The Cinglés Club

mrc1

wheeledwidewebb wrote:

Is the list of ‘best avoided’ shops published anywhere do you know?

It might be on the club's website, but they normally have a little insert in the pack they send with a list of places to avoid. In general just avoid the bike shops and use shops where you can buy something cheap and fast like a coffee/water as that keeps the shop owner happy (they are running a business after all and have no connection with the challenge) and you likely will want refreshments anyway.

Bedoin - if you want to get the stamp first thing in the morning there is a bakery open super early on the main street. Otherwise just leave that stamp until the end of the day and get the bar that you have your celebratory drink in to stamp your card.

Top - there is a souvenir shop at the top who will stamp your card but it's best to buy something.

Malaucene - there is a small bakery on the left on the t junction that you hit as you enter the town. That's a great spot as you don't have to leave your bike out of sight and they knock out orders very quickly, compared to the bigger cafes and restaurants on the main drag in town.

Sault - a few choices here including a bar that is straight in front of you as you enter town.

wheeledwidewebb

Very helpful, thanks mrc1

svetty

mrc1 wrote:

wheeledwidewebb wrote:

Is the list of ‘best avoided’ shops published anywhere do you know?

It might be on the club's website, but they normally have a little insert in the pack they send with a list of places to avoid. In general just avoid the bike shops and use shops where you can buy something cheap and fast like a coffee/water as that keeps the shop owner happy (they are running a business after all and have no connection with the challenge) and you likely will want refreshments anyway.

Bedoin - if you want to get the stamp first thing in the morning there is a bakery open super early on the main street.

As with all French bakeries the produce is scrummy too - ideal fuel to get you started

I would endorse getting your card stamped at a café or somewhere where you actually buy something

meursault

BuckMulligan wrote:

Each to their own, but personally I really don't see the point in the whole brevet card club thing.

Why do you need someone else to validate what is essentially a solo-day out on the bike?!

I was in two minds about whether to sign up beforehand and in hindsight, for me, it would have just been sending someone €25 for a worthless piece of paper that would have been stuffed in a drawer immediately afterwards.

There are also stats on the website. I have enjoyed perusing the various stuff there. Although I am not in the least bit patriotic, the sort by nations is interesting. UK is very high for people completed challenge, so I don't mind adding our three names to the list.

vwillrocku

BuckMulligan wrote:

Each to their own, but personally I really don't see the point in the whole brevet card club thing.

Why do you need someone else to validate what is essentially a solo-day out on the bike?!

I was in two minds about whether to sign up beforehand and in hindsight, for me, it would have just been sending someone €25 for a worthless piece of paper that would have been stuffed in a drawer immediately afterwards.

Good point. The whole Cinglés Club is based on a trust system and nobody monitor the process. The stamps thing only causes trouble to riders and shops but nothing to do with credibility. Why not just summit the GPX file which is even more reliable?

Besides, I always like to know why people are so obsessed about this Club. If I feel reaching to the top 3 times is meaningful to me, then I would do it no matter I am recognized or approved or not. The mountain is not own by the Club, I don't need other people or organisation to approve my work or ability.

One of the reason to be the Club member might be, it is easier to show off to our friends, hey I am one of the thousand Club member and most of the others are not, so I am different and I am better! For me, this shows that I am strong in physical but weak in inside.

buckmulligan

I think making a club and keeping some "official" records is a nice endeavour, but it was just the €20 inscription fee that put me off.

If it was €5 i would've happily shelled out to support the cause, but at €20 I started to question what I was getting in return and for me, the answer was not a lot...

svetty

vwillrocku wrote:

Good point. The whole Cinglés Club is based on a trust system and nobody monitor the process. The stamps thing only causes trouble to riders and shops but nothing to do with credibility. Why not just summit the GPX file which is even more reliable?

Besides, I always like to know why people are so obsessed about this Club. If I feel reaching to the top 3 times is meaningful to me, then I would do it no matter I am recognized or approved or not. The mountain is not own by the Club, I don't need other people or organisation to approve my work or ability.

One of the reason to be the Club member might be, it is easier to show off to our friends, hey I am one of the thousand Club member and most of the others are not, so I am different and I am better! For me, this shows that I am strong in physical but weak in inside.

