Training Log Archive: Carbons Offset

Mount Ventoux tour and climb.
Followed the longer route of the Grand Fondo tour. We had a GPS track from a previous year but the direction signs were already up for this year’s GF on Sunday so we just followed those. Nice to not even have to watch the GPS much. Also nice to have signs warning of the more dangerous turns (not very dangerous but nice to have advance warning that they were a little tighter).
The tour does a large circumnavigation of 3/4 of the mountain before doing the final climb. The tower on the summit never seems to get closer and you sometimes get farther from it. A really pretty medieval village at Montbrun leading to some nice climbs and cols including “Col de L’Homme Mort” ;) amongst some pretty vegetation and flowers. I enjoyed seeing poppies, they seem very European to me and carry lots of meaning, given their Remembrance significance. Remote, no cars or other riders. Then through a fantastic gorge and a long gradual downhill. At the bottom, stopped at a cafe for ice cream and cokes, and refilled water bottles. Several water fountains in towns along the way; I love that in Europe, it feels like it fits in so well with the cycling culture.
The climb from Bédoin was relentless. About 9 percent which wasn’t too bad but it never let up and it was stiflingly hot. The ride is through forest but the opening of the road gets almost no shade. Stopped at Chalet Reynard for another ice cream and Mars bar. The last 6 km to the summit are noticeably easier and I was able to increase the speed. A racer guy caught me and slowly went by; I was able to minimize the gap and then stopped at the Tom Simpson memorial, 1 km from the summit, to soak up more Tour history. Carbon passed me here so I got to chase her down but she waited for me before the final climb.
Still warm enough at the summit despite Ventoux’s windy and cold reputation. Carried lots of warm clothing but only used my arm warmers today. Could have put the jacket on for the descent but enjoyed finally feeling cold for a while.
On the way down, saw a cycling club that were doing a six-ascent day from all three directions for a total of 274 km and 8800 vm. Only about 200 people have done it. If the 17 year old in their group does it, he will be the youngest ever. He was heading up on his 4th ascent around 4:30 pm.
For the last 10 km back to town, the wind was ugly. I was still feeling okay so I pulled but it didn’t provide too much shelter to Carbon and the guy who tagged on because of the angle of the wind. This section drained me a little.
Got home and whipped up ravioli, gnocchi and duck confit cassoulet (from a can, just heat it up, the French bachelor meal). A big day but the big appetite hasn’t kicked in yet.

C • Ventoux 6

Along the coastal road, some really nice coastal scenery including St Jean Cap Ferrat where Leanimal went to school, poor thing, no wonder she is so tough ;)
BigFish and I dragged the girls through Monaco and Monte Carlo again so that we could see the casino. BigFish and I walked up to the entrance and the first security guy was almost going to let us in but the second guy clearly realized we weren’t dresssed appropriately (even though we made BigFish zip up his jersey). Then up to Castillano. A really nice climb, rode it at a comfortable touring pace. Pulled in for some lunch but absolutely everything in town was closed. Does France close on Wednesdays? It seemed like everything was closed in several places. Then over Col de Braus. Really enjoyed the feeling of being totally in our own, with some nice green surroundings and nice views off the back. Up and down a crazy series of stacked switchbacks. Hit a nice bakery in L’Escarene and then followed a nice route back to Nice that kept us off the bigger roads. Finished with gelato at Fenocchio, the best place in Nice :)

Went west today to check out Gorge de Loup and Gourdon. Totally scored on the promenade bike path which wasn't a surprise and then headed north along Route de Grasse D2085 and were pleasantly surprised to have bike path along that too. Just when I started to wonder if we would have a bike path or bike lane all the way, I jinxed us by saying it and the bike lane disappeared. Rode the D2085 for a little bit but it was busy so we picked some back lanes instead including another short dirt trail that had to be walked 100 metres or so to connect back to pavement... More fun adventure while the helpful local police tried to warn us that that direction didn't work. The police here are super helpful. At one point yesterday as we were riding back into Nice they informed us that we didn't want to go in one direction because "ghetto"; ah yes, je comprend, merci.
Then north to Gourdon. Gourdon is super pretty. Our approach from the south had a really nice view of the village perched on a high point. Stopped for some tasty fresh pasta at a cute restaurant on the top with views down to the coast, while clouds rose up to the restaurant and cleared up. Then to Gorge de Loup which was fantastic. I highly recommend it to anyone who has an extra day in the Nice area.... A wicked rocky canyon. Thanks to James's memory of riding this as part of the IronMan Nice race many years ago, he knew where to stop right by a huge free-hanging waterfall, and then by a cool viewpoint of climbers climbing the wall just across the gorge from us. Then I had planned to follow Le Loup river back to the coast; it looked like a winding road that probably wouldn't be efficient enough to be favoured by a lot of cars, and hopefully the river would be scenic. Instead BigFish wanted to continue on more of the IronMan Nice course so we did. Man, that would have been a pretty race.
Finished with the super pleasant ride along the promenade, with its devoted bike path that follows the beach for many kilometres.
Again, it was another day where we head out with a specific route planned and then simply use it as a rough handrail as we hop around using quieter streets at times, and then do various stops to check out cool villages. We had a debate about whether we are navigating by democracy or by rotating dictatorship, with each person taking over what they want to do for a section. It all seems to be working out and providing fun experiences, as long as you are up for the occasional adventure bike section to connect smoother sections (these bike nav apps are never completely perfect).
Another observation: any of the people we have met (many of them through encounters in the service industry, but also general public) are really delightful. The staff at restaurants, shops and hotels are wonderful and helpful and it seems like they do so just because. And the other tourists and public love when they see you riding to a hilltop village that they drove to. Had a few "Bon courage" cheers today, and some "allez" from some road construction workers. Cars are pretty patient, although in a few spots they rip by pretty quick.

Light rain this morning so we waited it out and did a late start. A fun day of exploring and throwing in lots of sights. I had split some of these up between a couple of planned rides but we decided to go for a bunch of them today. Grande Corniche, Eze, Monaco, Ste Agnes, Col de la Madone, and then home.
Went up to the old fortified town of Eze and walked through a bunch of it. Then got amazing views of beautiful Cap d’Ail before dropping down to it (super pretty) and then cruising along the marinas and checking out super yachts that went from wow to absurd to starting to make me sick. Rode through a few tunnels to spit out into Monaco and right onto the Grand Prix race course. A lot of the safety barriers and seating were still in place from the race two weeks ago. Cool to ride through a bunch of it. Had a seafood lunch by the water before climbing up to Sainte Agnes via an adventure back route that got us off the busier streets of Menton right away and provided some fun. Walked through Ste Agnes and visited the old fort. Then continued on to the Col de la Madone where Carbon posed with her carbon Madone that was named for this climb. Really liked the stretch from Ste Agnes to the Col, a nice single lane width road, a couple cool short tunnels, and nice green vegetation alongside the road. We were going to head back to the Moyen Corniche for the trip home but instead decided to just follow the flow down via Peille. Pretty much downhill all the way back to Nice. If I come back, I would be interested in also climbing the way we descended.
The weather worked out great today. Not too hot on the climbs and then sunny and warm for the descent. Humid though.
Tasty tuna steak for dinner but none of us were that hungry. The appetite will kick in in a day or two.