2009 Mega Avalanche Alpe D'Huez
Discussion
Below is an email I got from one of the organisers of the Mega.
So who is doing it?
Are the dates official yet or have they changed and what day is the actual race?
Where is everyone staying?
Hi
It is not official but it mut be from 6th to 14th of July
Regards
Olivia EDWARDS
UCC - AVALANCHE TROPHY
14 Av Maréchal Juin
F-06400 CANNES
France
T: +33 (0)4 93 43 51 54
F: +33 (0)4 93 43 29 13
E: olivia@avalanchetrophy.com
W: www.avalanchecup.com
So who is doing it?
Are the dates official yet or have they changed and what day is the actual race?
Where is everyone staying?
Hi
It is not official but it mut be from 6th to 14th of July
Regards
Olivia EDWARDS
UCC - AVALANCHE TROPHY
14 Av Maréchal Juin
F-06400 CANNES
France
T: +33 (0)4 93 43 51 54
F: +33 (0)4 93 43 29 13
E: olivia@avalanchetrophy.com
W: www.avalanchecup.com
For f
ks sake guys, do NOT camp.
You can get a 10 person luxury (in ski terms) chalet for about €600.
We took 6 people out, everything included, i.e van hire, fuel, accom, food etc, and it cost us £300 each...
I'll explain more tommorrow, but I'll reitterate: For fks sake, don't camp! A week of a sticky smelly tent? no ta 
ETA, I'll be doing my third year next year
ks sake guys, do NOT camp.You can get a 10 person luxury (in ski terms) chalet for about €600.
We took 6 people out, everything included, i.e van hire, fuel, accom, food etc, and it cost us £300 each...
I'll explain more tommorrow, but I'll reitterate: For f
ks sake, don't camp! A week of a sticky smelly tent? no ta ETA, I'll be doing my third year next year
Edited by neil_bolton on Thursday 23 October 23:48
Mandog said:
Have not done it before but plan to do it next year with mk1fan.
Shall be going down in a van once I've bought one. What van do you have?
Not sure on accommodation yet.
Plan to go over to Morzine after, although I hear there are lots of good trails in Alpe D'Huez worth checking out.
I'm just going to borrow a mate's short wheelbase Transit, plenty of room for bikes and kit, only 3 seats though...Shall be going down in a van once I've bought one. What van do you have?
Not sure on accommodation yet.
Plan to go over to Morzine after, although I hear there are lots of good trails in Alpe D'Huez worth checking out.
I really want a long wheelbase one which i can kit out to cater for biking. Beds, sink, microwave, fridge, seating and a little garage
AbarthChris said:
Mandog said:
Have not done it before but plan to do it next year with mk1fan.
Shall be going down in a van once I've bought one. What van do you have?
Not sure on accommodation yet.
Plan to go over to Morzine after, although I hear there are lots of good trails in Alpe D'Huez worth checking out.
I'm just going to borrow a mate's short wheelbase Transit, plenty of room for bikes and kit, only 3 seats though...Shall be going down in a van once I've bought one. What van do you have?
Not sure on accommodation yet.
Plan to go over to Morzine after, although I hear there are lots of good trails in Alpe D'Huez worth checking out.
I really want a long wheelbase one which i can kit out to cater for biking. Beds, sink, microwave, fridge, seating and a little garage
I cant wait, riding and having the possability to drive my Integra on those amazing mountain roads. Couldnt ask for more.
We should all keep in touch on this one, would be good fun to get a mass group doing the mega.
vz-r_dave said:
AbarthChris said:
Mandog said:
Have not done it before but plan to do it next year with mk1fan.
Shall be going down in a van once I've bought one. What van do you have?
Not sure on accommodation yet.
Plan to go over to Morzine after, although I hear there are lots of good trails in Alpe D'Huez worth checking out.
I'm just going to borrow a mate's short wheelbase Transit, plenty of room for bikes and kit, only 3 seats though...Shall be going down in a van once I've bought one. What van do you have?
Not sure on accommodation yet.
Plan to go over to Morzine after, although I hear there are lots of good trails in Alpe D'Huez worth checking out.
I really want a long wheelbase one which i can kit out to cater for biking. Beds, sink, microwave, fridge, seating and a little garage
I cant wait, riding and having the possability to drive my Integra on those amazing mountain roads. Couldnt ask for more.
We should all keep in touch on this one, would be good fun to get a mass group doing the mega.
AbarthChris said:
vz-r_dave said:
AbarthChris said:
Mandog said:
Have not done it before but plan to do it next year with mk1fan.
Shall be going down in a van once I've bought one. What van do you have?
Not sure on accommodation yet.
Plan to go over to Morzine after, although I hear there are lots of good trails in Alpe D'Huez worth checking out.
I'm just going to borrow a mate's short wheelbase Transit, plenty of room for bikes and kit, only 3 seats though...Shall be going down in a van once I've bought one. What van do you have?
Not sure on accommodation yet.
Plan to go over to Morzine after, although I hear there are lots of good trails in Alpe D'Huez worth checking out.
