they all hired some veru tidy Commencal 200mm DH rigs and whilst they said they enjoyed the change and certainly found the really rough bits a lot easier, the fact that they had to be going so much quicker to get the same buzz as on their normal bike and that they couldn't pedal up anything means they won't be hiring them again.

Bit like hiring a 997 turbo at the 'ring - fast for sure but any more fun than a track prepped Golf GTi? Probably not for most people!

[Mars]

I see, so it's not about strength then, just sus-movement?

[shalmaneser]

Mars said:

I see, so it's not about strength then, just sus-movement?

No, it's about both.

The Alps will destroy bikes that aren't strong enough very happily.

[Mars]

Well yes, that's pretty obvious but for the purposes of this thread about the 575 we're talking about limited sus movement rather than any strength deficiency with the 575?

[sjg]

575 should be fine. If your current wheels are on the lighter side then maybe a new set with a heavier-duty build might be an idea, and big-volume tyres are always a good plan (if you're doing both then go UST).

Other than that, new set of pads plus take some spares, good general check-over and it should be fine.

It obviously varies from place to place, but most reports I've heard of hire bikes is that they're a bit ropey and very expensive.

[robpearson]

I hired some bikes in Manzine a couple of years ago- complete shockers all four of them. If you don't go passeportes du soleil weekend you should get a much better choice though. We definitely ended up with the last bikes in the shop. The shops in Morzine seem to change hands and staff so often it would be hard to recommend any one over another.

[lestershaw]

dont forget as well, some of the bikes you hire abroad have the left and right brake on different sides, takes a bit of getting used to and makes your left hand ache a bit if you are right handed :-)

[Sarkmeister]

I think you'll be ok with the Yeti.

I went to Morzine last year and managed to cope with a hardtail (Orange Crush). Admittedly I would have enjoyed it much more on a full sus. I hired a DH bike for a day and it was much better, however, it was expensive (80euros) and wasn't in particularly good condition.

I'm going again this year, but probably buying my own FS before. Currently looking at a Orange 5 160 alpine, or Trek Remedy.

Also, the hire bike had the brakes on the correct side, they asked which side I wanted them on before I hired it.

[Pablo16v]

The 575 will be fine. Fit a pair of dual ply 2.35 DH tyres and go enjoy the trails out there. There's plenty of XC, blue, red and easyish black graded runs to offset the full-on stuff.

[jenkotvr]

Thanks for your help folks!!! appreciated

Hiring a bike is out the window now so going put the money towards 'upgrades' for the Yeti

Dual Ply Maxxis Minions DH 2.5 60a Back 42a Front

Change my XC Easton bars for something bigger/heavy duty

What put the idea in my head = watching the drops at les gets. Doubt very much ill pull off the Hut drop on the 575 though

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekW9Wdrgq8w

Edit: Slighty off topic; can anyone recommend a decent bike insurer for the trip?

[Jimbo.]

Will you get a 2.5 on the back of a 575? IIRC they've clearance for 2.35", although that doesn't take into account variation in width between different manufacturers.

[jenkotvr]

Jimbo. said:

Will you get a 2.5 on the back of a 575? IIRC they've clearance for 2.35", although that doesn't take into account variation in width between different manufacturers.

I think so...Maxxis seem to be on the smaller side as appose to Intense and the like. Their 2.5 are more like 2.35.

I've got 2.35 Kendas on at present and clearance seems good.

[shalmaneser]

The hut drop really is fine, I'm sure a 575 wouldn't have a problem.

In my experience it's the rapid, high speed big shocks (mainly braking bumps) that tear up a bike, not the individual 'big hits'.

Dual Ply tyres is a good choice!

And have a great time!