Quickest travel to Mont Ventoux?

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screenman

Squire
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.

It was really nice and sunny last Saturday, we even had lunch outside halfway up in the cafe. As for salting they had done some up there on the darker side, and made a better job of it than they do here. Sunday though was another story, I would not have fancied that weather.
 

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
It was really nice and sunny last Saturday, we even had lunch outside halfway up in the cafe. As for salting they had done some up there on the darker side, and made a better job of it than they do here. Sunday though was another story, I would not have fancied that weather.
Ah, interesting. It certainly is a time of year when you can get extremes. And those extremes will be amplified up on the tops. Even in the summer I've experienced being in the cloud and rain and 15C up at just 1200m, then in full-on sun and 35C within 20km at 400m.
 

andym

Über Member
Ah, interesting. It certainly is a time of year when you can get extremes. And those extremes will be amplified up on the tops. Even in the summer I've experienced being in the cloud and rain and 15C up at just 1200m, then in full-on sun and 35C within 20km at 400m.

The temperature falls by 6 degrees centigrade for every 1000 metres of altitude. If the mountain top is shrouded in cloud then it will be colder still.
 

young Ed

Veteran
The temperature falls by 6 degrees centigrade for every 1000 metres of altitude. If the mountain top is shrouded in cloud then it will be colder still.
generally the logic but when i went and tried to climb Kebnekaise (Swedens highest mountain) this summer it was about 7 degrees c at base camp during the day but about 25 degrees c on the top as it was above the cloud. still covered in snow but everyone was walking about in T shirts up there!
see my blog in my signature for a write up
Cheers Ed
 

TheDoctor

Noble and true, with a heart of steel
Moderator
Location
The TerrorVortex
I'll just be aiming for Chalet Reynard. I agree - 1900m in November isn't the best place for a bike.
Skis, maybe, but not a Brompton.
I'll see what the weather's doing - even if I just ride the Nesque gorge it'll be fun.
 

jack smith

Veteran
Location
Durham
Di
generally the logic but when i went and tried to climb Kebnekaise (Swedens highest mountain) this summer it was about 7 degrees c at base camp during the day but about 25 degrees c on the top as it was above the cloud. still covered in snow but everyone was walking about in T shirts up there!
see my blog in my signature for a write up
Cheers Ed
didnt do that with scouts by anychance?
 

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
Yes, I just looked at it now, and saw a lot of black :laugh:.
It was just swirling cloud and rain earlier, when I looked.
 

young Ed

Veteran
Di

didnt do that with scouts by anychance?
nah, my family is mad and we are friends with an almost equally mad family (the mum might even be slightly madder!)
it also helps that my mum happens to be Swedish and our friends that we went with are all pure Swedes and live in Sweden
Cheers Ed
 

TheDoctor

Noble and true, with a heart of steel
Moderator
Location
The TerrorVortex
Just to give general advice for getting to Ventoux.
Get to Avignon, Marseilles, Nimes (just about) or (in extremis) Lyon, either by train (if you're in the south) or air. Seat61.com can fill you in on trains.
Then hire a car if you're strapped for time.
Drive or ride to Bedoin (classic route up) Maulaucene (probably just as steep) or Sault (easy route up).

Taking a road bike there is a royal pain however you do it. That's why I'm using a Brommie, even though it's far from the best tool for the job.
I'm doing a weeks tour, and it's easy to get folders on and off trains and buses.
If you just want to ride Ventoux, do yourself a favour and hire a road bike once you arrive - all three villages have hire bikes available.
 

jack smith

Veteran
Location
Durham
I Was hoping to take my s works tarmac, would their be any implications on riding from getting off the train or do all bikes need to be boxed?
 

jack smith

Veteran
Location
Durham
Just seen you need a bike bag to that specific station im wondering if i could take a large rucksack and just put the bike bag in that after the train journey to cycle to the destination, never had a bike bag so ive no idea how foldable they are, might be best just to bus it
 

TheDoctor

Noble and true, with a heart of steel
Moderator
Location
The TerrorVortex
The trouble is that Eurostar want it either stripped down and in a bag, where they'll charge you £10 each way to book it in, or whole as-is, when they charge you £30 each way.
TGVs, OTOH, want it bagged and you stick it on a rack with all the other luggage.
You're not going to be riding it from Avignon station without some re-assembly.
And carrying a bike-inna-bag across Paris is no fun. Been there, done that.
 

jack smith

Veteran
Location
Durham
My plan is london to avignon, it says i can take a bike bag as part of my luggage allowance? Looking at buses it seems avignon to carpentras then from there to bedoin whoch appently only costs around £3 although i cant find info on if they take bikes or not
 
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