While looking through my Garmin Connect data earlier today, I happened across my yearly totals. It turns out that since June 2015, I've ridden 6,500 km, or around 4,000 miles. Total height gained was 78,500 metres. That did include last summer's trip to the Alps, of course.
I rode 206 times and spent 289 hours in the saddle.
Sunday, 29 May 2016
Sunday, 22 May 2016
Mountain Tool
The term 'Hostage to Fortune' might have been invented for someone who names their blog 'Fatman in the Alps', without properly considering the possibility of cycling holidays in other mountain ranges. We're going to the Pyrenees this year.
The term 'Mountain Tool' might be applied to someone who does this. Equally, it might apply to a bike like this.
It's a Ribble Aero 883 with Shimano Di2 Ultegra transmission and Mavic Cosmic Pro wheels. It has compact chainrings, and a 32-11 casette. Those are real 'granny ring' ratios. But that's ok. I am a grandad.
I rode a bike with Di2 at last year's bike show at the NEC. It was a Pinarello Dogma F8, and I was hugely impressed. However, at the time, there didn't seem to be any option for a medium length rear derailleur cage for the larger casettes I need to get up mountain climbs, so using Di2 was not an option.
Then, earlier this year, while looking for a new frame, I discovered that not only did Shimano make a suitable rear derailleur for the largest Ultegra casette, but also that it was available for custom built bikes through Ribble Cycles. After a lot of pondering and much calculation of gear ratios, I finally decided to take the plunge and order one. Today was my first chance to ride it.
It turns out that my gear ration calculations were correct, and it's just as easy to get up the steepest climbs around here as my Willier Izoard, which has triple chainrings. Di2 is simply awesome. Changes are swift and accurate. The ability of the front derailleur to trim itself automatically, to avoid the chain rubbing, means that it's possible to use nearly the whole cassette with either of the front rings. Brilliant!
The frame is stiff, but my no means uncomfortable. Internal cable routing and Kamtail section tubes add to an impression of a very aerodynamic design, as do the rear brake, hidden behind the bottom bracket and the deep section carbon wheels. It doesn't do anything to help with my exceedingly poor aerodynamics, of course.
So, this is the bike I'll be using in the Pyrenees this year, together with my normal array of Garmin kit, including an Edge 1000 and Vector power measuring pedals. Training is now on to get used to the new bike. If today is anything to go by, it's not likely to take long.
The term 'Mountain Tool' might be applied to someone who does this. Equally, it might apply to a bike like this.
It's a Ribble Aero 883 with Shimano Di2 Ultegra transmission and Mavic Cosmic Pro wheels. It has compact chainrings, and a 32-11 casette. Those are real 'granny ring' ratios. But that's ok. I am a grandad.
I rode a bike with Di2 at last year's bike show at the NEC. It was a Pinarello Dogma F8, and I was hugely impressed. However, at the time, there didn't seem to be any option for a medium length rear derailleur cage for the larger casettes I need to get up mountain climbs, so using Di2 was not an option.
Then, earlier this year, while looking for a new frame, I discovered that not only did Shimano make a suitable rear derailleur for the largest Ultegra casette, but also that it was available for custom built bikes through Ribble Cycles. After a lot of pondering and much calculation of gear ratios, I finally decided to take the plunge and order one. Today was my first chance to ride it.
It turns out that my gear ration calculations were correct, and it's just as easy to get up the steepest climbs around here as my Willier Izoard, which has triple chainrings. Di2 is simply awesome. Changes are swift and accurate. The ability of the front derailleur to trim itself automatically, to avoid the chain rubbing, means that it's possible to use nearly the whole cassette with either of the front rings. Brilliant!
The frame is stiff, but my no means uncomfortable. Internal cable routing and Kamtail section tubes add to an impression of a very aerodynamic design, as do the rear brake, hidden behind the bottom bracket and the deep section carbon wheels. It doesn't do anything to help with my exceedingly poor aerodynamics, of course.
So, this is the bike I'll be using in the Pyrenees this year, together with my normal array of Garmin kit, including an Edge 1000 and Vector power measuring pedals. Training is now on to get used to the new bike. If today is anything to go by, it's not likely to take long.
Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Reflections
I've just worked out a few numbers from the last couple of weeks of riding.
- I spent nearly 39 hours cycling
- I covered just shy of 600 kilometres.
- I climbed nearly 18,000 meters vertically, which is over twice the height of Everest above sea level.
- The highest point on trip was the Cime de la Bonette, at 2802 metres above sea level
- The ride with the largest height gain, of 1,986 metres, was over the Telegraphe and the Galibier.
