Mont Ventoux

1892

After watching the tour on saturday, as a cyclist Mont Ventoux is a ride that has just got to be done, so I'm thinking of doing it, probably next year now. Has anybody done it? Or does anybody know of a company that organises trips?
Cheers.

geoff_ss

I think lots of people here have ridden it. My wife and I have done it twice; once from the east (we were camping in Sault) which is the easiest and last year from Malaucene which is a lot harder. It's a hard climb but you don't need to ride it fast; last year we stopped and had a picnic half way up but then, we're mere tourists and OAPs to boot

Don't know of any organised trips but you could take the Bike Bus and get off at Orange which is very near to the Ventoux then camp or B&B somewhere. We were camping the first time 10 years ago but we now use a motor caravan to support our French cycling trips.

Geoff

1892

Thanks for the info Geoff

Blonde

Whilst I've not done the Ventoux trip with them, all of the GPM10 trips that I have been on (7 different trips over a 2 year period) were very well organised, with great attention paid to the details, really excellent hotels and food, small friendly groups and all fully supported by dedicated support vehicle(s). I can highly recommend them. As you'll see, their Mont Ventoux trips were all in May this year. http://www.gpm10.com/2009-schedule/

1892

Cheers Blonde I'll keep an eye out for next years trips

lateralus

if an organised trip doesn't suit, it's easy enough to do by yourself. I hired a bike from the very friendly and helpful people at Location Bedoin when down that way on a family holiday. 30 euros for the day, I think. You just follow the D974 out of Bedoin - it goes all the way to the summit. Well signposted, and the road's in great condition.

Worth a stop at the cafe at Chalet Reynard (6km from the summit) on the way down. Great views and the food is very good.

mrushton

www.veloventoux.com are supposed to be good. GPM10 did their 3 trips with Cyclefit. Have a look at the blog on www.cyclefit.co.uk

bobtbuilder

I can personally vouch for www.veloventoux.com - Craig & Vicky who run it are awesome. Nothing is too much trouble.

As for the Ventoux - as long as you have a compact you'll be fine. Take something warm for the descent though.

I managed 1hr 55 mins (Bedoin side) as a 14st rider.

stfc1

bobtbuilder wrote:

I can personally vouch for www.veloventoux.com - Craig & Vicky who run it are awesome. Nothing is too much trouble.

As for the Ventoux - as long as you have a compact you'll be fine. Take something warm for the descent though.

I managed 1hr 55 mins (Bedoin side) as a 14st rider.

+1 for veloventoux and the notion of taking something warm to wear. I went up in July and was darn cold on the way down even with arm warmers and a gilet on.

1892

Thanks for the info chaps, looking into it for next year

nic_77

I took five of my mates to ride ventoux for my stag do... none of them were particularly into cycling before hand, and did varied amounts of training. We had a B&B in Malaucene and hired bikes in Bedoin for the others (I took my own).

Four of us made it up the Bedoin route in mid afternoon in searing heat - my time was 1:48, but the others ranged to 2:40.

Of the two who bailed, one of the rode the Malaucene route a couple of days later in the early morning when it was much cooler.

It really is an excellent climb, and very striking when you come out of the trees!

Nic

geoff_ss

Blonde wrote:

Whilst I've not done the Ventoux trip with them, all of the GPM10 trips that I have been on (7 different trips over a 2 year period) were very well organised, with great attention paid to the details, really excellent hotels and food, small friendly groups and all fully supported by dedicated support vehicle(s). I can highly recommend them. As you'll see, their Mont Ventoux trips were all in May this year. http://www.gpm10.com/2009-schedule/

I'd be very wary of Ventoux trips as early as May. It could be OK but we were lucky to get a decent day last year late May/early June. For us, the main purpose of the climb is the scenery so it's bit pointless in low cloud.

Something warm for the descent is a very good idea indeed.

Geoff

Bhima

I'm going in a couple of weeks.

