FLCUK News and Info

For the Summer 2010, team FLC decided to try something different, Marc ( and Mrs McHale!) headed over to the US to hit the mountains of California, and Ben thought he’d try his luck with the worlds toughest downhill race – ‘The Megavalanche’ in Alpe D’Huez, France.

For those of you who dont know – Megavalanche is a mountainbike downhill marathon style event that mixes gravity-assisted excitement with enduro levels of fitness, guaranteed to test both nerve and physique. The most famous round is run from the French Alps town of Alpe D’Huez, starting on the glaciated summit of the Pic Blanc (3,300m) and descending to the lush meadows of the valley bottom at Allemont (720m), after some 2000 metres down and 30 km along.

To be in a position to attempt this race, a certain level of fitness is required not just the ability to ride fast downhill but the stamina to cope with 30 minute downhill for qualifying and up to 1hr 50min for the actual race. Which going from a UK average of 2-3 minutes for a downhill this is an big ask, especially when mixed with a few uphill sections as well!

Before heading out to France, all the kit was checked, replaced if need be and then checked again. Anything going wrong up in the mountains was either going to be expensive, fatal or both.

Firstly, downhill bikes are not recommended for the main race, although a lot of riders do, if you have the fitness then go for it, but a few of the riders used two bikes, a downhill rig for qualifying, and an all mountain bike for the main race ( if they got through qualifying of course!). The top riders went for a all mountain bike and some even a modified cross country bike. But for a first time out a decent amount of suspension is recommended.

To qualify, the top 38 riders from each wave of 200 got through, this was tough, a lack of fitness meant the final position for Ben was 48th which put him through to the second race on the Saturday, very disappointed but put it all down to experience, next year a focus on the fitness is a must.

For this trip, as a lot of money had already been spent on the downhill bike it was decided to make a few modifications and go with one bike. Also buying spare tyres and kit in the UK as shops in the mountains are very expensive.

Most important mod: Hydraulic Seatpost, one with thumb operated height adjustment on the handlebar.

This can be purchased via FLCUK website via this link click here:

Next was the gearing, smaller chainring on the front, for this an ethirteen 32 tooth chainring was used. This is now used for downhill as well.

This can be purchased by clicking here

Rear cassette, this was modified to give an extra boost on the climbs.

this can be purchased by clicking here

this was about the limit, as otherwise the chain would need to be swapped for a longer one. This way it would be easy to just swap the wheels with a different size cassette on.

Also a superb bit of kit was the dakine back pack with the 3ltr hydration pack. This was awesome! Very comfortable to wear and had organiser pockets for all the tools, snack bars and even has the option of carrying your full face helmet.

can be purchased by clicking here

for those heading out there next year, Team FLC will be putting a trip together, call in at the shop or give us a call to find out what the plan is. Or just call in for some advice.