Mountain Biking in Les Gets
Mountain biking in Les Gets is going to get more popular. The return of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, has put Les Gets the public eye much more, and so it should be. Here is my guide to mountain biking in Les Gets.
Where is Les Gets?
Les Gets (pronounced lay jaay) is at 1190m above sea level in the French side of the Portes du Soleil. The Portes du Soleil straddles the French-Swiss border and is noted to be the largest ski area in the world. This is because all the ski resorts in the area a linked up via the ski lift system. During the summer, some of those ski lifts are used by hikers and mountain bikers to access the trails. Les Gets is just over an hour’s drive from Geneva airport, and this easy of access adds to its popularity for both summer and winter visitors.
Many people stay in Morzine, which is linked to Les Gets by an easy blue downhill trail, in both directions. As great as Les Gets is, Morzine gives you quick access to the rest of the Portes du Soleil. This gives you a bit more variety if you are thinking about holidaying here. I may seem a bit biased to Morzine though, as I live there.
What to Expect
If you are staying in Les Gets, you will have access to two chairlifts to take you up the mountain. There is also one bubble lift on the Mont Chery side of the valley. This is where the World Championship downhill is held, so expect it to be steep and techy.
The trails are mainly oriented around downhill riding, with a few cross country and enduro options. The surface of the trails depends on the weather. When the weather is dry, there is a lot of dust. But when the rain hits, the dust gets pretty muddy on the Mont Chery side. You will find that this is quite common in the forest sections.
But the rest of the trails have hard-packed stones. This actually makes Les Gets an excellent option to ride in when the conditions are wet, as these trails have good grip.
The trails are all graded in terms of their difficulty like ski runs:
*Click on the map above to see the trails*
Green
These are the easiest, expect a shallow gradient with small rollers and berms. There won’t be much in the way of obstacles, but you can sometimes expect a small rooty or rocky section. There are two green runs in Les Gets, and they are very easy. If you have never ridden in the alps before, I suggest you start with a green. This is just to calibrate yourself to this type of riding.
Blue
These are a bit harder, as they are steeper with larger berms. Expect to find large rollers to jump (if it takes your fancy). These can be really fast, flowy and great fun. Once you have ridden a green trail, head for the blue coaching track. This gives you a taste of everything Les Gets has to offer in terms of its terrain. It isn’t very steep, but it is a great way to progress before moving on to the more challenging trails. This trail is fun for beginners and advanced riders alike and has had a recent extension, which makes it long flowy and brilliant fun.
Red
These can be quite a step up from the blues, depending on which area you are riding. Expect rough, rooty, rocky, bumpy and steep. There are usually large jumps/gaps to send off on the way down. Some of the reds in Les Gets are very similar to the blues. They are steeper and have jumps. All the gap jumps have chicken runs, and the rest of the jumps are either tabletops or rollable.
Black
These are like the red runs but can have lots of man-made and natural jumps and obstacles. Black runs are generally steep and technical. Some have chicken runs, for when you have forgotten to take your brave pill that morning. One of the black trails in Les Gets requires you to hit a big jump that clears one of the red trails. You can see this as a test to see if you are worthy of riding the rest of it!
There is a fairly new jump line, which is only ridden by riders who know what they’re doing. Check out the video below to see the P2V crew riding it properly.
The trail builders in Les Get have their work cut out. This is because there is:
- 14 downhill tracks(DH)
- A Freeride track (FR)
- 6 X-Country (XC) trails
- 5 electric trails
- A Jump Park
- A Mini Jump Park
- A Pump Track
- A North Shore zone
- 4-cross trail
- A Kids Zone
- A Coaching Track
There are updates and changes to the trails every summer, so make sure you check out the map when you arrive.
Sometimes, the trails can get pretty rough thanks to big braking bumps. However, I am often quite often surprised by how much work they have done on the trails from one week to the next. Sometimes, I will ride a trail, and it has been made super flowy, with new berms, jumps and even new sections added.
Occasionally there will be additional obstacles to contend with, check out the hilarious video below.
Enduro and Cross Country Rides
Les Gets isn’t just about smashing the downhill trails in quickfire fashion (it is fun though). There are also several enduro and cross country rides to do. There are a few shown on the trail map, but there are more interesting ones in the book below. If you want to go for a pedal, I recommend that you get a copy of this before your visit.