What a happy soul you appear to be..... :roll:

meursault

Svetty wrote:

vwillrocku wrote:

Good point. The whole Cinglés Club is based on a trust system and nobody monitor the process. The stamps thing only causes trouble to riders and shops but nothing to do with credibility. Why not just summit the GPX file which is even more reliable?

Besides, I always like to know why people are so obsessed about this Club. If I feel reaching to the top 3 times is meaningful to me, then I would do it no matter I am recognized or approved or not. The mountain is not own by the Club, I don't need other people or organisation to approve my work or ability.

One of the reason to be the Club member might be, it is easier to show off to our friends, hey I am one of the thousand Club member and most of the others are not, so I am different and I am better! For me, this shows that I am strong in physical but weak in inside.

What a happy soul you appear to be..... :roll:

Indeed!

It's not the club people are obsessed with, but riding and climbing and cycling heritage. What is any sport for, if there is no record kept?

When you get your card stamped, it's in a local business, so chances are, you will buy a coffee and cake?

I expect there are plenty of people who do the challenge with no official recognition. Buona fortuna to them too.

vwillrocku

I always told my girl friends getting marriage means nothing as our love don't need any law or anyone to prove. You could expect their reactions........

But it it something I truely believe, no matters it is a relationship or cycling or even my occupation. I don't need to show my results or records to others, nor I would buy any souvenir when travelling. I have Strava account which is used as a dairy but if it is trouble to use, e.g. I have to pay and then wait them to send me a card, get stamps and send it back to wait for my name appear on Strava, I would not do that. Even they pay me. If I am a pro cyclist, I would need records and recognition to make a living, but luckily I am not and I cannot. So every riding for me is a success as I don't need any result or prove. As I don't have result, my result could not be broken and never feel stress or disappointing. If I spend my whole holiday aimed to get the Club badge but I couldn't make it, disappointment would come to my mind. Cycling for me is about freedom, obessed to get something tangible from it makes me not so free.

I have been to Ventoux once, very unusual and wide. I have this strong feeling may be I rode slow and no aim.

vwillrocku

meursault wrote:

Svetty wrote:

It's not the club people are obsessed with, but riding and climbing and cycling heritage. What is any sport for, if there is no record kept?

When you get your card stamped, it's in a local business, so chances are, you will buy a coffee and cake?

I expect there are plenty of people who do the challenge with no official recognition. Buona fortuna to them too.

Very interesting conversation, thanks.
From my personal view, I sometimes feel many sports of today are too related to sponsors. Pro sportsman become moving advertising boards. Sports from my view should be like children playing together or just run and run because it is fun. No breaking record is needed. The easiest way to kill the interest of a child is to tell them break records and more records.

Buying something to support local products is a good idea. But again, I would prefer to support them because I truely appreciate their products or service from my heart rather than I need a stamp. I think this is healthier for the economy.

But I really appreciate riders could make to the top of Ventoux several times a day. If they do it not because of any external recognition, I would even more respect and appreciate them.

Enjoy riding from hearts!

mtb-idle

I'm just heading back from Bedoin having successfully completed the Cingles on Saturday.

It was a mates 50th birthday and fifteen of us were away for four days. An excellent trip and he had even designed a team kit which we all wore and is actually quite nice in terms of quality and design and I will wear again.

Most had paid the twenty euros for the card but I couldn't be bothered. The ride is on strava and we have.tons of pics and videos and memories. I don't need any more clutter.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1660135014/

I can also highly recommend the warm down ride we did the following day over to the gorges de la nesque. Google it.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1660139907

We also spent plenty in local businesses in the Bedoin pizza parlour and bars, the Malaucene coffee shop and Chalet Reynard.

There was a sportive on the same day with 5,000 Belgians taking part. The locals made a killing.

shirley_basso

How hard was it?

What gearing/weight are you as well? I am 75 kg, ridden about 2,500 miles this year and hoping to take 34/28.

itboffin

durhamwasp wrote:

We did it in 2010, and are going back in July for another bash. Our report from last time is on the website link in my sig. Best day of cycling ever.

Ha yeah remember reading that when you did it, my club did it last year but sadly i couldnt be there, its the next thing on my list.

mtb-idle

Shirley Basso wrote:

How hard was it?

What gearing/weight are you as well? I am 75 kg, ridden about 2,500 miles this year and hoping to take 34/28.

Assume that's aimed at me.

First ascent ok, second was hard, third was easier but with accumulated climbing in.legs turned out to be hard as well.

