bikeman66
Senior Member
- Location
- Isle of Wight
Well, five months after coming back from Provence (and having not taken a bike with me), I'm all booked up for a week's riding down there in late April / early May.
I drove up Mont Ventoux while we were on holiday down there in August, and, inspired by the sheer numbers of cyclists on the mountain, promised myself I would ride up the legendary climb before I hit 50. So, having twisted the good lady's arm in to letting me borrow her car (a 1,500 mile round trip in a Transit pick up just didn't seem too appealing), signing a couple of mates up for company, and booked the house and euro tunnel, we're off for a, hopefully, glorious week of cycling.
Have already uploaded five circular rides in to the Garmin, varying between 55 and 100km's, including a climb of Ventoux via the Bedoin route, followed by a descent down to Malaucene.
Although I have ridden bikes for years, I left road cycling behind back in my late teens and moved on to mountain bikes. I thoroughly enjoyed competing in various events and exploring the fantastic bridleways down here on the Isle of Wight. However, I was so fantastically inspired by the constant stream of men, women and children riding up Mont Ventoux, as I rather guiltily drove past them that day in August, that as soon as I arrived back in England I ordered myself a nice new Felt F95.
I'll admit that my first experience of a road bike in nearly 30 years was less than awe inspiring, as I gingerly cycled up the road, trying to tune in to the apparent twitchy handling, and slightly bone jarring ride. That was back in September, and I'm pleased to say that the Felt has re-kindled a love of cycling on tarmac, and only intensified a love of two wheels in general. The mountain bike, a Scott Reflex 20, still plays a large part in my cycling life, but I have to say that there is nothing like the exhilaration of nailing a climb or hitting a fast descent on the F95. I just love it!
Hoping the weather will play ball, and make it a week to remember in April/May!
I drove up Mont Ventoux while we were on holiday down there in August, and, inspired by the sheer numbers of cyclists on the mountain, promised myself I would ride up the legendary climb before I hit 50. So, having twisted the good lady's arm in to letting me borrow her car (a 1,500 mile round trip in a Transit pick up just didn't seem too appealing), signing a couple of mates up for company, and booked the house and euro tunnel, we're off for a, hopefully, glorious week of cycling.
Have already uploaded five circular rides in to the Garmin, varying between 55 and 100km's, including a climb of Ventoux via the Bedoin route, followed by a descent down to Malaucene.
Although I have ridden bikes for years, I left road cycling behind back in my late teens and moved on to mountain bikes. I thoroughly enjoyed competing in various events and exploring the fantastic bridleways down here on the Isle of Wight. However, I was so fantastically inspired by the constant stream of men, women and children riding up Mont Ventoux, as I rather guiltily drove past them that day in August, that as soon as I arrived back in England I ordered myself a nice new Felt F95.
I'll admit that my first experience of a road bike in nearly 30 years was less than awe inspiring, as I gingerly cycled up the road, trying to tune in to the apparent twitchy handling, and slightly bone jarring ride. That was back in September, and I'm pleased to say that the Felt has re-kindled a love of cycling on tarmac, and only intensified a love of two wheels in general. The mountain bike, a Scott Reflex 20, still plays a large part in my cycling life, but I have to say that there is nothing like the exhilaration of nailing a climb or hitting a fast descent on the F95. I just love it!
Hoping the weather will play ball, and make it a week to remember in April/May!