The best way I can describe this ride is it's a supreme challenge with a wonderful payoff. This was one of the hardest days of exercise I have had in a couple of years. You bike 21 kilometers (km) uphill. It starts out fairly steep, and for good measure gets a bit steeper. For perspective, Mt. Ventoux was included on one of the legs of the Tour de France in 2002, and it kicked my butt. There aren’t more than 400 meters that are flat, and even that comes at around the 18 km mark. The rest of the ride varies between 4-11% grades. An 11% grade is no joke.
Just keep a few things in mind:
- There is no shame in resting or even walking your bike a bit. This is a tough ride and only the most avid, fit riders will make it without resting.
- Use a decent bike. I had a crappy mountain bike and wished every inch of the way that I had a road bike.
A few recommendations:
- Start at Malaucene and avoid the route on the eastern side of the mountain that takes you to Bedoin. The road from Malencue to the top is fantastic, but it gets rough if you go down toward Bedoin.
- Plan the day well. I was staying in Venasque, which was about 25km from the starting point of the ride (Malaucene). I had the foresight to get a ride to the starting point, but I didn’t plan for the return trip as diligently. I had to bike back to Venasque (an extra 15 miles).
- Take some dry clothes for when you reach the top. I was very sweaty when I got to the top. Mt. Ventoux is often called the "windy mountain", so it gets quite chilly, and even colder when you are hauling ass down the side of the mountain.
- Take plenty of water and something for energy. I had a camelback for water and still ran out. Fortunately there is a bar about three quarters of the way up. I also had an energy bar and a large lunch before the ride. I needed every bit of energy. I got so tired that I actually stopped and picked some grapes along the side of the road for energy.
- It took me about three and a half hours to get to the top. I did stop and walk a few times, and I had a terrible bike. Happily, it took me less than thirty minutes to go down.
- Pay attention to the road markers on the way up. Counting them down keeps you going and helps you pace yourself. The markers show the distance remaining and the incline for the next kilometer.
All said, I highly recommend this ride. It was one of the harder physical feats I have attempted (and accomplished) on vacation, and I am extremely glad I did it.
From journal A week in Provence