I'm 80kg, ridden more, circa 6k km but I am 53 years old. Canyon Ultimate which is 36 front 32 rear in lowest gear.

First time I've ever ridden to HR. Decided 150bpm was my optimal for climbing and stuck to that to conserve legs for later.

Had a low point on third ascent where couldn't get above 125bpm but fortunately a Belgian feed station halfway up sorted me out with some energy drink and a handful of peanuts. Got back in.my stride again after that.

Riding in a group is great too as it's all about mental strength and the comradeship and bantz keeps you going.

Check out the relive video

meursault

Shirley Basso wrote:

How hard was it?

What gearing/weight are you as well? I am 75 kg, ridden about 2,500 miles this year and hoping to take 34/28.

Very hard. I had to take a lot of breaks on our last climb (Bedoin) and give myself a stern talking to, to carry on.
I am about the same weight, maybe slightly heavier. did this training

https://www.strava.com/athletes/668786/training/log

Which began in earnest with the Isle of Wight 100k.

Hired bikes from

http://www.albioncycles.com

Very friendly and professional bike shop. Greeted by name by mechanic as we walked in. Cannot recommed highly enough. Giant defys

very nice bikes, no unexpected aches or pains from our group at all.

http://www.albioncycles.com/velo/course-carbone/

Shimano 105 2 × 11 transmission (crankset 34-50, cassette 11-32)

I wouldn't go lower than a 32 on the back, but I could have done with slightly more fitness and slightly less weight. Looking at the Strava segments, I am way down the timings list. I'm not too bothered though, as I wasn't even sure I could complete it, before we started.

We did Sault, Malaucene then Bedoin.

I would suggest doing the established order, Bedion, Malaucene, Sault difficult to easiest. Bedion is a brutal, over 10km of min 10%, no easing, and Malaucene is only very slightly easier.

Overall, a great trip and for me, massive accomplishment. Views from the mountain, all the heritage and Tom's memorial well worth the trip.

Only downsides I can think of were a lot of motorbikes and some kind of Lotus car club racing past a few times. So potentially quite dangerous. But it was a Sunday, and Ventoux does not exclusively belong to cyclists.

If you go for it, let us know how you get on.

meursault

MTB-Idle wrote:

Shirley Basso wrote:

How hard was it?

What gearing/weight are you as well? I am 75 kg, ridden about 2,500 miles this year and hoping to take 34/28.

Assume that's aimed at me.

First ascent ok, second was hard, third was easier but with accumulated climbing in.legs turned out to be hard as well.

I'm 80kg, ridden more, circa 6k km but I am 53 years old. Canyon Ultimate which is 36 front 32 rear in lowest gear.

First time I've ever ridden to HR. Decided 150bpm was my optimal for climbing and stuck to that to conserve legs for later.

Had a low point on third ascent where couldn't get above 125bpm but fortunately a Belgian feed station halfway up sorted me out with some energy drink and a handful of peanuts. Got back in.my stride again after that.

Riding in a group is great too as it's all about mental strength and the comradeship and bantz keeps you going.

Check out the relive video

Halfway up Malaucene my HR went into zone 6.1, which is somewhere near 180! Had to climb off and wait until it calmed down a bit.

shirley_basso

I am 31 and HR can get up to 190 still so not too worried about that.

Gearing will be 34x28 as not sure I can run 30T on SS rear mech.

Annual mileage should be up to 3K by the time we get there, all proper miles as I don't commute any more by bike, really.

Current struggle is getting enough liquid in the heat as I tend to start cramping up. Think I need to move my tools into my pockets and run and second bottle and maybe use some tablets in there.

meursault

Shirley Basso wrote:

I am 31 and HR can get up to 190 still so not too worried about that.

Gearing will be 34x28 as not sure I can run 30T on SS rear mech.

Annual mileage should be up to 3K by the time we get there, all proper miles as I don't commute any more by bike, really.

Current struggle is getting enough liquid in the heat as I tend to start cramping up. Think I need to move my tools into my pockets and run and second bottle and maybe use some tablets in there.

