Quickest travel to Mont Ventoux?

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briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
I think avignon airport is only really open in Summer.
Ah. You're probably right. Nimes would be another possibility, though might be a Summer one again. It surprises me that Lyon is so poorly served, given the importance and size of the city. I've taken to flying to Paris CdG and then TGVing it down to Valence as a quick and cheap way to the south. At least CdG is served regularly through the year, and I can get from stepping off the plane to being on the TGV platform in 20 minutes.
 
Whether you take a train or plane, remember to take a warm/waterproof jacket and gloves. The summit can be 10° cooler than at Bédoin. If there is a strong wind, or worse gusting, take care. Because it is so exposed, especially the descent on the 'classic' route, the wind can be very scary! e.g. this thursday.

My fingers struggled to operate the brakes efficiently due to numbness in early september because I only had mitts and no jacket. Very foolish of me.

Brakes: if you are using a hire bike, keep reminding yourself that the front brake is operated with left hand lever!
 

TheDoctor

Noble and true, with a heart of steel
Moderator
Location
The TerrorVortex
I'm going on Friday, as it happens. Eurostar and TGV to Avignon, then riding round the Luberon and hopefully doing Ventoux from Sault. On a Brompton.
 

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
I'm going on Friday, as it happens. Eurostar and TGV to Avignon, then riding round the Luberon and hopefully doing Ventoux from Sault. On a Brompton.
Good luck ... wrap up well, and batten down any hatches you have:

ventoux.jpg
 

jack smith

Veteran
Location
Durham
Sorry if this is hijacking abit, im looking to do this too, been looking at eurostar prices to a place begginning with a (forgot and the website is currently down) but i wouldnt know where to go from there to get to the vtown at the base, id find a cheap b&b for 2 nights, settle in first night ride second day and head home the following morning.
or possibly even one night in the b&b ride the mt, get back back and sleep on the train home! Any help would be great, looks like over£100 return on the train though
 

slowmotion

Quite dreadful
Location
lost somewhere
Sorry if this is hijacking abit, im looking to do this too, been looking at eurostar prices to a place begginning with a (forgot and the website is currently down) but i wouldnt know where to go from there to get to the vtown at the base, id find a cheap b&b for 2 nights, settle in first night ride second day and head home the following morning.
or possibly even one night in the b&b ride the mt, get back back and sleep on the train home! Any help would be great, looks like over£100 return on the train though
1) Eurostar and TGV to Avignon
2) Get to Bedoin or Malaucene somehow
3) Suffer
4) Get elated
5) Go home

It's pretty simple. Have fun!
 
2) Get to Bedoin or Malaucene somehow
Are you bringing your bike with you, @jack smith? http://www.strava.com/routes/1147786
 

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
Bugger. Might leave Ventoux till later on in the week.
Of course, i don't actually have to do the wretched thing again...
It's rather late to be going up to 1900m, I'd have thought - especially given how exposed Ventoux is, and the fact that few French roads are salted, with the risk of ice at altitude. I won't be going over over any 1000m cols between the end of October and the end of March, let alone a 1900m mountain.
 
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jack smith

Veteran
Location
Durham
Yes I'll be taking the bike, I considered riding to accommodation but I've no garmin or anything and don't fancy my chances :laugh: Not to mention French is the one subject I didn't excel at in school!
 

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
Yes I'll be taking the bike, I considered riding to accommodation but I've no garmin or anything and don't fancy my chances :laugh: Not to mention French is the one subject I didn't excel at in school!
It would be an easy ride, and not hard to navigate - 42km, D225 and D942 to Carpentras, the D974 to Bédouin. Probably faster than trying to get there by public transport from Avignon.
 
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