Ventoux Gearing

rpherts

larkim wrote:

bernithebiker wrote:

larkim wrote:

and b) will take you into the 2000m+ zone where oxygen deficit can start to impact actual and perceived performance levels.

Ventoux summit is 1912m.

My bad, sorry! Thought it was higher than that, mainly based on the quasi lunar landscape!

It just seems like it is higher.

davidof

bernithebiker wrote:

Svetty wrote:

davidof wrote:

JSCL wrote:

I'd say if you've got 52/36 and 11/28, you'll be fine

I agree 36x28 should be fine. I last rode it on 39x28 and it was ok from the Bedoin side, the steep bits are not that long. I would ride some of the big alpine cols on a 34x28 for comparison.

Given that the Bedoin climb is at least as taxing as 'the big alpine cols' , I'm bemused as to why a 39 is OK for Ventoux when you use a 34 in the rest of the alps................... :roll:

+1

I've ridden most of the Alpine cols, and the long forest section of the Ventoux is up there as one of the toughest of the lot (and the rest of the climb is no picnic either!)

Galibier, Col de l'Iseran, la Bonnette, Stelvio etc are much much higher and much longer. A lot of the Italian and Spanish cols have crazy gradients on them.

You are probably thinking of medium alpine cols, like the Croix de Fer :-). Ventoux is a relatively easy medium scale mountain which has its reputation due to the potential for heat and wind but it is up there with l'Alpe d'Huez for being overrated.

robbo2011

I always find it mildly perplexing when UK riders refer to the Alps thinking that they begin and end in France. I guess it is an effect of the Tour de France. In reality, the French Alps are a small corner of a huge mountain range. The more interesting parts are further east, IMO.

gimpl

PBlakeney wrote:

David Millar on ITV during the Vuelta - These guys will be using small gears. "34 x 29 or 30, 32".
Now, the Ventoux may not be as steep but we are not elite pro riders either. Just saying.

I saw that and immediately thought of this thread as well.

Give me a 34 x 32 any day for any serious climb, certainly not too proud to admit it.

buckmulligan

Alright, alright, we've all had enough of your collective wittering on about how to fit the easiest gear on the back of your mamil-mobiles; we've all done Mont Ventoux, yes it's a great climb blah blah blah, get over it.

You all need to HTFU, read the following thread and post your admiration immediately:

viewtopic.php?f=40003&t=13068769

sloppyschleckonds

BuckMulligan wrote:

Alright, alright, we've all had enough of your collective wittering on about how to fit the easiest gear on the back of your mamil-mobiles; we've all done Mont Ventoux, yes it's a great climb blah blah blah, get over it.

You all need to HTFU, read the following thread and post your admiration immediately:

viewtopic.php?f=40003&t=13068769

Chateau!

pblakeney

Chapeau!

Not quite worth giving you a house for it though.

buckmulligan

I suspect that's a reference to UK Cycling Expert on Twitter

dag_on_a_bike

Well, Bourg d'Oisans tomorrow for 10 days.

I shall be more than happy to stick with my 50/34 - 11-32.

At 60 years + 86kgs, I need all the help I can get.

DeVlaeminck

davidof wrote:

Galibier, Col de l'Iseran, la Bonnette, Stelvio etc are much much higher and much longer. A lot of the Italian and Spanish cols have crazy gradients on them.

You are probably thinking of medium alpine cols, like the Croix de Fer :-). Ventoux is a relatively easy medium scale mountain which has its reputation due to the potential for heat and wind but it is up there with l'Alpe d'Huez for being overrated.

I'd have Ventoux in the same ball park as the Galibier - CdF a touch easier - haven't done the rest. If Ventoux is too easy you can always climb it via the unpaved road though.

bernithebiker

DeVlaeminck wrote:

davidof wrote:

Galibier, Col de l'Iseran, la Bonnette, Stelvio etc are much much higher and much longer. A lot of the Italian and Spanish cols have crazy gradients on them.

You are probably thinking of medium alpine cols, like the Croix de Fer :-). Ventoux is a relatively easy medium scale mountain which has its reputation due to the potential for heat and wind but it is up there with l'Alpe d'Huez for being overrated.

I'd have Ventoux in the same ball park as the Galibier - CdF a touch easier - haven't done the rest. If Ventoux is too easy you can always climb it via the unpaved road though.

Indeed. Galibier is NOT longer than Ventoux, (18.1km vs 22km).

I'd say they're both equally hard, but different. Galibier is higher so has more oxygen deficit, but you climb 400m more on the Ventoux.

Anyway, if you think the Ventoux is 'relatively easy' you're probably not climbing it fast enough....

manic_esso

on-yer-bike wrote:

I did the Cingles du Ventoux on 34-50 11-27. Bedoin was first and it was hard but fine and Im an old man

I'm interested in doing this.

Any info you can offer would be welcome. What route did you do and would you say in retrospect that it was the right choice. Any problems getting the brevet or card stamped ? Places to get food ? How windy was it ?

Any other logistical tit-bits that would be useful such as where to stay etc.

Cheers

manic_esso

DAG on a bike wrote:

Well, Bourg d'Oisans tomorrow for 10 days.

I shall be more than happy to stick with my 50/34 - 11-32.

At 60 years + 86kgs, I need all the help I can get.

Good luck and let us know how you got on !

LeeDa

Slow cadence intervals would help with pushing a big gear at times on a longer climb. Allows you to put more torque through pedals. I personally get much stronger on climbs after 2-3 weeks of doing sessions like 8-12mins tempo @ 60-75rpm x 4. Just need to be careful of niggles if not use to it - achilles / knees. Too late for your trip but putting it out there anyway.