Yep, there were plenty of younger, fitter guys buzzing past us. I went with one 750ml bottle as there are plenty of chalets/restuarants and public fountains along the way to refill. I have recently stopped the drinks tabs, as they tend to make me too thirsty, and I get through my bottle too quickly.

mtb-idle

Here's my video of the day out. it's a bit difficult to compress nine hours of riding, 142km distance and 4,500 metres vertical into six minutes but hopefully it gives you a taster

Contact

We did Bedoin, Maluacene, Sault and I think I preferred that approach. I found Bedoin straightforward on fresh legs. Malaucene section of 11% for 3 km nearly did for me. Final ascent from Sault is by far the easiest but legs were totally shot by then.

I don't tend to drink much either and I'm a one bottle man. As MS says, plenty of places to fill up at top and bottom of each leg.

durhamwasp

Shirley Basso wrote:

How hard was it?

What gearing/weight are you as well? I am 75 kg, ridden about 2,500 miles this year and hoping to take 34/28.

You'll be fine with that gearing.

We used the same, and a couple of us weighed 77-80kg, and had around 1800-2000 miles for the year.

meursault

durhamwasp wrote:

Shirley Basso wrote:

How hard was it?

What gearing/weight are you as well? I am 75 kg, ridden about 2,500 miles this year and hoping to take 34/28.

You'll be fine with that gearing.

We used the same, and a couple of us weighed 77-80kg, and had around 1800-2000 miles for the year.

I don't get why you would risk it though?

You lose one tooth on the 11 or 12 on the other end. Just how fast do you need to descend?

Each to his own...

mtb-idle

If you ride Ventoux be sure to include the Gorges de la Nesque in your itinerary as well.

We rode the cingles on Saturday and the Gorges on Sunday as a shortish warm-down ride, although it still kicks up to 1,000 metres altitude.

If you start at Bedoin you do all the climbing first and then it's literally downhill all the way home via the gorges. A lengthy stop at a restaurant for lunch only enhanced the enjoyment.

Here's my take on the ride;

Comfort Eagle

The Gorges also makes it onto the 'most dangerous roads to ride' list although it never felt dangerous, just spectacular.

I can share a route from Bedoin if anyone is interested.

crescent

+1 for Gorge de La Nesque. Definitely worth a visit. The only danger I could see was a couple of blind bends at the tunnels but common sense will see you through them safely. Just a stunning ride.

roubaixmb

MTB-Idle wrote:

I can share a route from Bedoin if anyone is interested.

Yes please - aiming to Cingles this time next week.

mtb-idle

RoubaixMB wrote:

MTB-Idle wrote:

I can share a route from Bedoin if anyone is interested.

Yes please - aiming to Cingles this time next week.

Here you go.

I can also highly recommend the Restaurant La Nesque. Great food reasonable prices, large garden table as seen in the Comfort Eagle vid.

roubaixmb

MTB-Idle wrote:

RoubaixMB wrote:

MTB-Idle wrote:

I can share a route from Bedoin if anyone is interested.

Yes please - aiming to Cingles this time next week.

Here you go.

I can also highly recommend the Restaurant La Nesque. Great food reasonable prices, large garden table as seen in the Comfort Eagle vid.

Thank you

Solis

Just back from a week in Bedoin via the Bike Express. Completed the Cingles on our first day, would not want to be doing it any later in the summer, Garmin was indicating 41 degrees in the afternoon. We did a few more ascents during the week including last Friday from Bedoin when the Giant exacted some revenge... Forecast was windy (45km) at the summit but must have been nearer 70km, most of the few people venturing up where pushing the last couple of k's for fear of being blown off and the first few bends on the descent were "interesting". Would not like to have been going for the Cingles that day.
Echo all the above re the Gorge ride, really interesting ride.

shirley_basso

Rounded off the bolt for my NDS crank arm so 36/28 it is.

shirley_basso

Shirley Basso wrote:

Rounded off the bolt for my NDS crank arm so 36/28 it is.

Done. 8.02 moving. Pretty perfect day for it. Cool for the first, not too bad for the second and a smidge overcast for the third.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1728934002

wastelander

Looking forward to hopefully joining the list of riders who have achieved this in September - riding it for The Brain Tumour Charity on what would have been my sister's 50th birthday had she not passed due to a glioblastoma.

Luckily I live on the edge of the Pennines and have Holme Moss as a handy climb about 20 miles away - let's just say practice hills and hilly rides are not hard to find in South Yorkshire!!!

I've read all of the above posts/advice with great interest and it's heartening to read the success stories from you all - thank you.