Mount Ventoux heroes

[Roger Irrelevant]

I went up Ventoux about ten years ago. I had planned to go early in the morning so it was cooler (this was at the height of summer), but ended up being a lazy bd, having a lie in, and setting off in 35 degree heat instead - I have never sweated so much as I did in the first hour of the ascent in my life. Fortunately there's a shop at the top where you can buy overpriced drinks (still cheaper than a motorway service station mind). The first bit through the trees is pretty boring and very tough, but after that it's ace. The descent is brilliant fun too, drivers seem to be on the lookout for cyclists so you can overtake them more safely than normal.

[Jacobyte]

I climbed it a few years ago, very tough and very rewarding, which must include an obligatory pause at Tom Simpson's memorial. The descent can be quite sketchy if it's windy, as you can easily exceed 50mph.

There are some great cycling roads to the east of Sault with some shorter yet still challenging climbs for those not wishing to do Ventoux.