Just got a new full-suspension setup and eager to test it (and my wits) out on the local trails. Anyone able to go in the middle of a weekday? Maybe you could sneak out for an extended lunch break? (you can always work later since it's dark then anyway!)

If there is any interest then post here or PM me and I will set up more details.

Note: I have been a roadie for many years and especially go for the hills (hence the name)... still getting a feel for what all the fat tires can do but enjoying trying them out on the 'bergs I've heard so much about here.

We arranged an english speaking mountain bike meet on a few tuesday evenings during the summer. Some of us still go with the aid of lights etc. Uetliberg is well worth checking. There is a marked bike trail that goes down from just under the antenna on top. The trail is quite good fun and perfectly suited for your bike. There are also trails on Zuriberg and Adlisberg which can be quite good fun.

As it happens I an taking a few days off work this week to go mountainbiking. I don't think we will be hanging around zurich too much though. We will probably head up to Engadin for one day and see what happens from there.

If you want more specific info on the trails around zurich just ask.

Eire,
Do you still have a bike for sale? Sean mentioned.

Thanks, Eire, for the offer for trail info. And yeah, it seems a little dark to ride in the woods in the evenings after work now - So that's why I think an extended lunch break once a week could be perfect...

I'm mainly looking for someone to ride with -- It's just so much more fun that way! Plus it makes me push myself more than I do on my own (peer pressure can be a good thing sometimes ).

I've signed up for a week-long mountain biking camp in Italy end of this month (they still have openings too by the way, multiple experience levels) - So after I get back I'll be ready to really hit the trails here!

If you want I'll go for a ride with you one afternoon next week. Extended lunch breaks don't always work too well for me, but I can take an afternoon off without too many problems. How does next friday suit if the weather holds?

Ah, timing -- I am leaving for the mountain biking camp in Italy and won't be back til Oct 28th. But any time after that, I will be ready to really hit the trails here. So we'll see how the weather looks then so I can take you up on the offer in a couple weeks. Ciao for now!

A lunchtime or afternoon could work for me, always working the evenings
so long as you don't mind sometimes waiting for the girlie! I'd love to develop my skills. Did trail cycle leader course in the lake district last year but not managed much riding this year. My quick,local route is a fun x-country blast about, soft on the technical side but quite nice, if anyone fancies an outing into the Zuri oberland. Is excellant for anyone who finds the uetliberg downhill a tad daunting. Other than that fav. areas incl. further along the Uetliberg ridge (all the way to Sihlbrugg has interesting bits) and on the Pfannenstil.

When its dry the Uetliberg trail is not actually that difficult... I can't speak for the trails out towards Sihlbrug but Pfanensteil and Zuriberg has some pretty good stuff too. I think we may be on the way to sorting an afternoon bike trip in the near future!

Anyone free to play next Thursday afternoon? (Nov 1st) before we swop bikes for ski's.

I will have to wait and see. Got to go and get winter tyres and suchlike sorted on my free afternoon next week. If I can blag a second afternoon out of the office then I would be game to go biking (if its not arctic outside!)

Just in case anyone fancies a trip out for zurich some time i've gone to lauterbrunnen twice now for some biking. Its about hour and 30 mins from zurich by train or car.
In Lauterbrunnen you can take the ski lift which is close to the station up to the end stop. From their you just follow the forest path which takes you uphill (although not too steep) for about 30 mins.
Then the fun begins!! the rest of the three hour cycle is entirely downhill. Some on roads, some on forest trails and some on rocky paths. The scenery is breathtaking!! You've got the jungfrau and that other mountain where a bond movie was filmed just in front of you.
The last 25 - 30 mins is a nice flat road cycle along the valley floor past beautiful farmland taking you back into lauterbrunnen. We always stop off and buy some cheese/milk in some of the farms.

Its only about 20% technical overall and this is in the forest downhill paths. Still its well worth a try.

Enjoy.

B

Thanks Brian.

This post is along the lines of an idea I have had for a thread for quite a while.

Basically, I was thinking that if people do a particularly cool tour they could post it here so that other people can do it too. We travel to go biking most weekends, but sometimes the imagination doesn't come up with anything particularly new and you don't feel motivated to do something you've done before. If people posted some of their favorite tours or trails here then we could all benefit from each others experience.

What say ye?

Thats a good idea Eire. As far as lauterbrunnen goes i know some good hostels up there of amazing quality for 25chf per night. Although it will get harder there during the winter when the ski season opens for reservations. Next time i'm biking there i'll put together a basic map / directions of the route.

Sounds like a great plan. Would also be cool if we could coordinate it with a moderator so that it only contains the guide posts and doesn't get cluttered with too much random discussion, questions or "OMGWTFBBQ WAZ AWSUM!!1!!" posts. Oh, hang on, the last one only happens on another mountainbike I hang out on.

Fair Point Woodie.

There should be the possibility to add extra information to the each trail afterwards and allow some sort of discussion on it but not so much that you can't find the important posts.

Any suggestions on how this might be possible?

Well what about two threads?

One will contain an original posters map, directions and guide / tips for a particular route they know. Each post can be then numbered.

Then we can discuss on this thread or another about e.g: Route 001 Lauterbrunnen.

If someone else does the route and would like to add something to the original posters first post then the original poster can go back in and edit his post.
This way each route only has one post which can be constantly updated and we don't chit chat back and forth on that particular thread and clutter everything up.

What do you guys think??

Sounds like a damn fine idea.

In the first post on the thread with all the information we explain that the discussions should only occur in the other thread and we link to that thread.

Any idea if the moderators will have a problem making two new threads for one subject?

I've set up the thread with a link to the discussion thread and vica versa. I've put in one tour and will put in more when I get around to it. Feel free to contribute any time.

Mountain Bike (MTB) Tours/Trails in Switzerland

Thanks for setting up those threads, Eire, for mtn biking routes and discussion. It is exactly what I've been wanting to know! Looking forward to checking them out, and adding a few of my own eventually...

Now that I'm back from mtn biking camp, I'd love to hit the trails here. PTKate, I like the idea of this Thursday afternoon (Nov 1st). The weather looks great - sunny and dry, at least that's what they say now...

I can meet any time noon or later. Since I probably have the most flexibility and don't know any of the trails here yet, I'll leave it to one of you to specify the exact time and place to meet, if that day still works for you.

Oh, and I should point out that I am a "frau" as well , and still a newbie MTB'er ... Things are a bit easier after my MTB camp, but I'm still a roadie getting used to what the knobby tires and suspension can do. But no worries, I can hike with my bike quite quickly if it's too technical (believe me, I've had lots of practice!).

Hi Hillseeker and anyone else with afternoon biking availability.
Sadly I've gone and booked myself to work in the middle of Thurs afternoon. But could do the morning(thurs)- need to be clean and presentable in zollkiberg at 3.00pm and not too wacked, or could do tuesday pm or even friday pm.

Private message me if any good for you and we'll hook up. I fancy Pfannestil (take s18 to Forch or bike up)