Mountain Biking in Meribel

Mountain Biking (MTB/VTT) in Méribel

Terrain that is good for skiing is, in summer, great for mountain biking! Mountain biking is becoming increasingly popular in Alpine resorts; Méribel and the Three Valleys have fitted special bike racks to the gondolas and some chairlifts, so you can be transported to the top of the trails and freewheel down. A trail map covering the Three Valleys is available from the Tourist Office, and group outings are organised during the summer season. Mountain bikes are available to hire from several sports shops in the resort. (NB: In French, mountain biking is called VTT. (Vélo tout-terrain!))

What to Expect Mountain-biking in Méribel

Méribel is part of the huge 3 Vallees Ski area and has massive mountain biking potential. The area has an extensive network of singletrack trails, downhill courses and fire roads. There is also a bike park which, although in its early years, is developing each season. Check out our Summer Lift Pass Options Guide for Méribel to find out about the lift system and lift pass prices for mountain bikers.

When Is It Best To Come Mountain Biking in Meribel?

The main MTB season is July and August. Weather permitting, June, September and up to the end of October are good months to mountain bike as trails are quiet and the temperature cool. For further information, please see our pages on Mountain Biking.

Full Suspension or Hardtail Mountain Bike in Meribel?

A full suspension (FS) bike is one with both front and rear suspension that is effective at absorbing lumps, bumps and jumps thus providing better performance and a smoother ride. A hardtail refers to a bike with no rear suspension. Suspension forks may be added to the front of the bike but its back post is rigid. There are numerous makes and models of both types available to the potential buyer so when deciding on which type of bike is best, it is important to consider the following:

• Your budget!!
• The type of riding you and your bike will be undertaking
• The typical terrain and angle of decent you will be riding

In general, hardtail bikes tend to require less maintenance and perform better on steep uphill climbs and sprints to the finish line, whereas full suspension mountain bikes are much more comfortable and arguably have more control over the rough stuff. Sadly, along with an increase comfort, FS bikes increase in price quite significantly.

Whether to go full suspension or hardtail is one which can create a lot of healthy debate amongst the mountain biking community. Inexperienced or beginner riders may prefer to start with a hardtail complete with front, lockable suspension; progressing to a full suspension bike after they have got a feel for their preferred type of riding. Although a full suspension bike will give you more options to adjust to suit the terrain, it can be more energy intensive on the uphill as unless you have a ‘lock out’ facility on the rear suspension as energy can be lost through ‘suspension bobbing' as you climb. And there is a weight penalty for all that bump proofing suspension. Furthermore, you could potentially have more moving parts to repair should anything go wrong. On the positive side, it is worth remembering that you can make a full suspension bike ‘lock out’ so the experience is like riding a hard tail, but it is difficult, if not impossible, to make a hard-tail ride like a full suspension bike!

What Sort of Bike Do I Need in Meribel?

There are many different routes/areas which are suited to different types of mountain bikes so if you’re an experienced rider then you’ll undoubtedly be bringing your own mountain bike with you and you'll already know your preferred terrain. However, if this is your first mountain biking experience and you’re not familiar with the lingo or sure of the differences between a cross country (XC), trail, freestyle or downhill bike; or whether to take the hardtail or full suspension option, then take a look at our Mountain Biking pages.

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.

Mountain Biking Code of Conduct

It is important to remember that the trails around Meribel and the wider the 3 Valleys area are used by others and are not just for mountain biking. Many walkers use the same trails during the summer months.

Currently the walker/rider relationship is generally amenable. To keep it this way slow down for walkers and pass in single file to one side. A ring of a bike bell is more conducive to alerting walkers to your approach and getting them to step to one side of the trail whilst you pass on the other than an intrusive shout! A friendly “bonne journée” as you pass usually goes down well too.

Some trails are marked ‘piétons’ meaning walkers only; please comply, you wouldn’t be too happy to meet a walker half way down your favourite downhill course! It would be a shame if the restrictions applicable in Chamonix (July and August are walker orientated with many trails closed to bikers) were to be introduced in every resort.

The following 6 mountain biking rules were introduced by the International Mountain Biking Association, and should be understood and followed by every mountain biker before venturing out.

1. Ride on open trails only. The mountainside and it’s environment is precious, ensure your cycling is environmentally sound and socially responsible.
2. Leave no trace. Stay on existing trails and don’t create new ones, so no cutting off switchbacks!
3. Control your bicycle. Where safety notices are displayed, take note and follow them!
4. Always let your fellow riders know you’re around. Many trails are also used by hillwalkers who have priority over mountain bikers. There may be trails which are off limits at certain times of the year so it’s best to check this out before you venture out.
5. Never scare or intimidate the local wildlife. Remember to leave gates as you found them
6. Plan ahead. Check out your equipment before setting of to ensure it’s in good repair, taking puncture repair and basic tool kits with you. Carry necessary supplies including food and waterproofs. Always wear a helmet and appropriate safety gear for the terrain you’re about to tackle.

Mountain Bike Tips & Techniques

Having removed your stabilisers, here's a few ideas on how to tackle the local terrain.