Rain in the forecast, and the need to get packed. One quick loop up to Suzette, down to Malaucène, past the abbey, around Le Barroux, through Caromb and back to Carpentras. This ride put me over 200,000ft of elevation for the year. Took a moment at the ruined, though not actually very old, aqueduct.
“Make a plan and stick to it” is good advice if the plan is “have a good time”. Les Dentelles are a little slice of gravel heaven. Steep, sometimes smooth, sometimes chunky, usually flowy, often fast. My route for the morning was a typical Suzette loop, but, “the plan” necessitated this dirt detour.
Some roads go nowhere and that’s cool. Pretty sure it’s a metaphor for life.
Over the hills for lunch, and back around for bottles of wine
When the rain wasn’t falling from the sky, it was thrown up by the masses of mudguard-less riders. The damp hung in the air, blew across the peaks and swept through the trees. The fog would stick around until late afternoon. I think I changed gloves twenty times. We’d ridden part of the route on a sunny day earlier in the month, so the contrast was interesting if not exactly pleasant. This is the only French brevet I’ve ridden aside from PBP. I expected better food along the route, though the club did serve a three course meal with drinks upon arrival. We scarfed that down and rode the five miles to catch the train to Carpentras under clear skies.
Arrived on the train, rather far south of Bolléne, an industrial town along the motorway. Rode to the hotel in sleet and gale force gusts. 200km brevet starts at 6am.
Whatevs. Probably should take it easy anyway.
We somehow avoided the rain, but it was soggy out. We’re signed up for a 200k brevet this weekend and as of a moment ago, there are 150 riders. Rando is popular here.
The mistral winds picked up early, though the walls of "La CoVe" are relatively protected. Picked off a couple off-track cols, Le Collet and Col du Cayron, but otherwise just tried to beat the rain back. I did not beat the rain back.
We arrived early at Maison Jouvaud to sit in the dimly lit interior and sip a café allongé while the Carpentras Friday market assembled. For a week we'd watched warm breeze melt the snow from the south western slope of Mont Ventoux. Finishing our coffee we collected our bread and set out to fetch supplies for the weekend: cheese, vegetables, preserved lemon olives, terrine. With rain in the forecast, this was the best, and last, chance to take a stab at Mont Ventoux, even knowing the road would be barricaded past Chalet Reynard. The climb is relentless, with few notable curves and nothing describable as a "break" until the outside switchbacks of the steepest sections allow plausible deniability of a zig zag. Past Chalet Reynard, hikers amble along the edge peering down to Provence below. A candy cane striped barricade reads "Route Barre". As we paused to layer up, a cyclist covered head-to-toe rounded the corner, and ducked under the barrier and informed us that the road is clear, and free of ice, but it is very very cold at the summit. Up we go.
