Hey, I'm going to be soloing France in mid to late September. This is exciting, I hear it's got some of the best riding in Europe!
However... I've found that almost all of the lifts shut down by late August, and that there aren't any more guided tours by then. That leaves me in a bit of a pickle.
Does anyone have any advice for a lone rider in the French Alps in the off season?
Specifically:
1) Is this too late in the season? (I've ridden the Canadian Rockies later in the year than that, so I don't see why it would be.)
2) Is there anywhere I should seek out or avoid?
3) Should I suck it up and get accommodations and a map, or is there a good way to find a guide without breaking the bank?
Edit: I should mention that I'm more than willing to do some climbing. I know the lifts are mostly shut down by this time of year, but I'm mostly a cross country kind of rider anyway. Work won't kill me.
However... I've found that almost all of the lifts shut down by late August, and that there aren't any more guided tours by then. That leaves me in a bit of a pickle.
Does anyone have any advice for a lone rider in the French Alps in the off season?
Specifically:
1) Is this too late in the season? (I've ridden the Canadian Rockies later in the year than that, so I don't see why it would be.)
2) Is there anywhere I should seek out or avoid?
3) Should I suck it up and get accommodations and a map, or is there a good way to find a guide without breaking the bank?
Edit: I should mention that I'm more than willing to do some climbing. I know the lifts are mostly shut down by this time of year, but I'm mostly a cross country kind of rider anyway. Work won't kill me.