New bike shop in town: Torico Morzine

We’re opening up our very own bikes shop this summer - in partnership with our friend Ben from Torico in Dorset, we’re opening “Torico Morzine“.

What does this mean:

  • Our morzine hire bikes will be located out of the shop.
  • We’ll have DOUBLE the number of bikes - 12!
  • We’ll have a top mechanic on hand to keep them all running as well as other people’s.
  • We’ll be able to keep stock of more things for our flowmtb guests - tyres, brakepads, bags, tops, helmets, etc etc
  • We’ll be organising ’shop rides’ - in the same vein as regular bike shop rides - i.e. meet a the shop, go for a ride, free.

Take a look at the shop website here: http://www.toricomorzine.com

Morzine Pass’Portes entries full

The Tourist Office have just been in touch to let us know that the entries for the Pass’Pores du Soleil starting from Morzine are now full.

We still have one room available and 3 of our pre-reserved entries to go with it! Get in touch asap if you want them!

VTOPO crew video

Something new from the guys at VTOPO who wrote the fantastic Portes du Soleil MTB guide.
Check them out riding in the south of France and wish you were there. I do!

Pass’Portes du Soleil registrations re-open

Pass’Portes du Soleil MTB 2010 registrations re-open on Wednesday 3 March 2010 at 10 am here.
www.passportesdusoleil.com

We have a couple of entries left for flowmtb guests starting from Morzine on the Sunday. Otherwise, get on the site on wednesday to secure your place.

Morzine mountain bike dates

And the important dates for mtb and road cycling events in Morzine

19-20th June 2010 Maxiavalanche Samoens
Just down the road from Morzine, Samoens is the latest addition to the Avalanche Cup races. An enduro DH with over 1500 metres of height drop. Similar to our much loved Megavalanche in Alpe d’Huez, we’ll be down there to take part.

20th June 2010 The Morzine-Vallée d’Aulps Cyclosportive race.
Popular road race that takes place every year on this weekend. Loops of 92 and 164km - a gruelling ride for experienced roadies!

26-27th June 2010 Passeportes
Come ride the trails in 2010 before everyone else does. This massive celebration of the Portes du Soleil lifts opening is not to be missed. Entries are now open.

11-13th July 2010 Tour de France
The stage finishes in Morzine-Avoriaz on the 11th July, with the riders tackling the Morzine-Avoriaz climb to finish the day. The rest day on the 12th is spent here, and riders set off from Morzine on the 13th.

14th July 2010 Morzine-Avoriaz road climb
Saddle up for the Morzine/Avoriaz road bike climb… riders following the winding road that leads to Avoriaz will attempt to beat the 33 minute record set by Bernard Hinault during the Tour de France in 1979….or maybe just beat the very respectable 1 hour mark!

23-25th July 2010 BMX show Avoriaz

8th August 2010 Morzine-Avoriaz road climb
Saddle up for the Morzine/Avoriaz road bike climb… riders following the winding road that leads to Avoriaz will attempt to beat the 33 minute record set by Bernard Hinault during the Tour de France in 1979….or maybe just beat the very respectable 1 hour mark!

13th August 2010 Freestyle Motocross Show Avoriaz

Important Morzine summer dates

We’ve updated the useful dates page with some of the events and fetes taking place this year. We’ll be adding more as they get confirmed. Use this page to help you plan when to come!

5-6th June 2010 Fete de la Poussine - Chicken festival
The Bresse chicken is this year’s special guest at the traditional fair held in the month of June. It’s a time when Morzine locals celebrate spring and buy their chickens before heading up into the mountains with their cattle. Great event for children!

19-20th June 2010 Maxiavalanche Samoens
Just down the road from Morzine, Samoens is the latest addition to the Avalanche Cup races. An enduro DH with over 1500 metres of height drop. Similar to our much loved Megavalanche in Alpe d’Huez, we’ll be down there to take part.

20th June 2010 The Morzine-Vallée d’Aulps Cyclosportive race.
Popular road race that takes place every year on this weekend. Loops of 92 and 164km - a gruelling ride for experienced roadies!

26-27th June 2010 Passeportes
Come ride the trails in 2010 before everyone else does. This massive celebration of the Portes du Soleil lifts opening is not to be missed. Entries are now open.

