Cycling in Chamonix: Road Cycling in Chamonix
also see Sports Shops in Chamonix: Gear & Bike Hire in Chamonix

Chamonix Road Cycling RoutesRoad Biking Trips in & around Chamonix Mont Blanc

If you live in the Chamonix Valley and you own a road bike then you probably know all of these but if you’re new to road biking in Chamonix or you’ve brought your road bike along for your holiday, here are some suggestions from our specialist Andy. Please note times are for a reasonably fit cyclist! ...more

Road Biking Riding Tips

Riding in the Alps is much more demanding than your favourite local route back in the UK. The roads are, in the main, either heading up or descending; even the valley roads generally exhibit altitude gain or loss albeit to a much lesser degree than the climbs themselves. To gain the most from your riding in the area it goes without saying you need to have a reasonable level of fitness. You do not need to be super man or woman but the ability to ride comfortably for up to 3-4 hours in the UK should see you enjoy the suggested routes.

Perhaps the biggest difficulty is the heat, combined with the effort required to keep your bike going at a modest 10-14 km/h up the climbs means you’ll need to drink plenty to avoid potentially serious heat stress. Two bottle cages are a must and we would advise using 750ml bottles containing electrolyte drinks. There are often places to fill up by the roadside in natural springs; all are potable water unless explicitly stated otherwise.

The heat is the product of a frequently blazing sun – don’t be shy with the sun cream. This is even more pertinent at altitude, there is simply less atmosphere filtering the suns rays making burn times short. Althavoough you are not exactly at Everest base camp the altitude will have an effect on your riding as a result of the thin air – another reason to work on that fitness.

The descents are super fast in places and are often bumpy as a result of the winter covering of ice and snow. We advise caution as it can take some time to scrub your speed off. You will meet oncoming cars and frequently cyclists climbing the other way who may not be tucked into the right hand side of the road (yes the right hand side!) as much as they should. Do not imagine you are in the Tour de France with closed roads! Having said that the roads are generally quiet and car drivers (the French ones at any rate) will be considerate in contrast to their British counterparts.

It may be 35 degrees in the valley but 2000 meters up the mountain can be quite chilly, particularly when you’re descending at speeds of up to 80 km/h. Have a rain proof jacket with you at all times and a gilet chest protector to keep the wind off. If the day starts a bit damp and overcast then it will be cold so pack arm and knee warmers.

Always carry some money for emergency supplies and some rations to keep you going, the usual energy bars gels etc. The riding here is not as geared up to suit the English cycling club run tradition of a café stop for cake and tea. You may find a convenient establishment, and we’ll recommend those we like in the suggested routes section but you are more likely to come across a bar or restaurant offering a plate of dried meat and cheese as apposed to a tea cake with jam.

Always check the weather forecast. In contrast to what Michael Fish says about the British weather; if the forecast is for late afternoon thunderstorms, then there WILL be late afternoon thunderstorms and you would not want to be caught out in them. Plan your ride to finish accordingly.

And finally - know your route! Although signposted and relatively easy to follow, it would be worth consulting a map and if not carrying it with you on the ride then at least make some notes as a reminder to use on your intended route. The Michelin map 328 LOCAL for Ain Haute Savoie is the most appropriate.

What Gears do I Need?

This tends to be dependant on ability and/or how hard you want to try up the climbs. If you are confidant of sailing up the climbs quick sharp which means you’ll be climbing for up to an hour then you’ll need a 39x27 gear. Most fit club level riders able to comfortably cover 3-4 hours or more in the UK will get by on this gear without struggling too much. If you know you’ll take a little longer as your fitness or inclination to ride fast is not there then your bike needs to be equipped with either a triple chainset or a double of the compact variety. This will ensure you have low enough gears to ride comfortably at a pace that suits your level. Remember the climbs may not be that steep but they are long and combined with the heat and altitude may present more of a challenge than you think. But don’t be put off, if you’re honest about your level and use the appropriate gears then it will be a tiring but pleasurable experience as apposed to a trial of Sisyphus proportions!

What's the best way of getting my bike to Chamonix?

Several airlines from around Europe will get you to resort without too heavy a hit on the old purse strings. Flying to Geneva from the UK is the easiest of all options available, check here for further airline information. Low-cost carriers such as Easyjet or Flybe regularly fly between Geneva and the UK. You then have a number of options to get from the airport to Avoriaz which are explained in the following sections.

A review of airlines terms and conditions in relation to sports equipment baggage indicates that it is highly likely that you will be subjected to a standard charge for taking your bike on board. Easyjet; bmibaby; Aer Lingus; and KLM indicated that there was an average additional charge of between £15 (€22.50) and £25 (€36) to take your mountain bike, one-way.

However, having recently travelled from the UK to Geneva with our mountain bikes on a low cost carrier we feel the need to clarify this minor detail as we ended up getting stung at check in for 'excess baggage'!! Having duly paid the £15 for bike carriage, and with our luggage weighing in at about 20kgs, we were informed that even though we'd paid to take the bike on board, the combined weight permitted for all luggage was 32kgs. Anything over and above that would be subjected to 'excess baggage' charges. Full suspension bikes although light are generally not below 12kgs so our excess baggage payment ended up costing us another £35 - if you have a full downhill rig then I hope you have a heavy wallet to match or are good at trimming your holiday equipment – leave those hairdryers at home!

Our bike was carried in its original cardboard box (the best and cheapest way) so who knows what the charges would have been had it been transported in a plastic case! It is worth noting that a judicious selection of your check-in staff, a friendly smile and bit of banter and you may be on to a winner, particularly on your return from Geneva, no excess baggage charges. I guess that's the random lottery that is excess baggage charges and check-in staff!

The more conventional airlines such as British Airways and its code share partner Swiss airlines permit free transport of bikes providing they fit within the free baggage allowance, and are packed in a hard shelled container.

Packing Your Bike to Fly

There are a few options available in transporting your bike. Hard bike boxes tend to cost in the region of £300 and like a hard case suitcase it will minimise the risk of damage occurring to the your bike. A soft bike bag is the cheaper option, costing around £100. Whilst this will provide your bike with a little more padded protection it is not as reliable as the hard box. On our recent trip from the UK to Geneva, we transported our bike in its original cardboard box, protected the key areas with bubble wrap and cardboard and it arrived safely and undamaged. Most airlines stipulate the following:

• Bikes should be contained within a protective box or appropriate bike bag;
• Only one bike should be carried per box/bag, and no other items (except protective padding) should be included within the box/bag;
• Handlebars and pedals must be fixed sideways against the frame or removed; and
• Tyres should be deflated slightly to reduce the risk of damage.

If you are transporting your bike, you should also check out your travel insurance arrangements. A lot of travel insurance companies will not cover your expensive mountain bike without an additional excess payment, and a lot of airlines will not be held responsible for any damage sustained whilst the bike is in their care. Check out your household insurance policy to see whether it can be covered as 'contents away from home'. There may be a slight surcharge for this option, but it's potentially better than having to fork out for a new bit of suspension, or a brand new bike!! We travelleavod using this option, paying an additional £50 to Direct Line for our £1000 bike. This option offered us up to 60 days European coverage which is plenty for a week's break or month touring the Alps.