I think i'm going to do it at an easy pace first, to make sure I don't blow up. Then, i'll descend, stop off at a cafe or something to recover, then attack it full-force! :twisted:

CyclingBantam

You never stop do you Bhima. Are you not in Poland at the same time? I would concentrate on getting up once let alone spinning up and then attacking it the second time! :roll:

brucey72

Bhima wrote:

I'm going in a couple of weeks.

I think i'm going to do it at an easy pace first, to make sure I don't blow up. Then, i'll descend, stop off at a cafe or something to recover, then attack it full-force! :twisted:

Why stop at twice up the Ventoux????

Do it three times in the day and you can join the exclusive Cingles du Ventoux

DaSy

Another vote here for VeloVentoux. Craig and Vicky were really nice, the accomodation is perfect with good bike workshop and safe storage.

The attacking of Ventoux the second time by Bhima will be interesting, a cadence of 276 all the way to the top I imagine, power meter readings off the charts. I have this mental image of Super Mario Karts, as he spins off the road as he hits strategically dropped banana skins that he left on his first easy spin up...

cookiemonster

If you hang on a few weeks you can join in with the sportive: http://www.velo101.com/epreuves/routesduventoux/

I did it last year and going back again - great event, 3-400 riders, rolling road closures to the foot of the mountain (its treated as a race, at least by those at the front), choice as to whether you just go up and down ventoux on the short route or over the back for the 150km route. Pasta and Cotes Du Ventoux at the finish. Easily my most enjoyable event of 2008

1892

cookiemonster wrote:

If you hang on a few weeks you can join in with the sportive: http://www.velo101.com/epreuves/routesduventoux/

I did it last year and going back again - great event, 3-400 riders, rolling road closures to the foot of the mountain (its treated as a race, at least by those at the front), choice as to whether you just go up and down ventoux on the short route or over the back for the 150km route. Pasta and Cotes Du Ventoux at the finish. Easily my most enjoyable event of 2008

Thanks for the info, my French isn't up to much & could only find how to change the payment page to English.

cookiemonster

what more do you need to know?

really - if you're interested and have questions then im happy to help

heavymental

I rode up from Sault and watched the tour on Ventoux last week then the following day rode up from Bedoin in scorching temperatures. Its a great climb. Very hard but that was mainly due to the heat. Its also quite emotional to stop at the Tommy Simpson memorial. Provence was lovely and I'd love to go back and ride there some more.

I don't think you need to pay a company really. Just go for a few days camping somewhere close and get a local map.

Bhima

Getting in to France at about 4:30 so i'm going to go up it around 7am with a mountain-bike cassette + rear mech the first time and do it as slowly as possible.

Then, i'm going to do it later on in the day, when fully recovered, probably around 5/6 o'clock and give it everything.

It's no different to my normal hilly training loop, in terms of height covered and distance - the only thing that freaks me out is just the relentless nature of it. :shock:

dilemna

Geoff_SS wrote:

.........Don't know of any organised trips...........
Geoff

I was looking at an organised trip a couple of years ago and thought about doing one next year. Had looked at STI/Graham Baxter Tours but nothing came of it, but after reading about all the experiences from hell posted by cyclists on here who had been with them on the Tour d'Etape I would say choose very carefully and certainly avoid STI / GB Cycling Tours.

1892

cookiemonster wrote:

what more do you need to know?

really - if you're interested and have questions then im happy to help

I was looking @ doing it next year, not that flush @ mo. Do you book the flights yourself? Do I take my own bike or hire 1? Things like that really.

clanton

An organised trip really isn't necessary. There are a number of campsites in the area, we booked ours online and in English (Camping les Verguettes, Villes -sur-Auzon). Then trundle across to Bedoin and follow the signs. It really couldn't be simpler.

Carry enough water and slap on the sunblock and the job's done. If you do go early in the morning a warm top for the top and the descent is worthwhile - the wind up there is very strong!

1892

Cheers, got caught out by the sun on sunday, came back from Donington with a bright pink face :oops: