Extras
Spares & repairs
Mountain Masterclasses
Other activities
Bike hire
Knee/elbow pad hire
Spares & Repairs
Stevo is an experienced bike technician. The chalet contains a small workshop equipped with tools and a bike stand. If you like to service your own gear, the workshop facilities are there for you to use any time you like. If you need help, just ask anytime and we'll do our best to get you back on the trail. Note that while we'll always help you out to the best of our ability, we're not trained or qualified bike mechanics and can't accept any responsibility for any repairs.
We also have a small supply of spares for sale including new cables, rear mechs, tyres & tubes and a (somewhat battered) set of emergency loaner wheels. We strongly recommend, however, that you bring any spares with you that you're likely to need on the trip including AT LEAST one spare set of brake pads. It's not always easy to find the pads you need out here and you don't want to end up missing out on time on the bike because you've burned out your only set of pads. On top of all this, prices for parts are astronomical out here (especially with the current exchange rate) - much better to bring what you need with you.
Mountain Masterclasses
As we now hold the highly-respected International Mountain Leader award, we'll be offering (usually on a Wednesday, the "day off" from riding) the chance to take part in Mountain Masterclasses including core skills such as Navigation (on foot and on the bike), Nature, Avalanche Safety (for the skiers & snowboarders among you!) and Bushcraft. Contact us for more info. If you're interested in taking your Scottish Mountain Bike Leader (or other bike guiding) exams, our bike navigation sessions are great preparation and we can also advise on and help you prepare for other aspects of the course. Equally, we can provide pre-course training and advice if you're interested in mountain qualifications such as the Mountain Leader.
Other Activities
If you want to take a day off from riding your bike, there are plenty of other activities happening around Sainte Foy. We can arrange rock climbing days, parapenting, walking or just point you in the direction of a good place to soak up some sun and beer while you rest your aching legs. As an International Mountain Leader, Stevo can also take you out for a big walking day in the mountains. There are many great high-mountain walks in the area, including the ascent of the Aiguille de la Grande Sassiere. At 3,747m, it's the third-highest mountain in Savoie and the highest which can be reached without requiring serious climbing or glacier travel. The walk is a cracker, going from high alpine meadows, through rocky scrambles onto a high ridge-line bordered by a glacier, then a final steep climb up to the summit.
Bike Hire
For 2012, we're once again providing our own small fleet of rental bikes. This year, we're supplying Orange Alpine 160s. Bike hire is priced at 40€ per day or 180€ (£149) per week. Price includes hire of knee/shin and elbow/forearm guards if you want them and an XC (open-face) helmet. The hire bikes are equipped with good-quality flat pedals, so please bring your own pedals if you want to ride clipped-in. We also recommend bringing your own helmet (if possible) for the best fit. Hire bikes are available in Large and Medium frame sizes, we can also source a small bike if required. Our rental fleet is very, very small so book early to avoid disappointment! Hire bikes are available to anyone staying in the area as well as to our guests. Hire bikes are supplied with a basic on-trail repair kit - spare tube, pump, tyre levers, multi-tool, brake pads, etc. The two bikes are slightly different specs, but both are alps-ready with coil shocks, big brake rotors and suitable tyres.
At £149 for the week, the cost to hire a fantastic, Alps-ready full-sus is not too far different from what you'd buy to buy a bike-bag then fly your bike out here, so if you're not sure your bike is up to job, think about riding one of ours!
Knee/Elbow pad hire
We have a small stock of 661 knee/shin and elbow/forearm guards available to rent. The knee pads are the race-lite model and the elbow pads are the comp model. Price is 12€ for leg armour for the week, 10€ for arm armour or 20€ for both. We also have some of the same pads available for sale (if you hire pads for the week and you like them, we'll give you the rental cost back if you decide to buy your own set).
