Mont Ventoux

MartinM said:

It probably won't happen next year but I am considering a weekend
pilgrimage to ride up it; has anyone done it before and if so when is
the best time to go, spring or autumn ? (summer is the Wrong answer)

I went up it in <googles>, 1997. Blimey, doesn't time fly. Up the
north side (allegedly slightly easier than the south), 36 x 21, no
triple - didn't have one then.

This was the first big ride I'd ever done. Stripped the mudguards and
rack off my commuter. Mrs. Hall and kids drove up, firing warer
pistols at me. As I got beyond the tree line it was really really hot
(summer in Provence, what do you expect) and I was down to walking
pace or slower. Certainly the flies could keep up with me which was
very annoying.

So, yes, summer could be the wrong answer, although a few years ago
the Etape de Tour went there complete with snow, gales and
hypothermia.

Tim

I've only checked the mutimap of the area but I assume the Tom Simpson
route is from Bedoin in the South then up to the summit and back down
to Carpentras; can't see a north side route; did you have to go back
down to the memorial?

Summer is OK if you are prepared to set off early in the morning. I did it
last August on a mountain bike , set off at 8am - perfect temperatures.

--
Steve
"MartinM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

It probably won't happen next year but I am considering a weekend
pilgrimage to ride up it; has anyone done it before and if so when is
the best time to go, spring or autumn ? (summer is the Wrong answer)

Steve Shaw said:

Summer is OK if you are prepared to set off early in the morning. I did it
last August on a mountain bike , set off at 8am - perfect temperatures.

thanks, probably won't get there that early though as planning to stay
near Avignon.

MartinM said:

I've only checked the mutimap of the area but I assume the Tom Simpson
route is from Bedoin in the South then up to the summit and back down
to Carpentras; can't see a north side route; did you have to go back
down to the memorial?

Yes, the Simpson memorial is about 1500m down the road (not vertical
distance!) from the summit on the Bedoin side. I _think_ I started in
Malaucene, grovelled to the top, shook hands with a Frenchman and
whizzed off towards Bedoin, stopping at the memorial on the way.

Tim

MartinM said:

It probably won't happen next year but I am considering a weekend
pilgrimage to ride up it; has anyone done it before and if so when is
the best time to go, spring or autumn ? (summer is the Wrong answer)

Early spring risks snow and the Mistral wind blowing off the Alps. Early
morning in the summer is good and early Autumn. The Bedouin ascent takes
you past the monument and is the best ascent I believe.
http://panneauxcols.free.fr/Vu%20du%20ciel/vuduciel.htm
http://www.cyclos-cyclotes.org/montventoux.html
may help
Enjoy
Dan Gregory

"MartinM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

It probably won't happen next year but I am considering a weekend
pilgrimage to ride up it; has anyone done it before and if so when is
the best time to go, spring or autumn ? (summer is the Wrong answer)

Did it last year in June. No wind, warm lower down and fluffy white clouds
in a blue sky. A day I will not forget!

Ken.

MartinM said:

Steve Shaw said:

Summer is OK if you are prepared to set off early in the morning. I did it
last August on a mountain bike , set off at 8am - perfect temperatures.

thanks, probably won't get there that early though as planning to stay
near Avignon.

We rode from Avignon through Bedoin, up Ventoux, down for a pizza in
Malaucene, and back to Avignon on the Tour rest day in the hot summer of
2003. It was OK, just drink loads, sweat loads, and keep the air flowing
over you by keeping moving.

Thanks for the replies everyone; very inspiring. May do it as a reward
for doing a certain other ride in France next year, otherwise some time
in 2008.

MartinM said:

Thanks for the replies everyone; very inspiring. May do it as a reward
for doing a certain other ride in France next year, otherwise some time
in 2008.

Yup, I did it in July 1994, same day as Eros Poli won the Tour stage
into Carpentras. Did it on 39x24. It was a hot climb but windy and cold
on the summit. I reckon I am fitter now.

I rode from Bedoin, saw the Tour at the summit then descended with
hundreds of other riders. I overshot one bend, found myself on the
wrong side of the road, I made it round, unlike the Englishman
following my wheel who crashed into a tree and broke his collarbone.
Less than an hour earlier, we learned later on TV, Miguel Indurain
overshot the same corner and actually unclipped in preparation for a
foot down !!! Take it easy on the descent !!!

MSeries said:

MartinM said:

Thanks for the replies everyone; very inspiring. May do it as a reward
for doing a certain other ride in France next year, otherwise some time
in 2008.

Yup, I did it in July 1994, same day as Eros Poli won the Tour stage
into Carpentras. Did it on 39x24. It was a hot climb but windy and cold
on the summit. I reckon I am fitter now.

The first time I did it was on the day Charly Gaul won the time trial. I
had a 48 chainring, as in those days it was 52x48 at the front. Nice
July day I rode up from Avignon YH and back in the pm.
Three years ago I rode from Nimes in early September and had to use the
30x23 on my triple, but I only stopped at the memorial....knackered when
I got back to Nimes though!
All the best
Dan Gregory

"MSeries" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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I first did it on my T6 Brompton, And with so-called "standard" gearing too.
I now have the-for-wimps lowered gearing - and the brakes upgrade. I still
love my Brompton though.