Go forth and ride, then bring back pics

[waveshello]

Maybe the pic looks off, but she looks like she she's big enough for 16" or even 20" wheels. A bike that fits and has actual bike geo will immensely improve her riding immediately. New bike, a Towhee (https://towwhee.com/), and some green flow trails and you're living the dream.

Good eye... You are correct! The 16" bike is sitting in the garage right now--I just picked it up on Sunday. It's another specialized hot rock that I picked up locally on marketplace. The geo looks better, but it is noticibly heavy. She may finally get a chance to ride it tomorrow.

[Dantheman]

Yeah, going as light as possible makes a huge difference for kids and the Hotrock is...not the best option available.

[toast2266]

Tapatalk seems to be working again. Back home now, but assorted pics from Europe that I couldn't post previously.

Tour De France. Pogachar in there. This is at the bottom of the climb up to Col De la Loz. Stage 18 I think?


La Grave. One of the craziest places I've ever ridden a bike. Surrounded on 3 sides by glaciers at the top. 6,000' descent. 100% rowdy tech.


More La Grave. Riding down the top of this moraine is steeper and sketchier than it looks.


This is a good encapsulation of the upper part of La Grave. Bike is in the trail here.


There are 2 official trails off the top of La Grave. Both are rocky. Above Pic is the trail to the right, this is the trail to the left. Yes, there is a trail there. There's some paint on the rocks in case you're confused. It's a couple miles of this before you get down lower, where there's more trail options and a bit more flow.



Glaciers up at the top.


This one's over by the Refuge du Bonhomme on the Tour Du Mont Blanc circuit. Healthy climb up to here, but then a really cool ridge run for a mile or two, then a rad descent down towards Beaufort.


Further down the descent.


This is at a fort above Bourg St. Maurice. This day was foggy. On a previous trip up there, the fort was covered in goats. There's a farm nearby with some great chevre.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Woooooooooow

[Dantheman]

Holy shit, unreal!

[evdog]

No kidding! Toast, those pics are deserving of their own thread. Full TR requested!

[ticketchecker]

Awesome Toast


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[buttahflake]

It’s weird how unappealing that la grave riding looks too me. Zero interest in that kinda terrain. I’d rather be hiking on that shit and I hate hiking. I like loam

[mcski]

Another voter for full TR on the Frenchie MTB

[toast2266]

It’s weird how unappealing that la grave riding looks too me. Zero interest in that kinda terrain. I’d rather be hiking on that shit and I hate hiking. I like loam

A good loamer is about the most fun one can have on a bike.

But I love the rocky tech too. The upper part of La Grave is pretty similar to techy desert riding. Parts of it remind me of the jankier bits of bootleg canyon in Vegas. It's all rideable, but you're working the bike and moving your body around 100% of the time. It's not easy, but it feels awesome when you clean some craggy death rocks and somehow plunder your way through a boulder field. The scenery doesn't hurt either..





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[rippling over canyons]

It’s weird how unappealing that la grave riding looks too me. Zero interest in that kinda terrain. I’d rather be hiking on that shit and I hate hiking. I like loam

Some of us have zero interest in your gravel grinders. To each their own.

[evasive_MT]

Two days of solid rain led to cancelling practice on top of Rendezvous Mountain. It was the right call- trails were soft and greasy. We still had to set course, though.

Last man off the top. Windy AF; hopefully blowing in some high pressure.


This never gets old.


Alpine hiking trails are the best mountain biking.


Race line through the switchbacks.


Back at it tomorrow. More tape to pull, and two more stages to set. Riding off the JH tram is such an experience - easily the highlight of my riding year.

[yeahman]

Toast and evasive, thanks for the awesome pics!

[buttahflake]

I’m not strong enough to be able to enjoy that rocky gnar. I feel like I’d be gripped the whole time and unable to enjoy the scenery. My East Coast eyes can’t see the lines!


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