My Granny helped me to the top!

Saturday 16th September 2017 - between Malaucene and Bedoin.

Today was the big day.  I had slept well and prepared for the task ahead.  I have been reading Geraint Thomas' book about cycling and I feel I need to give a detailed account just in case he is reading my blog.

I had my cereal, Greek yoghurt and banana breakfast to give me energy.  Then I warmed up by riding a couple of laps of the town before coming back to the van.  Janice was my support driver for the day and we had a flask of coffee ready and energy bars etc.  She would drive ahead and wait for me to pass and then leapfrog ahead again.

Looking nice and fresh at the start, with my trusty steed!

At 9.15am I started for real.  I had no intention of climbing to the 1912m summit without stopping occasionally.  I set off steadily and the hill ramped up straight away.  I got a bit worried when I passed a group of three much younger men and wondered if I had started too fast.  I was then caught by an English couple who were proper serious riders.  They intended to cycle up Ventoux by all three routes in one day!  They gave me confidence because they told me that my pace was about right and I just needed to continue doing it.  

My reference to Granny in the title is my Granny gear, which is the easiest gear on the bike.  I used it for most of the climb, I had no choice.  I hope you didn't read the title and image that an old lady gave me a piggy back up the mountain.  The incline was always between 7 and 12% and the hill was 21km long.  I didn't have a stop till halfway when Janice had parked up and I had an energy bar and a good drink of water.

I was sure I had made the right route decision.  The road was wider than other routes and most of the way it had a cycling edge so I wasn't troubled with cars or motorbikes. It was on the northern side of the mountain so I was in and out of shade most of the route.  The sky was clear and sunny and most importantly it wasn't windy.  Perfect conditions.

At halfway I was feeling ok and thought I could probably manage the rest.  The toughest part was a very long 12% climb that was long and straight and Janice came to the rescue by strategically parking about two thirds up that section and I stopped for a coffee and another energy bar.  The remainder of the mountain was a steep slog.  The final part is very barren and other worldly but I managed to plod on.

I am one of those dots!  Janice took this from the top, looking down on me.

The top is very busy with vehicles and cyclists.  It is like the end of a big sportive cycle race with a similar celebratory atmosphere.  It was a fantastic feeling when I got to the top and Janice gave me a big hug.

I ate about 6 Jaffa cakes on the trot to aide my recovery, they seemed to do the trick.  I'm not sure what this building is on the top but it isn't a lighthouse after all.  It took me 2 hours 40 mins....a personal best, Geraint would be proud of me!

The cycle down was much quicker and quite chilly.  I didn't go too fast like some of the riders did.  We got back to the Aire de Camp at Malaucene and I had a quick beer before enjoying a nice shower.  I am completely relieved that I managed it.

We drove off to wild camp at a small car park on the Col de Madeline, between Bedoin and Malaucene.  It was a great place to watch cyclists go by and have a great view.

The view of Ventoux from near our wild camp.

We sat out in the evening sun and ate chicken and aubergine Provençal and consumed a nice bottle of Ventoux wine, what else!  A day I will always remember.


Comments

  1. Unknown18 September 2017 at 12:36

    When I read 'Granny gear', I had visions of you in a crimplene frock......then realised what you meant!! Congratulations on making it to the top !

    ReplyDelete

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