A French mountain bike fantasy

IMBA Trail News
Volume 12, Number 2
May 1999

Imagine a nationwide network of mountain bike centers, each with at least 60 miles of marked trails. Each center has trails of varying lengths and difficulties, accurate signage, a place to wash your bike, food, drink, and maybe even lodging right at the trailhead. Chances are good you can rent a well-tuned bike right there, and if your steed needs repair or a tune-up, it can be done on the spot. If your riding skills need refreshment, a guide service or even a formal mountain bike school is ready to help. Finally, each center provides pocket topographic trail maps and/or concise plastic-coated trail guides that can easily be attached to your handlebar.

A fantasy? No, it's Francetoday. The French Cycling Federation (FFC) administers 93 Centre VTT (mountain bike centers) throughout the country. Twenty more Centre VTT are being planned.

The Sites VTT-FFC concept originated six years ago. In '96, the program gathered momentum as standards were created and centers were approved for inclusion in the national system. Today, each French mountain bike center has:

a minimum of 100 kilometers (62 miles) of marked trails;
trails rated by difficulty;
a permanent, year-round telephone;
an information kiosk/gathering point devoted to mountain biking as well as general info stations;
a map of possible routes or a topographic map guide;
one or more places to wash your bike.

Many centers also provide guided tours, bike rentals and repair facilities. Mountain bikers can plan and enjoy complete outings or vacations at any one of the VTT Centers.

25,000 kilometers of trails, and growing

But wait, it gets better. Total trail mileage at the 93 centers exceeds 25,000 kilometers...and that figure is rising rapidly. Centers are increasingly being connected by major, long-distance mountain bike routes, called "Grand Traversee VTT/FFC. The French Cycling Federation has not only produced a national map of Centre VTT, but also a variety of maps, signs, and materials that assure standardized, high quality information at each center. Some centers offer special downhill trails for race trainingusually in conjunction with reasonably priced lift service.

Sounds great, doesn't it? If you can make a trip to France this summer to ride at one or more of the Centre VTT, do ityou won't be disappointed. If not, start saving. Meanwhile, maybe think a bit about how, and if, this system of mountain biking centers could be adapted in other countries.

On this latter subject, there are a few things you should know. First, the French Cycling Federation is one of the best-funded, most successful cycling organizations in the world. (The fact that French mountain bikers won all but one of the gold medals at the '98 World Mountain Bike Championships is just one piece of supporting evidence.)

Comparisons

Second, nearly all trails used by Centre VTT are single-useat least during warm weather months. According to Anouck Desprez, who is one of two FFC staffers focused on the program, this feature has helped the FFC maintain cooperative relations with major French hiking groups, particularly the Federation Francaise de la Randonnee Pedestre (French Federation of Hiking Trails). The FFRP does support shared use on trails that are long and lightly traveled.

Third, VTT Centre routes incorporate lots of private land. Large parks and forestsparticularly on the scale of western U.S. public tracts managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Managementare few and far between in France.

Fourth, liabilityof private landowners or government agenciesdoesn't seem to be much of an issue in France. While there are signals that times are changing, the American idea that a mountain biker would sue someone in the wake of an injury is generally received in France with a look of complete bewilderment.

Finally, the FFC charges as much as $4,000 per year for a center to become part of the national system. This payment guarantees inclusion on national maps and system brochures and covers broad-based publicity, and preparation and printing of trail and trailhead signs, pocket map guides and topo maps. The FFC also supports centers by orchestrating races and recreational rides, if requested. Several mountain bike schools have been established at Centre VTT.

While a national U.S. system of mountain bike centers seems a daunting undertaking, there are places in North America that are already offering the type of facilities and experiences that Centre VTT provide. Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association in northern Wisconsin is one. Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina is another. Ski areas coast to coasti.e. Whitetail (PA), Winter Park or Keystone (CO), and Mammoth (CA) are doing the same.

For more information, contact Jean-Pierre Lebert or Anouck Desprez, French Cycling Federation, 5, rue de Rome, F-93561, Rosny-sous-bois, France. Phone: 011-41-1-49-35-69-04. Email: .

