Novice Cyclist looking for Mont Ventoux tips

[Paul_L]

First time poster here!

I’ll be 40 later this year, and one thing I really want to do in my 40th year is cycle up Mont Ventoux.

In reality it’s going to be next year (i’m thinking Easter before it gets too hot) as we’ve got our second child due this summer.

I used to do a fair bit of cycling in my younger days, although more commuting and Sunday leisure rides rather than competing.

The longest i have ever ridden is the London to Brighton charity event.

I’m pretty fit though, and have previously run 3 marathons, so I know how to train for a target. My running days are over sadly due to ongoing back problems, but I have found the back isn’t a problem cycling. I’m going to need to loose a bit of weight though as I'm just under 90kg

I need to factor riding the Ventoux into a family holiday – it’s the only way I’ll get away with it!

I’ve a few questions to ask anyone that can contribute or if you’ve ridden the Ventoux before.

First question – and the obvious one – how hard is it? The gradient profile doesn’t look that steep (7% ?) but it looks like the toughness factor is the length of the bugger at over 13 miles.

Are there recommended routes? I want to tackle it from Bedoin as I want to stop at the Tom Simpson memorial on the way up. I’m guessing the assent is going to take an hour and a half to 2 hours, possibly more? Anyway, i’d like to make a day of the ride. But I’m also mindful of my fitness levels and lack of cycling training. Any tips? My first thought is the route as in the Tim Moor French Revolutions book, a round trip from Carpentras.

In terms of equipment, is it better to take my own bike out with me or hire one out there. In an ideal world I’d buy a new machine, but that’s not financially viable. I have a fairly basic Giant road bike which is about 15years old, but it’s still in decent nick, so I’m hoping that would do the job. It would need a bit of a service though.

I’m sure there are other questions, specifically getting a training schedule together but i’m sure there are people out there who’ve got a lot of knowledge I can tap into, so I can start the ball rolling.

Thanks in advance.

Paul

 

[Redmountduo]

My wife and i did Ventoux in May 2007.
I would say that the climb is not as hard as most would imagine but just goes on for longer.
we did it on trikes and purposly took our time, mainly to save energy but also to take in all that it had to offer.
Be aware of the possible temperature differences.
It was 25 degrees at the bottom and -3 at the top!!
The Bedoin side is much better asthetically and you get the real buzz leaving the tree line and entering the upper "Moonscape"
It still rates as my best cycling moment.
Age isnt a problem, we saw people from 16 to 80 doing the ascent.
Good luck...it is something that you will never forget.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I had a go 2 years ago.... and failed. Unfortunately I had one shot at it and it was midday when I got there after a 3 hour drive. It was 100F, high humidity and no wind. I blew-up with overheating before Chalet Reynard .

Agree with the above, it's not so steep but it is unrelenting, the first half in the trees for me was incredibly hot, like being in an oven, once out into the moonscape it was a tad cooler. So my advice is not to attempt it in the mid-day heat in July/August-time. I'll be back!

Mrs FF took me to the top in the car... the downhill is awesome... 22km in 22 mins! Overtook a 4x4 at 49 mph, what a buzz.

 

[rich p]

I did it last June and it was pretty warm but cooler as you get higher. There are several bike shops where you can hire a good road bike in Bedoin and Malaucene. There are links to them at www.veloventoux.com. This is a lovely place to stay with an English couple, Craig and Vicky and would be a lovely place to stay for a couple of nights with the family. They have a gite they rent out on the land.
It is an easy start from Bedoin but then a relentless 10 to 12% to the top. I'm a reasonably fit 54 year old and it took me and my friends between 2h and 2h15mins. As FF says the descent is awesome. I went up from Bedoin and down to Malaucene with a stop for beer and chips 6k from the summit.
It's a great climb and a lovely area.
I think Easter may be too early and possibly still snowed in at the top. The Paris-Nice stopped before the summit 2 years ago IIRC.
The Simpson memorial is quite close to the top so I didn't stop and was too sh*gged to go down to it but took a reasonable picture of it on the move!

 

[Paul_L]

thanks all. really helpful points.

Maybe i should think about a route to / from Bedoin rather than Carpentras as it appears my original estimate of 1.5 to 2 hrs for the climb maybe vastly under-estimated!!!

Does climbing the Ventoux only count if you don't stop ????

 

[rich p]

thanks all. really helpful points.

