Road Cycling - le Mont Ventoux!

I said I wanted to train for a year before I rode up lMV. But friends from the U.S. are here on holiday, so I joined three of them today (after only about four months here - three riding in earnest). We did it the easiest way - from Sault - but we did it! And it was not easy.

Immediately after reaching the summit, I said something like "I don't see any reason to do it again." Within a few hours I was planning the next climb - probably from Malaucene.

It could be habit forming. :D

Cheers...Gary

Lookin pretty trim there, gmason. I like the jersey.

awesome!

Congrats! That is a classic climb not matter where you started from.

Originally posted by gmason
And it was not easy.

That's a serious understatement! Great job, and cool summit pic!

darn you're lucky...wish we had some mountains around here :)

GJ..and holy smokes you're in great shape

cool!! now, how fast did you go on the way down? :D

I dream of getting a chance to climb that someday.

Great job! I'm impressed - that's a huge hill. How long did it take? Congrats - it's a milestone. :beer:

Thanks all!

I hit 75 KPH on the way down (to Malaucene). Not nearly as scary as I thought it might be.

The climb took me about two and a half hours, but I had to stop a few times. I must learn how to eat while riding. :o

There are a few more pix on my Web site:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/masong4

Originally posted by gmason
There are a few more pix on my Web site:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/masong4

Great bunch of pix - you really get around!!!!! :)

How did the air affect you? Was it much thinner up there?

Originally posted by gmason
Thanks all!

I hit 75 KPH on the way down (to Malaucene). Not nearly as scary as I thought it might be.

The climb took me about two and a half hours, but I had to stop a few times. I must learn how to eat while riding. :o

There are a few more pix on my Web site:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/masong4

You are awesome, Gary! Great pictures on your website, too!

Before I forget again: re the trim remark, I have lost about 25 pounds since I started cycling here. Great sport, this!

As for thin air, my biggest problem is breathing anyway. But I really didn't notice any difference, even though it is over 1900 meters up. Probably the adrenaline.

While this was a great personal accomplishment for me, it has to be kept in perspective. We met a Dutch man - 102 Kilos worth - who was getting a coffee before he started up. Earlier in the day, he had ridden up the Bedoin and Malaucene routes. And the week before, he did Galabier, l'Alpe d'Huez, and a couple of the other greats. Very humbling indeed.

Cheers...Gary