Mont ventoux

Biking through provence... Not much else needs to be said. But... The weather is perfect in May and the roads are not busy. In fact it's a little like biking in Marin -- expect for the hilltop chateaux, castles and lavender fields.

We had our bikes for 3 days in Aix -- and took three rides east out the D17 through Le Tholonet to the Sainte Victoire pass. Not a bad warm up for Mont Ventoux... we thought. We were a little disillusioned to think we could actually get in shape for a wednesday climb up an 11%, 13 mile grade, to a 6200 foot summit.

We drove 1.5 hours and arrived in Bedoin around 9:30 for a 10 departure. The first ~7 miles are shaded and then you break above tree line for the last ~6 miles. The last 2k are what really kicked my butt -- the grade kicks up to ~12% and my legs were gone. But we made it -- cycling mecca, complete. A fantastic appetite and yummy home made lasagna topped it off.

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