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	A French mountain bike fantasy IMBA Trail News Volume 12, Number 2 May 1999 Imagine a nationwide network of mountain bike centers, each with at least 60 miles of marked trails. Each center has trails of varying lengths and difficulties, accurate signage, a place to wash your bike, food, drink, and maybe even lodging right at the trailhead. Chances are good you can rent a well-tuned bike right there, and if your steed needs repair or a tune-up, it can be done on the spot. If your riding skills need refreshment, a guide service or even a formal mountain bike school is ready to help. Finally, each center provides pocket topographic trail maps and/or concise plastic-coated trail guides that can easily be attached to your handlebar. A fantasy? No, it's Francetoday. The French Cycling Federation (FFC) administers 93 Centre VTT (mountain bike centers) throughout the country. Twenty more Centre VTT are being planned. The Sites VTT-FFC concept originated six years ago. In '96, the program gathered momentum as standards were created and centers were approved for inclusion in the national system. Today, each French mountain bike center has: a minimum of 100 kilometers (62 miles) of marked trails; trails rated by difficulty; a permanent, year-round telephone; an information kiosk/gathering point devoted to mountain biking as well as general info stations; a map of possible routes or a topographic map guide; one or more places to wash your bike. Many centers also provide guided tours, bike rentals and repair facilities. Mountain bikers can plan and enjoy complete outings or vacations at any one of the VTT Centers. 25,000 kilometers of trails, and growing But wait, it gets better. Total trail mileage at the 93 centers exceeds 25,000 kilometers...and that figure is rising rapidly. Centers are increasingly being connected by major, long-distance mountain bike routes, called "Grand Traversee VTT/FFC. The French Cycling Federation has not only produced a national map of Centre VTT, but also a variety of maps, signs, and materials that assure standardized, high quality information at each center. Some centers offer special downhill trails for race trainingusually in conjunction with reasonably priced lift service. Sounds great, doesn't it? If you can make a trip to France this summer to ride at one or more of the Centre VTT, do ityou won't be disappointed. If not, start saving. Meanwhile, maybe think a bit about how, and if, this system of mountain biking centers could be adapted in other countries. On this latter subject, there are a few things you should know. First, the French Cycling Federation is one of the best-funded, most successful cycling organizations in the world. (The fact that French mountain bikers won all but one of the gold medals at the '98 World Mountain Bike Championships is just one piece of supporting evidence.) Comparisons Second, nearly all trails used by Centre VTT are single-useat least during warm weather months. According to Anouck Desprez, who is one of two FFC staffers focused on the program, this feature has helped the FFC maintain cooperative relations with major French hiking groups, particularly the Federation Francaise de la Randonnee Pedestre (French Federation of Hiking Trails). The FFRP does support shared use on trails that are long and lightly traveled. Third, VTT Centre routes incorporate lots of private land. Large parks and forestsparticularly on the scale of western U.S. public tracts managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Managementare few and far between in France. Fourth, liabilityof private landowners or government agenciesdoesn't seem to be much of an issue in France. While there are signals that times are changing, the American idea that a mountain biker would sue someone in the wake of an injury is generally received in France with a look of complete bewilderment. Finally, the FFC charges as much as $4,000 per year for a center to become part of the national system. This payment guarantees inclusion on national maps and system brochures and covers broad-based publicity, and preparation and printing of trail and trailhead signs, pocket map guides and topo maps. The FFC also supports centers by orchestrating races and recreational rides, if requested. Several mountain bike schools have been established at Centre VTT. While a national U.S. system of mountain bike centers seems a daunting undertaking, there are places in North America that are already offering the type of facilities and experiences that Centre VTT provide. Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association in northern Wisconsin is one. Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina is another. Ski areas coast to coasti.e. Whitetail (PA), Winter Park or Keystone (CO), and Mammoth (CA) are doing the same. For more information, contact Jean-Pierre Lebert or Anouck Desprez, French Cycling Federation, 5, rue de Rome, F-93561, Rosny-sous-bois, France. Phone: 011-41-1-49-35-69-04. Email: .


Help \| Site Map \| Copyright

A French mountain bike fantasy

IMBA Trail News Volume 12, Number 2 May 1999

25,000 kilometers of trails, and growing

Comparisons

IMBA Trail News
Volume 12, Number 2
May 1999