- I expended nearly 19,000 calories while riding.
- My maximum speed while descending, naturally, was 65 kilometres per hour.
- In total, I turned the pedals 123,940 times.
New Cleats Please!
I started having trouble clipping in and out of my pedals on the final ride around the vineyards at the foot of Mont Ventoux. When I got back, I decided to buy some replacement cleats. It looks like I really did need them!
Walking around the stones and gravel to get pictures on the climbs probably didn't help either.
Sunday, 16 August 2015
Winding Down
With the climbs all completed, today was a day to wind down, do a little shopping and take a gentle bike tour of the local villages. We bought provisions for tomorrow's dash to the channel. Bedoin was still busy despite this being a Sunday morning. The queue for one of the Boulangeries was impressive.
Then we set up the bikes and headed out for a gentle ride. The terrain is much more like Hampshire, at least in terms of gradients. Nothing quite compares with the clarity of the light through a dry atmosphere. The winds were much stronger today too, though certainly not cold.
The route is roughly triangular, starting out to the south west until Flassan is reached. The area is full of vineyards and plantations of fruit trees. Irrigation is clearly a major concern here, with extensive pipework feeding water directly to the roots of fruit trees.
Flassan nestles on a hillside a few kilometres from Bedoin.
From Flassan, the route heads south east until it reaches the village of Mormoiron. Again, viticulture dominates the fields. In the main, the buildings have a faintly pink hue, due no doubt to the preponderance of sandstone at lower altitudes.
The village of Mormoiron is typical of the area, with a very Mediterranean feel to the buildings.
Finally, the route heads north, back to Bedoin. For us this was into the freshening wind. The suggested route steers clear of the inclines of the main road for most of its length, making it a very restful ride.
Then we set up the bikes and headed out for a gentle ride. The terrain is much more like Hampshire, at least in terms of gradients. Nothing quite compares with the clarity of the light through a dry atmosphere. The winds were much stronger today too, though certainly not cold.
The route is roughly triangular, starting out to the south west until Flassan is reached. The area is full of vineyards and plantations of fruit trees. Irrigation is clearly a major concern here, with extensive pipework feeding water directly to the roots of fruit trees.
From Flassan, the route heads south east until it reaches the village of Mormoiron. Again, viticulture dominates the fields. In the main, the buildings have a faintly pink hue, due no doubt to the preponderance of sandstone at lower altitudes.
Finally, the route heads north, back to Bedoin. For us this was into the freshening wind. The suggested route steers clear of the inclines of the main road for most of its length, making it a very restful ride.
Approaching Bedoin from the south, one of the roundabouts has this tribute to cycling, with the observatory on the top of Mont Ventoux in the background.
Arriving back in Bedoin, we passed another winery responsible for producing Ventoux wine, and yet more vineyards.
Some of the extensive vineyards near Bedoin which provide the local Apellation Controllee Ventoux vintages.
And then we were back, and it was time to prepare the bikes for travel and to start packing up for the trip home.
The route for the trip around Bedoin is available on Garmin Connect.
Saturday, 15 August 2015
Mont Ventoux Squared
The final climb on this year's itinerary was to be the mighty Mont Ventoux. There are three ways up the mountain, but the classic one, is from Bedoin, where we were staying. The route starts at the mini roundabout where the D19 and the D974 meet in Bedoin. From there, it follows the D974 all the way to the summit. The first few kilometres is easy, with the gradient rarely going above 5%. However, once the village of Les Bruns is reached, the scene is set for the next 10 kilometres or so. This section, through the Bedoin forest averages 9-10% and is commonly steeper. It is a long, unrelenting climb reminiscent of the hardest parts of the Col d'Agnel. However, as this section is much lower down, it doesn't have the added challenge of less oxygen. It's a hard climb, but never completely taxing. Though the gradients change a bit, the character of this section is constant. The surface is good and there is plenty of shade from both sun and wind. There is no chance to see the summit from within the forest, and little indication, other than the roadside markers, about progress towards the summit.
It's not until you emerge from the forest at Chalet Reynard, with only 6 kilometres still to go, that you finally get to see the summit. Chalet Reynard is a cafe and bar and a popular stopping off point for riders. Many also start the climb to the top from here. Above Chalet Reynard, the gradients drop back until near the top, but the wind becomes a much greater factor. I was lucky that the wind was from the north, which meant I was sheltered from it on many of the ramps. When I did have to ride into it, the effort required increased dramatically, and the temperature dropped too.
The first clear views of the observatory at the summit don't appear until after Chalet Reynard.