11-13th July 2010 Tour de France
The stage finishes in Morzine-Avoriaz on the 11th July, with the riders tackling the Morzine-Avoriaz climb to finish the day. The rest day on the 12th is spent here, and riders set off from Morzine on the 13th.

13th July 2010 National Festival
8pm: brass band, firefighters’ parade leaves from the town hall. 9pm: trumpeters’ parade leaves from the tourist offi ce for the Pleney. 10pm: fireworks on the Pleney and dancing near the Tourism Office.

14th July 2010 Morzine-Avoriaz road climb
Saddle up for the Morzine/Avoriaz road bike climb… riders following the winding road that leads to Avoriaz will attempt to beat the 33 minute record set by Bernard Hinault during the Tour de France in 1979….or maybe just beat the very respectable 1 hour mark!

19-25th July 2010 Food lovers week
Seven days for visitors to discover all the culinary riches of our wonderful region; with tastings of delicious local produce too. A great time to bring non-riding partners and family!

23-25th July 2010 BMX show Avoriaz

8th August 2010 Morzine-Avoriaz road climb
Saddle up for the Morzine/Avoriaz road bike climb… riders following the winding road that leads to Avoriaz will attempt to beat the 33 minute record set by Bernard Hinault during the Tour de France in 1979….or maybe just beat the very respectable 1 hour mark!

9-15th August 2010 Zen week
A week of gentle pampering and relaxation! Yoga, sophrology, meditation, qi kong, relaxation, tai chi, well-being, Afghan walking and hiking.

13th August 2010 Freestyle Motocross Show Avoriaz

14th August 2010 Trail des Hauts Forts
The first 42km long mountain race with a 2700m ascent. The route takes you through 3 mountain passes around the Hauts-Forts peak and onto the most beautiful landscapes in the Portes du Soleil area. There’s also a small race (21km long with 1200m. ascent).

15th August 2010 Edelweiss Fair
A traditional festival by the church square where there’s something for all ages to see and do. Another great date to come if you’re bringing younger family members.

2-4th September 2010 Mont Blanc Rally
Summer wouldn’t be the same in Morzine without seeing the French Automobile Championships’ Mont Blanc-Morzine Rally come to town. For the last 20 years rally drivers have raced around the resort, the Joux Verte and Joux Plane passes before making for the Cote d’Arbroz…this is one of the finest mountain rallies around.

Pass’Portes entries on sale

Entries to the Pass’Portes du Soleil event on the 26 and 27 June go on sale at 10am French time - just about now!
A 75 km circuit using 15 lifts and crossing some of the best french and swiss mountain bike trails. It’s a great event, not like a race, but more relaxed, with food stops along the way.

Get the info and your entry here.

Popular resorts like Morzine always fill up fast, so don’t hang around. We still have a couple of reserved entries available for flowmtb guests, and only a few rooms available so get in touch asap if you want one.

Minx look book

Check out the latest bike clothing look book from Debbie at Minx.

For ideas on how to look good on and off the bike - and where to get the gear from check out the look book, then Minx.

Pass’Portes du Soleil in Dirt mag

Check out the latest issue of Dirt magazine - ‘the Alternative Race issue’ for a write up of the amazing Pass’Portes event and the Alpe d’Huez Megavalanche.

Two very different events, but, like Dirtmag, we love them both.

Come to the Pass’Portes du Soleil for a long day of riding with refreshment stops offering local cheese, ham and cake along the way. The Megavalanche is a crazy mass start race, where you may be nearly as far, but it’ll all be over in a fraction of the time.

We still have some accommodation left for both!

Megavalanche video

Thanks to Willow, one of a top group of South Africans staying with us at last year’s Alpe d’Huez Megavalanche.

He just emailed us this video of the stay, practice and the event. You see the group hanging out at the chalet, enjoying dinner, getting bikes together and heading out with other flowmtb guests to face the Glacier!

It’s a three parter, links for all are below. Make a coffee, settle down and get ready to be inspired for this year…..

Number 1 Arrival and Practice

Number 2 Riding, hanging out, the chalet, and qualifier

Number 3 The main event

Can’t wait for this year’s……