A great option is the Chapel run. This is an enduro ride that takes you to the la chapelle de Jacquicourt that takes no more than a couple of hours. But remember to take your camera, as you can get great views of Mont Blanc on clear day.
What you need
Bike
If you are planning on bringing your bike, you should be fine depending on what it is. A hardtail will work, but those braking bumps will take their toll on your bike and you. Therefore, a full-suspension bike is the best option. The minimum travel most people get way with is 150mm (on a 27.5″ wheeled bike). 160mm and more is the sweet spot for an enduro bike. Obviously, downhill bikes have much more travel.
There are lots of bike hire shops in Morzine and Les Gets. They all have excellent bikes that are tough enough and well maintained to cope with the punishment.
My recommendation for bike hire in Morzine is Torico. It is best to book ion advance as bikes get booked out really quickly each summer.
Protection
You will not be allowed on the trails without a helmet. Most riders wear full face helmets, and this is something I recommend. To give you an idea of how technical the trails are, we rode the black trail at Llandegla a couple of years ago. In terms of difficulty, it is somewhere between a green and a blue in Les Gets. Therefore, I strongly suggest that you get a full face helmet.
If you hire a bike, you will get a helmet, knee pads, body armour etc. included in the price.
What to Wear
The weather in the mountains can be pretty unpredictable. However, we mainly ride in dry and dusty conditions, so it can get pretty hot. I wear proper mountain bike jerseys or technical t-shirts that look like cotton but wick away moisture. This will make you feel much more comfortable, meaning you will have a much better time than if you wear an old cotton t-shirt. This is especially true when you are having a post-ride beer.
Backpacks?
I like to carry a backpack, as I am always carrying various camera equipment. When riding in Les Gets you are never far from a bike shop, if you have a mechanical problem. However, carrying an inner tube, pump, a multi-tool and some water is advised, especially if you are on the trails between Morzine and Les Gets. You can get away with a bumbag or a hydration pack if a backpack is not your thing.
UCI World Cup
As I mentioned before Les Gets has hosted the UCI World Cup , Crank Worx, and is now the venue for the World Championships. This is a huge event and great news for the area.
Being trackside for these events is an incredible experience. The atmosphere is electric, and the crowds go mental, especially for Loic Bruni, Loris Vergier, and the other French riders.
I know a lot of great mountain bikers, however, seeing how these professional racers take on these steep downhill race courses close up is seriously impressive. It is also pretty incredible how easy they make the jumps look. There are a couple of road gaps they need to clear, but for these racers, they are the easy parts.
The cross country course is on the main side of the valley that links up with Morzine. The course weaves in and out of the forest and uses the bottom of the red trail you and I would generally use. It is super impressive to see how fast these guys pedal up a mountain.
If you have never been to a World Cup event before, I strongly recommend it. Why not come to Les Gets and get some riding in yourself?
Where to Stay
My expertise in accommodation in the French alps is in Morzine. I know some great accommodation providers, and here are my recommendations.
More Mountain
I used to work as a chalet host for More Mountain. I can assure you that their chalets and apartments are fantastic and well located.
45 Degrees North
Located about a 10 minute pedal out of Morzine, 45 Degrees North offer a laid back service. They mainly cater to roadies, as they do supported rides, but mountain bikers are more than welcome. The location is great as it is just a short stumble back from the Marmotte d’Or pub.
Elevation Alps
Elevation Alps offer a similar service to what you would get with More Mountain’s self-catered properties. The properties are super nice and well worth checking out.
Woodlands Chalets
If you are planning on bringing a large group, you should check out Woodlands Chalets. This is a pretty big place and in a great location with a large outdoor area to chill out in after a day on the mountain.
Does Moutnain Biking in Les Gets Should Fun to You?
The whole Portes Du Soleil is an excellent destination for mountain bikers, and Les Gets is one of the main reasons to come here. Have you been to Les Gets, or are you planning a trip? Please let me know your thoughts and questions in the comments section below.
This is so awesome Tom
Thanks Ram!
Really informative website. Hope to be visiting Morzine this summer from the UK, fingers crossed…
Cool, the opening dates have been announced, let’s hope they go ahead as planned.