GET YOUR BIKE ALPS-READY

1

Start by giving your bike a thorough ‘M check’ (https://bit.ly/bikeradar-mcheck). Tighten all bolts to the manufacturer’s recommended torque setting, so nothing is going to rattle loose. Apply carbon grip paste to carbon fibre parts and regular grease elsewhere, such as the seatpost.

2

Have a look at your drivetrain. Check chain wear and that the limit screws are set correctly on the rear mech. Make sure you have a spare derailleur hanger – these are designed to break to save the mech, but are bike-specific so can be hard to track down overseas or in a hurry.

3

Extended braking can overheat the hydraulic fluid and wear away pads, reducing stopping power. Fresh brake fluid works best, so change it before you go and check pad wear (minimum 1mm). Metallic pads are long-lasting while ‘finned’ pads and rotors will draw in air, cooling as you ride.

4

A carbon fibre bar and fresh grips can help reduce arm pump and increase comfort on long descents. Check the bar width is right for your body – too wide and you lose control; too narrow and you lose balance. Look at the spacing of your hands when doing a press-up to get an idea of your ideal width.

5

Active and silky-smooth suspension will make a huge difference to your trip. Either do a fork lower-leg refresh and basic shock service yourself, or send them off to a specialist. Make a note of your current suspension settings and read up on how to tweak them for mountain conditions.

6

When gravity-riding, rolling weight is less of an issue so you can run softer-compound tyres with heavier DH casings. Strong but supple, these will give grip for days. Pop in a tyre insert and you can run lower pressures without worry of damage. Keep an eye on tread wear and sealant condition.

7

Alpine trails get a lot of use over summer and can quickly deteriorate, putting your frame at risk of chips and knocks. It may not look pretty, but an old inner tube wrapped around the down tube or chainstay will protect your frame from stones flung up by the front wheel or the chain slapping as you bounce through a field of braking bumps.

8

Intense riding over a number of days means you can encounter more mechanicals than normal. Alps toolkit essentials include anything specific to your bike, such as brake pads and crank-specific tools. Make sure to pop in a brake bleed kit, some tubeless sealant, spare tubes and tyres, a set of tyre levers, a pump and basic tools.