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Provence, Ventoux
Hi
Thanks to all who replied to earlier threads about bikes on TGVs, Provence and Ventoux. I returned yesterday from a brilliant week in Provence with a tan and desire to return as soon as I can. I didn't do as much riding as I'd like to have as it was a holiday with friends, not bikes, but my appetite for more has definitely been whetted. The roads are smooth (even the tinest D-roads are better sealed than some A-roads here), drivers are more courteous or at least less uncourteous than drivers here and the scenery, food and drink clearly go without saying. Taking the bike in a soft bag on the Eurostar and TGV (which is superb) was trouble-free once I'd hung around to make sure nobody dumped a heavy suitcase on it and the whole journey from London to A-e-P took under 7 hours. The change from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon is a nuisance with a bike bag but not impossible. What's a respectable time for climbing Ventoux? From Bedoin centre I took just under 1 hour 40 minutes and from the summit to Malaucene around 20 minutes, hitting 50mph a couple of times. I didn't find the climb too hard in general -- the stretch to Chalet Reynard is the toughest (ooh, another kilometre at 10%!) but I found the stretch from Reynard much easier. I even got into the 39/25 a couple of times (I used a 53/39 and 12-27) to honk out of the saddle and wheeze a quick "allez" to some other poor bugger. The weather was favourable when I climbed (overcast and not too windy) but I expect it'd be very tough in the full sun or wind or at the end of a long ride. My whole car-Bedoin-summit-Malaucene-Bedoin-car loop was only 45 miles or so. Next stop: the Alps. Is l'Alpe d'Huez generally reckoned to be easier or harder than Ventoux? Cheers, Mark |
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