La Resistance takes you over 110km of amazing Alpine tarmac roads as well as four sectors of Alpine gravel totalling 20km. The majority of the event is on tarmac roads and for that reason it is recommended to ride a road bike or gravel bike. In fact to stay true to the history behind the event, mountain bikes are prohibited. Due to the nature of Alpine gravel (quite loose stones in places), we advise you to run wider tyres (minimum 25mm) and to protect your bike frame’s down tube.

Option 1 - Rent an adventure bike from Basecamp

Basecamp, located right in the heart of Talloires, has a fleet of bikes perfectly suited to taking on the rigours of La Resistance. Their gravel bikes from Open and 3T are perfectly suited to the mixed surfaces of the event with minimum 36mm tires and disc brakes. The Cannondale Synapse is also a good option, with disc brakes, 28mm tires and extra protection to the frame.

Each bike will come equipped with a spare tire and 2 spares innertubes, pump and multi-tool.

Please note that the minimum rental over the weekend of La Resistance is 2 days.

Option 2 - At Home - Tyres and Tape

Fitting wider tires to your bike will improve comfort and puncture resistance. We suggest 25mm as a minimum or wider if your frame allows. Applying strong clear tape sometimes known as helicopter or fibreglass tape to the frame, around the bottom bracket and on the bottom of the down tube under the water bottle mounts will help to protect against impact from the gravel. An extra layer of handlebar tape is also recommended to help cushion the hands.