Maybe i should think about a route to / from Bedoin rather than Carpentras as it appears my original estimate of 1.5 to 2 hrs for the climb maybe vastly under-estimated!!!

Does climbing the Ventoux only count if you don't stop ????

Of course not but I personally like to do them without stopping.

 

[Redmountduo]

We did it non stop, but at a slow pace.
I see no reason why you cannot stop.....you have to take pics after all.
you should do the climb however you wish. Getting to the top is still an acomplishment and a great thrill.

 

[Cathryn]

I'm doing it this May (hopefully). I'm going from Sault (the victory photo will be same no matter which route you take) but plan to come down past the Tom Simpson memorial. I'm taking my own bike out and have no qualms about stopping! I predict a pain au chocolat break at some point!!

Really useful info everyone, thank you!!! It's going to be fab!!

 

[ASC1951]

I've done all three routes - slowly - and they are sustained rather than savage. 1.5 hours for any of them would be pretty brisk, I think!

The top part of the descent to Malaucene is a good place to do a downhilling PB. 91 of your Earth kph. Very frightening.

While you are there, do ride the Gorges de la Nesque, which is a fabulous piece of road.

 

[andy_wrx]

Try these threads for more info, photos, links to other sites, etc
http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=2884
http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=6419
http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=12481

Beware of weather - contrast my experience with that of Fab Foodie : for him it was brutally hot, for me it was bitterly cold and windy.
On a good day it would be easy enough if you're fit and determined, on a bad day it's tough, if a very bad day when it's a gale and snow at the top I'd not bother.

Here's a quote from one of those posts

It's worth reading the wind forecast and adapting.
I was there in May and there was an unbelievably strong north wind. So I switched that morning from doing the Bedoin route and did the Malaucene route (the little push from the wind was really appreciated!). Did Bedoin the next day when it was calmer

If you want the Tom Simpson memorial, both the Bedoin and Sault routes go past it (they join at Chalet Reynard), it's perhaps a km or so down the other side if you were to come up from Malaucene.

 

[gavintc]

Ventoux is a challenge. It is a relentless grind, turning pedal after pedal struggling against gravity. I have been up from Bedoin and from Malaucene and will be back this summer to watch TdF on the mountain. We are not sure which route we will choose as we will want to carry some extra stuff to while away 2-3 hours awaiting the race - probable Sault. The temp difference is significant.

As for time, I was told that a decent club rider should be able to beat 2 hours. I did it in 1 hr 50 mins the first time and 1 hr 40 mins on the 2nd visit.

 

[Cathryn]

I'll take most of the day

 

[TheDoctor]

I did this last May.
I took the easiest way up - from Sault. Getting to Chalet Reynard took just under 2 hours - that's where the road from Bedoin comes to. The top 6k is the moonscape part, and it's really, really hard. My advice would be :-
Get as fit as you can beforehand
Get some really low gears.
Take it steady. You're looking at a few solid hours of climbing, so pace yourself.
Enjoy it!

As others have said - Easter may be a little early. In early May there was a lot of snow about. And don't underestimate the sun.

 

[Tony]

Lots of good advice there, and weather is the key to it.
Take water. Lots of water. Even if it is a cool day, the wind on that hill can suck it right out of you.
Take a windproof top, hat and gloves.. Ventoux is an isolated peak, and catches any breeze going. It is around 6,000' high, and the temperature differences can be extreme. I did it in early September, in a heatwave (but they STILL closed the pool in Avignon on Sept 1st!) and the top was already cooler. The glare from the pebbles is really painful when the sun is out, too.
The last short drag through the "moonscape" isn't a short drag, and that tower stays the same size for a stupidly long time. Don't rush because you think you're nearly there---you aren't.
The windproof stuff is mainly for the descent. If it isn't a hot day, the chilling effect can have you off the bike.
As already said, it is a grind rather than a wall. Get a nice granny gear, but make sure you still have a decent top one. You will spin out on the descent......

 

[inaperfectworld]

not done ventoux but done some alps (i'm 54). i found the key to these long climbs was to start off in a low gear taking it gently to start and then just let a steady rhythm of pedalling and breathing develop; change up a gear later if you like but i was happy to stay in my 2 lowest gears. stop if you like , it's arriving at the top that counts, but i found that once in a good rhythm it felt easier to not break this. i took the photos on the way down and was pleased to stop to let the very hot brakes cool down. i plan to do this end of may next year (i'm going to the vercors and into the alps again this year)