I really want a long wheelbase one which i can kit out to cater for biking. Beds, sink, microwave, fridge, seating and a little garage
I cant wait, riding and having the possability to drive my Integra on those amazing mountain roads. Couldnt ask for more.
We should all keep in touch on this one, would be good fun to get a mass group doing the mega.
Where abouts in the uk are you?
I've done it once, and I'm sure Neil Bolton will be on shortly to provide more info.
Firstly, it's not really just one event. There is a qualifier one day and then the Megavalanche itself the following day.
The qualifying course is quite a bit shorter and is actually more technical with a difficult boulder field at the start, which goes on for a good distance, including a few sections which are likely to still have snow lying around. This was harder than anything I'd ridden in the UK. The middle section is classic cross country riding around an alpine lake, followed by a short but leg wearying climb. Finally, there are a series of hairpins and then woodland tracks to the finish. The qualifying course is the one that requires the bigger bike, but of course this will always be a compromise due to the XC section and uphill in the middle.
The main event really does have a bit of everything, but due to its length and the need to pedal, a downhill bike really isn't a good option. A solid 5-6" travel bike, with at least two rings up front would be the best option. The event starts (or should start, although due to bad weather didn't this year) on a black ski run at the top of the mountain, which is fully covered in snow. The snow lasts for several kilometres and is a giggle to ride. However, to be competitive, you need to have practised on this. You then get another boulder field which is marginally easier than the one on the qualifier, but possibly longer, before some climbing and then a series of fast bends in alpine pastures as you drop into Alpe d'Huez. Following the town there is another flat/uphill section before lots of singletrack and trails through farmers fields. Eventually this turns into a series of tight, wooded hairpins which have been very muddy for the past two years. Just as this eases off, you finish through woodland which could easily be in the UK, and straight into the village for food and a well deserved beer.
So is it hard? Yes - some of the riding is tough, and harder than anything I've ridden in the UK. The second difficulty is the duration of the event - the qualifier is going to be in excess of 30mins flat out, and the main race over an hour of hardcore terrain. It is demanding on the arms and body, as well as the bikes' brakes and tyres.
You have to ride with a full face helmet, so the flat and uphill sections are hard work, and on top of that you'll probably be riding a fairly big bike, not designed for going up so well.
The start of the qualifier is in groups of 200 riders, so it's a bit chaotic (to say the least) and the main event could be in a group of around 400 people, so you have to be prepared for some jostling, and the fact your chosen line is going to be blocked by others, possibly walking or just rolling around on the floor.
However, as a mountain biker, it is probably the most amazing event you will go to. It tests you physically and technically, is well organised (without excessive nannying as there would be over here) and in stunning scenery, plus you're amongst 1300 likeminded people. Definitely something you should do once at least, and I am planning on returning in 2009.
Firstly, it's not really just one event. There is a qualifier one day and then the Megavalanche itself the following day.
The qualifying course is quite a bit shorter and is actually more technical with a difficult boulder field at the start, which goes on for a good distance, including a few sections which are likely to still have snow lying around. This was harder than anything I'd ridden in the UK. The middle section is classic cross country riding around an alpine lake, followed by a short but leg wearying climb. Finally, there are a series of hairpins and then woodland tracks to the finish. The qualifying course is the one that requires the bigger bike, but of course this will always be a compromise due to the XC section and uphill in the middle.
The main event really does have a bit of everything, but due to its length and the need to pedal, a downhill bike really isn't a good option. A solid 5-6" travel bike, with at least two rings up front would be the best option. The event starts (or should start, although due to bad weather didn't this year) on a black ski run at the top of the mountain, which is fully covered in snow. The snow lasts for several kilometres and is a giggle to ride. However, to be competitive, you need to have practised on this. You then get another boulder field which is marginally easier than the one on the qualifier, but possibly longer, before some climbing and then a series of fast bends in alpine pastures as you drop into Alpe d'Huez. Following the town there is another flat/uphill section before lots of singletrack and trails through farmers fields. Eventually this turns into a series of tight, wooded hairpins which have been very muddy for the past two years. Just as this eases off, you finish through woodland which could easily be in the UK, and straight into the village for food and a well deserved beer.
So is it hard? Yes - some of the riding is tough, and harder than anything I've ridden in the UK. The second difficulty is the duration of the event - the qualifier is going to be in excess of 30mins flat out, and the main race over an hour of hardcore terrain. It is demanding on the arms and body, as well as the bikes' brakes and tyres.
You have to ride with a full face helmet, so the flat and uphill sections are hard work, and on top of that you'll probably be riding a fairly big bike, not designed for going up so well.
The start of the qualifier is in groups of 200 riders, so it's a bit chaotic (to say the least) and the main event could be in a group of around 400 people, so you have to be prepared for some jostling, and the fact your chosen line is going to be blocked by others, possibly walking or just rolling around on the floor.
However, as a mountain biker, it is probably the most amazing event you will go to. It tests you physically and technically, is well organised (without excessive nannying as there would be over here) and in stunning scenery, plus you're amongst 1300 likeminded people. Definitely something you should do once at least, and I am planning on returning in 2009.
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