“Each day really pushed us out of our comfort zones, whether we were trying to handle tough descents or just grinding through steep climbs. But honestly, the feeling after finishing each one was so worth it. It wasn’t just about getting better at mountain biking—we learned how to stick together, keep everyone’s spirits up, and, let’s be real, share some Haribos when things got rough!”
Officer Cadet Partridge
Introduction
6 students, 2 support team and 1 instructor from Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron (NIUAS) deployed overseas for Adventurous Personal Development Training (APDT) on expedition ALPS CRUSADE from 29 Aug – 13th Sept 24 to the French Alps, mountain biking 360km over 9 days from Chamonix to Nice.
Background
Students from NIUAS have had exposure to mountain biking from easter and summer camps, including Rostrevor, Castlewellan and Comrie Croft (Scotland). Students agreed from these trips that while MTB is challenging it is very rewarding and is often the groups favourite activity during these AT camps. NIUAS had never undertaken overseas mountain biking adventure training before this trip.
The journey demanded both physical endurance and technical skill, requiring students to navigate obstacles and build confidence along the way. Despite the physical intensity, the students embraced the challenge, pushing themselves outside their comfort zones while taking in the breathtaking scenery. One of the most demanding aspects of the trip was the ascent that often ended up as “hike a bike” sections. One day the group climbed a staggering 1,995 meters. The combination of steep climbs, unfamiliar terrain, and warm weather proved exhausting, yet a high sense of achievement was felt after every day.
Expedition
Our first few days on the bikes were all about finding our feet—literally. We were quickly reminded of the basics: keeping level pedals over obstacles, lifting the inside foot through corners, thinking ahead with gears, looking forward (not just at the wheel), and remembering to have a low centre of gravity over tricky terrain.
It wasn’t long before the group picked up the right practices and safe riding habits. Of course, there were a few flat tires (okay, maybe more than a few), but by the end of the trip, everyone was a tube-changing expert! As the days went on, you could really see everyone’s skills improve. Sure, the legs and forearms were starting to feel it (thank goodness for padded shorts!). Each new route brought fresh challenges, and while a few falls here and there left some of us in “stretch” out on the trail, the key was getting back up, laughing it off, and not letting it mess with our confidence.
“Near the end of the day, we rode on the best trail of the week, through a forest with a fast-flowing route. We were left disappointed because it ended quickly leaving us wanting more. We mountain biked through scenic ruins and finished in Castellane with enough time to enjoy an ice cream before heading to camp.” – OCDT Mcbride.
“Day 6 was the first wet weather day where waterproof clothing was required and the trails became slippery and wet, forcing the students to apply their skills in a new environment to what they have been used to. Due to the rain and poor visibility moving was slow but really enjoyable, after a climb to start the day we had exposed trails looking down on the mist-covered valley and a downhill section through the forest.” Off Cdt Herron. Tracks around Digne-les-Bains offered challenging conditions but the students powered through it and were rewarded with a sunny afternoon to make it all worth it, covering a total of 32km that day.
“We all pushed through as spirits were high knowing this was the final stretch of the 9 days of arduous cycling.” Off Cdt Adams. Students were able to recover in Nice, whilst paddleboarding. Here students learnt basic strokes and paddled across the bay. Everyone’s balance and confidence improved on the paddle boards and felt rewarding after the 9 days of hard work.
The Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron is incredibly grateful for the funding and opportunity provided by the Ulysses Trust which made this incredible expedition possible.
