MTB and Cycling in Oisans
by Oisans Tourisme

MTB Trails
in Oisans :

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Discover all the events for the 2008 season!

Styles of mountain biking in Oisans

Cross-country (XC)

Cross-country riders love eating up the miles, gaining height and, to caricature them, specialize in ‘impossible climbs’. Cross-country was the first MTB discipline to be included in the Olympic Games, in Atlanta. A number of downhill champions are former cross-country riders. The bikes are lighter and have less clearance than the models described below.

Freeride (FR)

This spin-off is less exclusive than the downhill, with lighter and more versatile bikes, that are great for jumping, trailing, swallowing up switchbacks and sliding, but don’t have the uphill capabilities of the XC models. They do, however, perform pretty well! Freeride is rather like a happy mix of all the MTB disciplines and the market is expanding rapidly.

Downhill (DH)

This involves going down steep, short and very fast hills, with a serious loss of height! The weight of the bike is not especially important, the gears are basic, but the braking power is tremendous as these fine machines look rather like motorbikes. Trails are specially created for this discipline.

When to ride?

The best time is, of course, in summer, partly because that’s when the cable cars are in operation. In Oisans, the summers are generally beautiful and the snow will have melted (many routes are above 2 000 m). Everything is in place for you to go full out and enjoy your mountain biking. Winter is not always a time to avoid - it is often possible to cycle on low altitude routes, and the snow adds a touch of excitement to the ride. As for autumn and spring, they are two seasons not to be missed in Oisans, as they are even considered to be the most beautiful. So, when’s the best time to ride? Year round!