With just 1 kilometre to go, you reach the memorial to British rider Tom Simpson, who died while attempting to climb Ventoux in the 1967 Tour de France. The memorial marks the spot where he collapsed. He died on the way to hospital in a helicopter.Tradition has it that riders bring something up the mountain and leave it at the memorial. I left one of the sweets I've been using as fuel since my energy bars ran out.
It's not until you emerge from the forest at Chalet Reynard, with only 6 kilometres still to go, that you finally get to see the summit. Chalet Reynard is a cafe and bar and a popular stopping off point for riders. Many also start the climb to the top from here. Above Chalet Reynard, the gradients drop back until near the top, but the wind becomes a much greater factor. I was lucky that the wind was from the north, which meant I was sheltered from it on many of the ramps. When I did have to ride into it, the effort required increased dramatically, and the temperature dropped too.
With just 1 kilometre to go, you reach the memorial to British rider Tom Simpson, who died while attempting to climb Ventoux in the 1967 Tour de France. The memorial marks the spot where he collapsed. He died on the way to hospital in a helicopter.Tradition has it that riders bring something up the mountain and leave it at the memorial. I left one of the sweets I've been using as fuel since my energy bars ran out.
Memorial to Tom Simpson who died climbing Ventoux during the 1967 Tour de France.
The final kilometre or so is at 10%, but doesn't seem as hard as the top of the Galibier, Iseran or Cime de la Bonette. Maybe it's because Ventoux is hundreds of metres lower than the really high cols.
For the final time this year, bike and rider at the top of a climb. In the background is the Rhone valley. They say you can see the Mediterranean from here, if you screw your eyes up!
Just as with the Izoard last year, there is a large sweet shop on the top of Ventoux. Actually there are two. Angela bought supplies to help us on the drive back on Monday.
Looking towards the east from the summit. The road is the last couple of kilometres from Chalet Reynard.
As you might expect, with Ventoux dominating the Provence landscape, the views are spectacular.
The observatory can be hard to photograph at the top. Cloud continually comes and goes.
The route up Mont Ventoux is available on Garmin Connect.
To make the trip a circular one, I descended the north side of the mountain, ending up in Malaucene. There are endless debates about which is the harder way up, from Bedoin or from Malaucene. However, everyone seems to agree that the descent to Malaucene is the better. It's certainly fast, with wide sweeping bends and good visibility into the hairpins.
From Malaucene to Bedoin the road rises and falls, but with easy gradients and a good surface. It was a nice way to end an epic day.
There is yet another Col de la Madeleine on the road between Malaucene and Bedoin. This one is no challenge at all!
The route down from Mont Ventoux to Bedoin via Malaucene is available on Garmin Connect.
Arriving back in Bedoin, we went in search of some dessert. We found this concoction of cream and ice cream in a local restaurant and had to have it. It's name? Mont Ventoux, of course.
Bye Bye Alps
Today we had to relocate to Bedoin, the start of the most famous route up Mont Ventoux. That meant bidding a sad farewell to the Alps for this trip.
It should have been a simple transfer of around 180 kilometres, with a little sightseeing thrown in. However, the modern propensity for the French to travel for vacation on Fridays, the closure of the route over the Lautaret and a couple of accidents, made it an all day trek. Oh, and in the middle of the day, we ran into one of the heaviest thunderstorms I've ever seen, with torrential rain and hail.
The accidents didn't involve us, thankfully.
After spending most of the day travelling, we finally arrived in the Bedoin area to be greeted with our first views of the famous observatory on the top of Mont Ventoux.
The observatory at the top of Mont Ventoux. That's not snow, by the way, just the scorched rock of the 'bald mountain'.
Bedoin is in the middle of a festival week. Things really kick off tomorrow. Over dinner we were treated to a band rehearsing its set, and some dancers walking through their routines.
The forecast looks ok for an attempt at the summit tomorrow. I've already seen the T-shirt I want to get if I manage it.
It should have been a simple transfer of around 180 kilometres, with a little sightseeing thrown in. However, the modern propensity for the French to travel for vacation on Fridays, the closure of the route over the Lautaret and a couple of accidents, made it an all day trek. Oh, and in the middle of the day, we ran into one of the heaviest thunderstorms I've ever seen, with torrential rain and hail.
The accidents didn't involve us, thankfully.
After spending most of the day travelling, we finally arrived in the Bedoin area to be greeted with our first views of the famous observatory on the top of Mont Ventoux.
Bedoin is in the middle of a festival week. Things really kick off tomorrow. Over dinner we were treated to a band rehearsing its set, and some dancers walking through their routines.
The forecast looks ok for an attempt at the summit tomorrow. I've already seen the T-shirt I want to get if I manage it.
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