I have just come back from a holiday in Provence (only a week, not a year like the book).
We were staying in Bedoin which sits at the foot of Mount Ventoux. We sensibly drove from the town which sits at 295 meters to the summit (1,909 meters) and passed hundreds of crazy people cycling up as they attempt one of the famous climb from the Tour De France. The fact that they pass a memorial to Tommy Simpson
"During the 1967 Tour de France, English rider Tom Simpson collapsed with heat exhaustion and died on the ascent of Mount Ventoux while challenging for the yellow jersey. "
they still carry on to the top. Are these people mad? It takes them on average 2 1/2 hours to cycle up and 20 minutes to go back down, one overtook us and we were doing 65kph! I think the average gradient is 7.5%, but its 20% for the last few hundred meters to the very top!
Anyone on NSC done this cycle ride or something similar?
We were staying in Bedoin which sits at the foot of Mount Ventoux. We sensibly drove from the town which sits at 295 meters to the summit (1,909 meters) and passed hundreds of crazy people cycling up as they attempt one of the famous climb from the Tour De France. The fact that they pass a memorial to Tommy Simpson
"During the 1967 Tour de France, English rider Tom Simpson collapsed with heat exhaustion and died on the ascent of Mount Ventoux while challenging for the yellow jersey. "
they still carry on to the top. Are these people mad? It takes them on average 2 1/2 hours to cycle up and 20 minutes to go back down, one overtook us and we were doing 65kph! I think the average gradient is 7.5%, but its 20% for the last few hundred meters to the very top!
Anyone on NSC done this cycle ride or something similar?