Bittersweet day!

crispybug2

So, after over a years wait today was the day that I finally had an assault at Mont Ventoux which at great pain was duly completed in a touch under 3 hours (I had no idea that I could pedal so slowly, I was going at 5/6kph at the steepest sections) and stay upright !

However on the journey back to Frejus I was rear ended at 130 kph on the A7 which resulted in the rear wheel being completely mangled, the rear windscreen being shattered and, most distressingly, the Scott Foil and the rear bike carrier bouncing down the road at 80+mph and the Garmin which recorded all my rides and I had forgotten to take out of it's holder being crushed on the main road, all of which obviously royally pissed me off.

However I will say that this morning when I came off the autoroute at Carpentras this morning to see Ventoux framed against the morning sunrise was a sight worth a million pounds and one that will stay with me until my dying day!

But still pissed off as I have a week of holiday left and no riding to do.

Monty Dog

Oh cr@p! Hope you're OK and everything's insured. Hire a bike and charge it to your insurance.

ravey1981

If its not on Strava it didn't happen...... but seriously, thats crap, bad luck but at least you're ok.

tlw1

Unlucky to get rear ended at that speed, how fast were they going!

crispybug2

I've just had a bit of a delayed reaction to this and spent fifteen minutes or so uncontrollably crying my eyes out!!

Anyway, now that's out of the way I've got spend tomorrow sourcing a new wheel and tyre plus a new rear windscreen to replace the bits smashed to pieces!!

Monty Dog, thanks for the suggestion but I'm not going to hire a bike as my missus is a bit freaked out by today's events and doesn't need anymore worry and yeah I'm fine just feeling a little battered and bruised, but f##k it!!! I climbed Mont Ventoux today!!!

rpherts

I have seen some shocking driving down there.

rolf_f

crispybug2 wrote:

and the Garmin which recorded all my rides and I had forgotten to take out of it's holder being crushed on the main road, all of which obviously royally pissed me off.

Do you record to the internal memory or to a card (if your GPS has one). If the latter, it is quite possible that your ride is still intact! Amazing how much trauma cards can take and still be readable.

cm2

Thank whoever you thank for your safety and good fortune and remember the ride!

crispybug2

cm2 wrote:

Thank whoever you thank for your safety and good fortune and remember the ride!

This of course very very true!

I've had a stressful day trying to sort out a new rear windscreen and wheel (50% success rate!) and I'm now sitting on the terrace with a nice Belgian beer and my wife has just said to me. "It's a beautiful sunny day, you're still alive, me and the kids love you and yesterday you cycled up Mont Ventoux!!


Perspective !!

And yes! Yesterday I did cycle up Mont Ventoux!!

cm2

And yes! Yesterday I did cycle up Mont Ventoux!!

One day I hope to be able to type that!!!!!!!

crispybug2

cm2 wrote:

And yes! Yesterday I did cycle up Mont Ventoux!!

One day I hope to be able to type that!!!!!!!

Absolutely, go for it! It's the most fantastic climb I've ever done, for me it was reading all the riders names painted on the road passing underneath me as I chugged my painfully slow way up and the sudden and noticeable change in temperature as you leave the forest and enter the famous lunar landscape. I also had loads of people shouting encouragement and even offering beer which was a fantastic experience. My only slight regret is that I forgot to stop and leave a bidon at Tommy Simpson's memorial on the descent so maybe I'll to have another go just to rectify this faux pas.

But definitely, do it. You won't regret it.