Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

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Bearbonesnorm
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Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Anyone who enjoys dreaming about 'off-road' cycling in the Alps, especially those long forgotten, hard to find routes that take you beyond the remit of a general guidebook ... should order themselves a copy of Rough Stuff Cycling in the Alps.

The original was compiled by Fred Wright many moons ago and the only people I know with a copy are Jameso and me (smug) ... here's a pic of Fred back in the day.

Image

The new version is far less (dare I say) basic than the original and features updates where required, new maps and pictures.

Anyway, I'd advise you to take a look on kickstarter and part with £25 for the privilage of 'owning' this information.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/68 ... 30c66deb62
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GregMay
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by GregMay »

Very interesting, thanks Stu.
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Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Oh, I should just say - Max is a member of the forum so if anyone has any questions, post the up and I'm sure he'll be happy to answer them.
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GregMay
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by GregMay »

What tyres for....


I joke. I joke...
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Richard G
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by Richard G »

Interesting.
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Pirahna
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by Pirahna »

I'm in.
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BigRingGrinder
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by BigRingGrinder »

I've pledged :-bd
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by Dr Nick »

thanks Stu. Done.
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by Chew »

Wheres the ladder?? :shock: :shock:
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GregMay
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by GregMay »

Chew wrote:Wheres the ladder?? :shock: :shock:
Could be any number or places. I've carried a bike up a few in the Chamonix area. Reasonably common.
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99percentchimp
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by 99percentchimp »

Like that - will pledge too - thanks Stu :-bd
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by ssnowman »

Fully funded already :-bd
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ZeroDarkBivi
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by ZeroDarkBivi »

Looks interesting, but I can't tell if it's a guide book for the 'now' or a history book, recording 'then'?
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gairym
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by gairym »

Pledged!
GregMay wrote:
Chew wrote:Wheres the ladder?? :shock: :shock:
Could be any number or places. I've carried a bike up a few in the Chamonix area. Reasonably common.
Yeah, they're all over the place. Fun with a fully loaded bikepacking bicycle :shock:

(Edit: hilarious that 'rìg' is included in the swear filter!)
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Alpinum
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by Alpinum »

Proper mountainbiking :-bd

Funny how things have evolved and how 'rough stuff' turned to 'regular fun bivybiking trip'.

Cheers for pointing it out Stu :-bd

The image gives a little clue besides the landscape as to where it is :ugeek:
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by m_xl »

gairym wrote:Pledged!
GregMay wrote:
Chew wrote:Wheres the ladder?? :shock: :shock:
Could be any number or places. I've carried a bike up a few in the Chamonix area. Reasonably common.
Yeah, they're all over the place. Fun with a fully loaded bikepacking bicycle :shock:

(Edit: hilarious that 'rìg' is included in the swear filter!)
That ladder is the Pas de Chevres, in Switzerland… I believe that they've just all been replaced and upgraded. Thanks for the interest and supporting the project everyone :-)
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by m_xl »

ZeroDarkBivi wrote:Looks interesting, but I can't tell if it's a guide book for the 'now' or a history book, recording 'then'?
A lot of the entries have a personal aspect to the tale of the journey over the rough stuff, and you're right that 30 year old info about high mountain trails should be regarded with a pinch of salt, but it is genuinely useful for planning – in conjunction with google, MTB websites, German motorrad enthusiast forums etc. James used it to help plan the Torino-Nice I believe…
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Alpinum
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by Alpinum »

m_xl wrote:
gairym wrote:Pledged!
GregMay wrote:
Chew wrote:Wheres the ladder?? :shock: :shock:
Could be any number or places. I've carried a bike up a few in the Chamonix area. Reasonably common.
Yeah, they're all over the place. Fun with a fully loaded bikepacking bicycle :shock:

(Edit: hilarious that 'rìg' is included in the swear filter!)
That ladder is the Pas de Chevres, in Switzerland… I believe that they've just all been replaced and upgraded. Thanks for the interest and supporting the project everyone :-)
The ladders are 'new' but it's still the same there. If you don't like ladders there's a pass very, very close by; Col de Riedmatten. But it's not really easier and makes for a fun loop
jameso
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by jameso »

Great to see this has hit target already.
m_xl wrote:
ZeroDarkBivi wrote:Looks interesting, but I can't tell if it's a guide book for the 'now' or a history book, recording 'then'?
A lot of the entries have a personal aspect to the tale of the journey over the rough stuff, and you're right that 30 year old info about high mountain trails should be regarded with a pinch of salt, but it is genuinely useful for planning – in conjunction with google, MTB websites, German motorrad enthusiast forums etc. James used it to help plan the Torino-Nice I believe…
Certainly a useful guidebook for now, I'd say - trails may change over time but the attitudes don't necessarily. Max is right, I'm not sure how many links or passes in the book are on the TNR but certainly knowing of the Assietta road, seeing it in Fred's book and looking up a few others, referring to google earth etc is how the links went together. Fred wasn't able to spot dirt roads from a low zoom on google earth back then so I'm still tempted to do a ride that simply picks an area in his book and see what happens.
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atk
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by atk »

Thinking about taking a punt on the triple book combo deal - anyone flicked through Bunker Research or Paris Roubaix? Interesting stuff?
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by ericrobo »

Excellent !

Just pledged and look forward to receiving in June.

(just needs somebody to come up with easy train options from up here in Lancs to a pretty village or town east of Paris en route to the mountains, to start a trip...
Not flying with a bike has huge advantages as far as I’m concerned.. :-bd
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

anyone flicked through Bunker Research
Yes. Very well put together. Having seen some of the bunkers first hand, I found it very interesting, I'm sure it would still be interesting if you haven't.
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atk
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by atk »

Bearbonesnorm wrote:Yes. Very well put together. Having seen some of the bunkers first hand, I found it very interesting, I'm sure it would still be interesting if you haven't.
Cool, will take a punt on the bundle, guess the whole lot should serve as inspiration for trips a little closer to home :)
boxelder
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by boxelder »

Extra value with Stefan (Pannier's) illustration.
Looking forward to it arriving.
m_xl
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Re: Rough stuff in the Alps on Kickstarter.

Post by m_xl »

ericrobo wrote:Excellent !

Just pledged and look forward to receiving in June.

(just needs somebody to come up with easy train options from up here in Lancs to a pretty village or town east of Paris en route to the mountains, to start a trip...
Not flying with a bike has huge advantages as far as I’m concerned.. :-bd
Thanks for your support! I trained it to Paris last year, bivvyed the first night in Fontainebleau forest (with wild boar, not so good) and then bikepacked/toured down to Nice… three days to Annecy, really the start of the mountains I hit, through the Morvan, Burgundy and Bresse. Then a good dose of rough stuff in the Alps.

Thanks to everyone for supporting the Kickstarter, by the way. We'll definitely print an extended photo section now. If you've got any questions, post them here and I'll try to answer.

Cheers
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