Some pointers please - keen mid-life bloke looking to get up Mt. Ventoux.

[BSRU]

Here is my descent from Ventoux

View: https://youtu.be/UPQcyvShQgw


The views are amazing on the way up too

I'd be too scared to do that😱.

 

[rualexander]

There's nothing difficult about riding up Mont Ventoux.
As long as you have suitable gearing on your bike.
Unfortunately, very few bikes come with suitable gearing fitted at the time of purchase.

 

[Spudmaster]

There's nothing difficult about riding up Mont Ventoux.
As long as you have suitable gearing on your bike.
Unfortunately, very few bikes come with suitable gearing fitted at the time of purchase.

50/34 on the front and 34-10 ( maybe 11?) on the back. Hopefully that should be ok?

 

[Dogtrousers]

50/34 on the front and 34-10 ( maybe 11?) on the back. Hopefully that should be ok?

That's what I used to go up the Grand Colombier, which is broadly comparable.

Although I wouldn't say there was "nothing difficult" about it. There was quite a lot difficult about it.

 

[CXRAndy]

50/34 on the front and 34-10 ( maybe 11?) on the back. Hopefully that should be ok?

I would swap the crank for a 46/28. And have a11-36 on the back

I would not underestimate the fatigue as the air gets thinner above 1500metres

 

[bobzmyunkle]

50/34 on the front and 34-10 ( maybe 11?) on the back. Hopefully that should be ok?

Perfect. Jfdi.

 

[Exlaser2]

50/34 on the front and 34-10 ( maybe 11?) on the back. Hopefully that should be ok?

That should be fine . I did it with 50/34 on the front and a 11/32 cassette. 😀

 

[rualexander]

That's what I used to go up the Grand Colombier, which is broadly comparable.

Although I wouldn't say there was "nothing difficult" about it. There was quite a lot difficult about it.

What was difficult about it?

 

[rualexander]

50/34 on the front and 34-10 ( maybe 11?) on the back. Hopefully that should be ok?

Too highly geared, especially for someone who "hate hills", and is not used to long climbs.

 

[CXRAndy]

That should be fine . I did it with 50/34 on the front and a 11/32 cassette. 😀

Depends on your weight and level of fitness. He currently weighs 90kg, which is Clydesdale territory. He will find sustained 10% gradients draining without suitable gearing

I've ridden with a super lightweight chap up Ventoux, who climbed the mountain on a 53t front chain ring. He set off one hour after me and came past just as we got near the tower

Horses for courses

 

[roubaixtuesday]

I would swap the crank for a 46/28. And have a11-36 on the back

I would not underestimate the fatigue as the air gets thinner above 1500metres

The air gets thinner from sea level. You won't feel any appreciable effect of altitude at 1500m, and Ventoux isn't even 2000m.

On gearing, the OP aims to be 85kg. That's definitely not "Clydesdale territory", though we don't know their height. This, writing as an 85kg person who's climbed many 2000m+ summits.