Recommended Equipment For Alpine Mountain Biking

When the topic is activity or adventure holidays, Alpine mountain biking is invariably near the top of any list drawn up by adrenaline junkies. The steep, challenging trails and beautiful natural landscapes found in that part of the world make it just as appetizing a destination for the springtime and summer months as during the winter, when its slopes are dominated by winter sports aficionados.

However, tackling the slopes and hairpin turns of this particular mountain range implies a series of precautions that might not be necessary in other parts of the world. Whilst certain cycling holidays come down to nothing more complicated than picking the best helmet and packing lots of water, Alpine mountain biking breaks imply the acquisition of somewhat more specialised equipment, and a keener will to plan for every eventuality. Below, you will find a list of recommended tips that you would do well not to forget when planning to head to the Alps on a cycling adventure.

Nuts and Bolts

The most important thing to remember when taking off on an Alpine mountain biking holiday is to stock up on the kind of nuts and bolts you may not be able to find when out on the trails. It may not seem important to pack extra downhill tubes, seat post bolts or rear mech hangers, but should anything occur with any of these parts when out on the mountain, you will be glad you did. This is especially true if your bike is of the exceedingly specialised and high-tech sort, as parts for this type of cycle tend to be somewhat harder to find than those for regular bikes.

It is also important to know what kind of terrain you will be facing when cycling in the Alps, and prepare accordingly. For downhill, for instance, you may want to drop your seat lower than you usually have it, and a change of pedals may also be in order. For Alpine mountain biking, most experts tend to recommend flat pedals, as they make it easier to plant your foot for a descent without running the risk of clipping it halfway down.

Protect Yourself

Buying the correct parts for your bike is not, however, the only thing you should be concerning yourself with when taking off on an Alpine cycling trip: protecting your body against the rugged nature of the trails is just as important.

In this regard, you may want to pack a few items ahead of a downhill cycling session that you might not have for a ‘regular’ cycling holiday. A good example of this has to do with helmets: when tackling a downhill route, specialists advise you to wear a full-face helmet (similar to a motorbike or BMX one) rather than the standard top-only kind. This is because this kind of headgear can protect your face in the case of a forward fall, one of the most common types of accidents that occur on downhill trails. ‘Body armour’ and elbow and kneepads are also highly recommended, for this same reason.

As you can see, tackling the Alpine slopes does require getting hold of certain items you would not otherwise pack for a cycling holiday. But while this might seem like an extra task prior to departure, should you end up needing these items, you will be thankful you brought them along.

Liz Olkowicz is the Business Development Manager for Ski and Summer Morzine, a tour operator, based in Surrey, offering tailor-made holidays. If you're looking for a thrilling holiday, Alpine mountain biking could be the sport for you. Morzine is the perfect location from which to explore the French Alps on a mountain bike, so for a great-value Alpine holiday, call us.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.