Mt Ventoux

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stumpy

Active Member
Location
Birmingham area
Just blowing my own trumpet!!! And to let anyone who asked me to let them know how I got on.(If that makes sense??)

I did the Mt Ventoux challenge a couple of weeks ago. So all three assents in one day at a total time of 8 hours 15. The hardest thing was the heat (39 degrees) but it was so much harder than I'd thought it would be. so quite proud of myself really....and I'm now a member of The Club des Cinglès du Mont-Ventoux.. :eek::biggrin::biggrin:

Just to see how fast we could do one climb (from Bédoin) we did it again a couple of days after and went up in 1 hour 44 mins.. (I think I could do better now I know what to train for though)

Next challenge is the Fred Whitton challenge.......Why O why do I agree to these things????:eek:
 
Sh4rkyBloke

Sh4rkyBloke

Jaffa Cake monster
Location
Manchester, UK
Excellent - well done you!! I'd love to do it at some point... whether I'll actually ever get there though is another question.

Was it an organised ride (roads closed etc.) or just you and some mates deciding to go for it?
 
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mike e

Guest
Nice riding.................

Ventoux is definately on my "to do list", how was the weather when you rode it, I've heard it can be a bit windy up there...:angry:

I rode the Alpe the day after the tour went up it last year.

Wasn't timing myself but rode a 1 hour 12 mins 53 secs...;)

Would like to have another go and try and crack sub 1 hour but nearly 13 mins would be a lot of time to lose...
 
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stumpy

Active Member
Location
Birmingham area
It was just me an my mate that did it after some discussion that I barely remember at a party in June.
It wasn't an expensive thing to do either as we drove down and camped there so a week in the south of France only cost about £400 inc ferries and toll road fees!!
The weather was roastingly hot (39 degrees most days) but it did get windy on top around 6/7 pm
I presume you mean Alp du heuz mike?? I'm trying to talk the missus into going somewhere near there next year. for a nice relaxing holiday...
 
cheadle hulme

cheadle hulme

Guru
Location
Clywdian Range
stumpy said:
Just to see how fast we could do one climb (from Bédoin) we did it again a couple of days after and went up in 1 hour 44 mins.. (I think I could do better now I know what to train for though)
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Only 50 minutes slower than Iban Mayos time then.:smile:;)

Seriously, 1'44 is good going. I took about 5 mins longer this summer. Its the heat that got me rather than the gradient (which apart from a few kms in the forest, wasn't that bad).
 
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stumpy

Active Member
Location
Birmingham area
cheadle hulme said:
Only 50 minutes slower than Iban Mayos time then.:angry:;)

Seriously, 1'44 is good going. I took about 5 mins longer this summer. Its the heat that got me rather than the gradient (which apart from a few kms in the forest, wasn't that bad).
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Yeah we were going for the record but stopped trying as we didn't want to embarrass a pro cyclist with our climbing abilities....:smile:

The heat was the real killer. once you got a rythem going the gradient wasn't to bad. but it's 100 times harder when your breathing in air thats hotter than when you breath out...

and yeah ASC, the Marmotte or the coast to coast along the Pyrenees is the next big one..there is talk of the fred whitton challege next year though if we can get on it. Anyone done that??? how painful out of 10 is it????
 
gavintc

gavintc

Guru
Location
Southsea
I have climbed all 3 routes - but in different years. Doing all in 1 day is seriously hard work, well done. My time from Bedoin was 1hr 50 and from Malacenne 1hr 45 and I did not time it from Sault as it was packed with TdF supporters (this July) and we just went with the flow.
 
TheDoctor

TheDoctor

Noble and true, with a heart of steel
Moderator
Location
The TerrorVortex
All three in one day? You're mad. Certifiable.
Deepest respect. Doing it from Sault was enough for me.
*raises hat*
 
repairtec

repairtec

New Member
Location
Provence
1h44 is excellent, I managed a 1h38 a few years back without any specific training or nourisment and there was a bad Mistral blowing at the top ( it often hits 200km/h and the record is over 300km/h ) the following year I trained really seriously on the local mountains as I live near to the Ventoux, bags of the right food in the days before plus a good nights sleep and did it in 2h15 a disaster what, another year I set of minutes before the Mapei Velo Club from Bruxelles and managed not to get caught but waited for them to arrive before going back down, they soon dropped me in the hairpins I arrived 1/2h later in the car park and they paid me a beer for beating them on the way up. The following year I got to the Chalet Reynard 10 minutes up on my fastest time feeling in great form 5 minutes later I got 'La fringale' = 'The bonk' I had to stop a dozen times in the last 7km.... total time 2h1/2

If you like the Ventoux you should try the Signale de Lurs 50km to the east its a 17km climb from the village of St Etienne les Orgues, some hardened riders say its more difficult as the road winds less.
 
rich p

rich p

ridiculous old lush
Location
Brighton
stumpy said:
Yeah we were going for the record but stopped trying as we didn't want to embarrass a pro cyclist with our climbing abilities....:laugh:

The heat was the real killer. once you got a rythem going the gradient wasn't to bad. but it's 100 times harder when your breathing in air thats hotter than when you breath out...

and yeah ASC, the Marmotte or the coast to coast along the Pyrenees is the next big one..there is talk of the fred whitton challege next year though if we can get on it. Anyone done that??? how painful out of 10 is it????
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Nice going! I did 2h4m last year in searing heat and Ad'Huez the year before in 1h16m but I am an old(ish) git.

I did the Fred Whitton a couple of years ago by taking it very easy on the hills but the killer is Hardknott and Wrynose after 100 miles. 30%! I walked most of Hardknott but as long as you're fit for the distance it is definitely do-able. I suspect you could beat my time of 11 hours.
 
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S

stumpy

Active Member
Location
Birmingham area
repairtec said:
1h44 is excellent, I managed a 1h38 a few years back without any specific training or nourisment and there was a bad Mistral blowing at the top .... total time 2h1/2

If you like the Ventoux you should try the Signale de Lurs 50km to the east its a 17km climb from the village of St Etienne les Orgues, some hardened riders say its more difficult as the road winds less.
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1:38 is a great time. I think I can do under 1:30 with a bit more training. And I'll defo try the "Signale de Lurs" while I'm there. I'm very envious of you living round there ;).... Must be awsome..

Cheers Rich, I'll be aiming to beat 11 hours then!! ;)
I can do 100 miles with no major problem so it's just the hilly bit at the end that I need to work on.. At least it won't be as hot a Ventoux....
 
OP
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stumpy

Active Member
Location
Birmingham area
jimboalee said:
Now will you believe me,,, "There are no hill's within 50 miles of Birmingham".

Well done.
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haha... :biggrin::biggrin: The clent hills ain't exactly flat though are they??? :laugh:
good for doing rep's up!!!!:laugh: But true...no real hills....and Thanks
 
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