The Giant of Provence.

Kirk007 · #1 08-13-2018, 12:14 AM

Climbing Ventoux from Bedoin, Phil Liggett's voice kept ringing in my head "the grade here is an unrelentingly 8-11% that just goes on and on.". What he doesn't tell us more mortals is that if you climb as slow as I do you also battle the horse flies trying to chomp on you. And the motorcycles and campers coming by on a Sunday afternoon in August we're almost as relentless as the flies. And then the folks cruising by on electric mountain bikes! Despite that it was a great ride/challenge and the screaming descent down to Malaucene was a blast. First time I've had cars pull over to let me pass. And only one motorbike passed me even though I was going 76 kph on that stretch.

Velotel, Lionel and any others who live in Provence/Alps - oh, la, la what a place you live in!

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Llewellyn · #2 08-13-2018, 01:25 AM

That jersey

- did you lose a bet? ............Just kidding - well done, what a great ride to cross off the bucket list

Lionel · #3 08-13-2018, 01:57 AM

Key is to start early. I am going Thu, will start rolling at 7am. Takes care of the bugs, camper etc... Going down the Malaucene side is the way to go as you have a lot less traffic there.

tv_vt · #4 08-13-2018, 08:13 AM

Well done! Besides starting early, avoid Sundays in summer. It's a nuthouse then.

I love that mountain.

oldpotatoe · #5 08-13-2018, 08:22 AM

Quote:

=Kirk007;2409431]Climbing Ventoux from Bedoin, Phil Liggett's voice kept ringing in my head "the grade here is an unrelentingly 8-11% that just goes on and on.". What he doesn't tell us more mortals is that if you climb as slow as I do you also battle the horse flies trying to chomp on you. And the motorcycles and campers coming by on a Sunday afternoon in August we're almost as relentless as the flies. And then the folks cruising by on electric mountain bikes! Despite that it was a great ride/challenge and the screaming descent down to Malaucene was a blast. First time I've had cars pull over to let me pass. And only one motorbike passed me even though I was going 76 kph on that stretch.

Velotel, Lionel and any others who live in Provence/Alps - oh, la, la what a place you live in!

WELL done and I like your jersey..copy to weisan-'pal'..

zap · #6 08-13-2018, 09:04 AM

Congrats...........must climb for serious cyclists.

HenryA · #7 08-13-2018, 03:25 PM

Awesome.

velotel · #8 08-13-2018, 03:35 PM

I'm impressed, no way would I ride that in the summer, way too hot. Of course this comes from someone who has the luxury of choosing when to ride it according to the latest weather forecasts. Late fall is my favorite time, when the road's closed (from Chalet Reynard on the Bédoin side, the ski area on the Malaucène side). One year I rode it on I think like the 23rd of December, which was kind of crazy, good crazy. But early spring is good too, again while the road is still closed. For myself I prefer the climb from Malaucène, but even better is the gravel road climb on the Bédoin side which I did this year for my birthday ride. A wonderful mountain for cyclists, hard as hell up, screaming good fun down. Congrats, good ride.