UKC

Hi all, I'm interested in suggestions for venues in the Alps this summer for "nice" mountain biking. Ie I'm not looking for hard core downhill venues, more alpine meadow cross country type scenario. I'm going to be driving to Saas Grund from Calais in July with some time either side to spare so anywhere en route would be great. I'm not sure how welcome mountain bikers are on normal walking trails in the Alps?

cheers
Rebecca

In reply to rebeccam:

It could mean a slight detour for you but Les Gets , Morzine & Montriond region has a lot of nice cross country trails , I had to stay off the downhill courses one season as broke collarbone early on( again ) so I rode a lot of the mellower routes , there are some nice rides along the river through Morzine , stunning scenery . Avoriaz is good too & not so far away.

Also along side a lot of the downhill tracks ( black runs ) there are much less technical and smoother red & green runs . Ashamed to say that I haven't done many of these yet but I hope to soon .

In reply to rebeccam:
Quick Google found this...
http://www.alpsmountainbike.com/

See where they go, holiday companies usually grade the rides to give you an idea of what to expect....i.e. fitness level and type of terrain covered

In reply to rebeccam: there's lots of mountain biking in the Swiss Valais. You'll be driving past Verbier, Leukerbad, Val d'Herens, Vispertal, not to mention Saas Grund and Saas Fee! All of them have well marked bike trails with lift access if you want. Try to get hold of some maps.
http://www.leukerbad.ch/en/page.cfm/Sport/Mountainbike_Leukerbad
http://www.evolene-region.ch/tourisme/mountain-bike.html
http://www.singletrailmap.ch/singletrailmap/index.php

In reply to graham F:
Coincidentally I have a similar need for info on where best to go riding in the Rhone Valley area to supplement a short clmbing trip. I want something that is challenging for me but not too outfacing as a reasonably fit intermediate grade rider (reds and easy blacks in the UK, wheels mostly on the ground, rollable dropoffs accepted but no high and/or narrow wood). The link lists so many maps I don't know where to start. I would need to narrow down a shortlist of venues and before getting the relevant trail maps. For other approachhes I find I cannot interpret the guide companies info on how good/fit I should be for different rides (or how easy are the copout options from downhill jumpy blacks: I don't want to be stuck on flat valley rides).

As a starting point can anyone suggest the best intermediate venues in the Swiss Rhone valley area based on the above background as upper

In reply to rebeccam: I would suggest the Champsaur in the Hautes Alpes if you weren't going to Saas Grund (Schonblick camping site?) But how about the Jura which is en route? There might even by a trans-Jura trail that follows the xc ski route.