Mountain Biking in Verbier

Mountain Biking (MTB/VTT) in Verbier

With over 200kms of trails and it's own downhill mountain bike park, Verbier is definitely the place to do a spot of mountain biking. There are some serious downhill tracks running down the slopes of Ruinettes and Médran covering 6kms of terrain with a 700m drop in altitude so really only suitable for speedsters and hardcore downhillers. If you prefer to take life at a more leisurely pace then there's plenty of mountain biking that is suitable for families and/or individuals who want to discover Verbier and its surrounding villages without having to furiously pedal uphill or kit up in full body armour. If you're not sure where to head and which trails would be best for you, then during the summer months, the Tourist Office run two free guided bike tours around the area.  There are plenty of sport shops in and around town offering Mountain bikes and protection kit for rent or sale. (NB: In French, mountain biking is called VTT (Vélo tout-terrain!). 

What to Expect Mountain-biking in Verbier

The resort of Verbier provides an excellent base in which to explore the surrounding areas. Firstly there is a huge surplus of rental accommodation which makes prices significantly cheaper than the winter. The town itself has excellent infrastructure which is open by mid June, when the lifts re-open.

There is a thriving family of bike tour operators in the area offering excellent guided weeks, with all the facilities that a biker would expect. Also, Verbier is a great base for exploring other resorts and areas. For example Chamonix and the Portes du Soleil are only 1-1.5 hrs drive away. We know many people who may travel hours to get to their local spot back home. Here in the Alps the options are limited only by the time you have to take your holiday.

Taking Your Bike on the Lifts in Verbier

The lifts are open from mid June until mid September and they either allow you to put your bike fully inside (cable cars) or they have specifically adapted racks on the side (gondolas & chairlifts) allowing you spend more of your time riding incredible alpine terrain rather dragging yourself up steep inclines! By using the lift system you can increase the number of great trails for riders of all levels in the valley as most of the lifts within the valley permit bikes to be taken on board free of charge. Here's an example of how to easy it is to put your bike on a gondola lift :

Lift pass entrance	Putting your bike on	Securing your bike	Time to get in!	View from gondola	Worth the effort!

Lift passes can be bought at the lift stations on an individual ascent basis. However if you're here for a few days and are going up and down many times during your stay, it's more economical to purchase a Pass Sports Activity Pass which gives you 6 days of unlimited access to the main lifts and cable-cars in the valley.

During the summer, all of the yellow Post buses that operate between Le Chable and Verbier are equipped to carry up to 6 bikes on specially adapted racks on the back.  These racks are in operation from mid-May to mid-October each year and you have to pay a small additional fee to put your bike on the bus (approx CHF 2,-).  It is recommended that you book your bus in advance wherever possible to ensure that there is space, although there is always the Le Chable gondola option to save you pedalling all the way back up the hill!  A similar bike service operates between Nendaz and Siviez.

When Is It Best To Come Mountain Biking in Verbier?

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 Verbier?

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 Verbier?

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 Verbier and the wider the 4 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.