Riders Retreat Diaries – Season drawing to a close.

And just like that, we’ve only got two weeks of the season left! As ever, the time has flown by and I’m sat here wondering where it all went.

The Riders Retreat Crew and the two Saracen Mysts

We’re in that nice time of year though at the end of August. For some reason very few people come out in August. It’s always baffled me. The weather is still mint (it has been all season), all the tracks are open, the new tracks have been finished and there’s fewer people queuing for the lifts. Plus, most places charge you less to stay. Go figure.

Will hitting a gap in Chatel. Standard. Photo by Chris Ratford

The first weekend in August is host to the annual fireworks show on Lac du Montriond, just around the corner from Morzine. It’s quite a show and all for free. There’s nothing quite like watching fireworks on a lake surrounded by cliffs.

Lac du Montriond fireworks. Photo by Chris Ratford

I’ve also been exploring a bit this year – to Germany and to Andorra. Both are great places to ride and to visit in general. More on those in a separate article.

The IXS track in Pila is pretty full on

Myself and Mark have been hitting the Chatel Black Shore track quite a bit. It’s only a short course (about a minute) but has several drops and jumps on it that are around our level (big enough, but not insane). If you’re getting into that kind of riding I urge you to give it a go.

Paul hitting the river gap on Chatel Black Shore

It’s not all about the downhill in Morzine. Sure, wherever there are lifts downhill is prevelent. But it’s good to get out and away from the crowds and see parts of the region you wouldn’t see if you just rode the lifts. So the Ariel has been out in force this year, taking me to the far flung corners of the Portes du Soleil.

Hike a bike. Getting out to some of the harder to reach parts of the region

Pila. Pila Pila Pila. I must have mentioned this place so many times over the years, but it still remains my favourite place to ride a bike. Awesome, well maintained tracks, epic scenery, nice people and great coffee. Get yourself there if you haven’t been before.

It’s about that time that I should jump on the bike and go an enjoy the last of the lift opening on nice, dry, sunny, quiet trails. Get yourselves out here in August – you’re missing out!