Mont Ventoux trip next Summer

[Hackney]

I'm looking to take a weekend next June (probably) and cycle up Ventoux.
We're only taking a weekend to do the trip so Eurostar to Avignon and hiring a car / van from there is the rough plan at the moment.

Does anyone have any experience of taking a bike on eurostar? I've had a quick look at eurostar's website and it seems like it's £30 per bike including a bike box but that's only for the eurostar bit. In the past I've changed at Lille to the TGV to Avignon.

Any recommendations on places to stay in the area? I've driven up Mont Ventoux in the past but that was having stayed in Gap and on the way to Uzes, both a little far from where we want to be.

Other tips appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[z4RRSchris]

I did it this year, stayed in "hotel de pins" in Bedoin which was decent enough and had a nice big secured garage for the bikes.

ventoux is good fun.

[Steve vRS]

z4RRSchris said:

ventoux is good fun.

I don't think you were doing it right

Steve

[z4RRSchris]

Steve vRS said:

z4RRSchris said:

ventoux is good fun.

I don't think you were doing it right

Steve

to be fair i don't cycle too much, didn't train, just jumped in the car and did Aple DHuez then ventoux rather spontaneously

my secret is a triple with a 28 cassette

[numtumfutunch]

I would sort the train small print first then the rest will fall into place

OK, not an expert but from memory Eurostar and the TGV network have different views on transporting bikes
I think Eurostar need/want them boxed whilst the TGV insist they are not
Also Eurostars allowed dimensions for boxes are draconian to say the least, on top of this they do not promise your bike will travel with you, it may be on a later train thus compromising your connection
Whilst Im sticking the knife in the Avignon departure and arrival times at STP mean you pretty much have to spend the night in a hotel before and after your Eurostar leg unless you live in central London

For me - its driving all the way

Good luck, I really, really want to do Ventoux next year

[littleandy0410]

numtumfutunch said:

For me - its driving all the way

Pretty sure that would be classed as cheating - I think the idea is to cycle up!?

[richardxjr]

+1 on driving it if there's at least 1 other to share the chore.

I want to do a flying visit next year too. Now, what happened to the PH trip talked about

[outnumbered]

If you take a bike with you on Eurostar direct to Avignon, I think you'd have to to drag it all the way round the Lille Eurostar terminal where you have to disembark for customs checks on the way back. That was annoying enough just with luggage in my experience.

There are several decent bike rental places in Malaucene, and I imagine also in Bedoin, if you want to avoid taking a bike with you.

e.g.: http://www.ventoux-bikes.fr/location/1-0.html

[scubadude]

littleandy0410 said:

Pretty sure that would be classed as cheating - I think the idea is to cycle up!?

Surely the hardcore method is the cycle to Mont Ventoux and rent a car to drive up :-)

[Gruffy]

richardxjr said:

+1 on driving it if there's at least 1 other to share the chore.

I want to do a flying visit next year too. Now, what happened to the PH trip talked about

If I can secure a pass and the timing fits into my TCR prep then I'd be keen to do the triple.

It's such a shame the train companies have made it a ball ache, given the service is right there, but when I looked into it I also thought it now made more sense to drive. Crazy.

[Hackney]

As there's a direct train to Avignon I think we're going to go by train.
There's 4 of us now, so 4 adults + 4 bikes..... no suitable cars between us.
So we'll hire bikes when we get there.

Just booking things now but July seems so far in the future... until I think about my (lack of) fitness and the training I'll need to do!

[ALawson]

Which website are you booking train tickets on? I couldn't find any further out then 3 months away.

Looked like a 7am train gets there at around 3pm.

[richardxjr]

Eurostar, destination Avignon TGV

Brilliant, London (or Ashford for moi) to Avignon TGV in 5hrs for about £150 return pp, out Fri back Mon.

No bikes though. Boo.

Eurostar said:

Our Lyon-South of France route

We’re not able to accept non-folding bikes or those over 85cm long on Eurostar trains between London or Ashford and Lyon, Avignon and Marseille, but we can arrange for your bike to be picked up and delivered at your destination with our partner First Luggage. As a Eurostar traveller, you’ll get an exclusive discount.

Edited by richardxjr on Wednesday 16th December 11:16

[richardxjr]

First luggage after 10% Eurostar discount, one large bike box.

Std (5 working days each way) £180
Priority (2 working days each way) £360

Bolleaux to that!

[Hackney]

ALawson said:

Which website are you booking train tickets on? I couldn't find any further out then 3 months away.

Looked like a 7am train gets there at around 3pm.

Just had similar conversation with one of the guys I'm going with.
He couldn't book that far out. I reckon he was selecting Avignon rather than Avignon TGV. I was looking at eurostar website.

And yes, taking our own bikes has gone out the window.
Hiring down there.

[Hackney]

Eurostar booked
Air BnB accommodation (almost certainly) booked
Rental Ford Ranger booked

Getting excited now and it's still 7 months away.

I'm off to a flyer in my "lose weight get fit" campaign, a stomach bug has kept me in bed for 24 hours and I've lost a stone! Albeit not in a pretty way.

[AndStilliRise]

Is this an open trip for other people?

[richardxjr]

Further info that may or may not be useful.

You can't take a built bike on the TGV to Avignon either, because they are duplex trains. BUT you can take one boxed or bagged to max 120x90cm as std free luggage, no need to book. Plus it's still £30 each way to take your bagged bike on the Eurostar London-Paris.

Easyjet fly to Marseille. 95km & 600vm ride to Bedoin. Can I stash a bike bag at the airport?

[Gruffy]

Enough riders and it'd make sense for somebody to drive a Transit loaded with bikes while the majority ride the train.

[Black can man]

Although i'd love to do this. i just think physically it would be out of reach for me but i'd like to get involved in some kind of capacity.