Mt Ventoux, France May 2009

My first cycling adventure in the European mountains could not have gotten any tougher by having to ride up Mont Ventoux in France. A photographic work assignment brought me to the region of provence in May. I spent close to 2 weeks studying the mountain and reading about everything I could find. Most things I read did not provide too much comfort. I packed my touring Bianchi Volpe for this trip as I also expected some gravel rides through the country side. Even before I set my foot on the ground I was looking out for the giant of provence through my plane window. Once I reached closer to Malaucene by car it was easy to locate it with its lunar top towering over the entire landscape. It seemed difficult to think that it was even possible to ride up on it. I spent the first few days staring in admiration at it. The initial days kept me off the bike as I had to get some work done but I did manage once to go out for 30 mins to explore the area. Finally when I had a day off, I decided to ride 120km around the circumference of the mountain without going on top. So I set off with the Bianchi and a backpack with my photographic gear and spare trekking shoes. The rain was in the forecast and as soon as I got out of Malaucene, it poured. I rode up the first climb called Col di Madeliene en-route to Bedoin. Luckily the rain stayed too local and as I approached Bedoin, it was dry but cold. it was just great riding among vineyards and fruit orchards. All the while the top of Ventoux was in my view on the left. It played on my mind whether to go for it or wait for a better day. The temptation was too strong for my weak mind and at the entrance of the town I took a detour that went straight towards Ventoux.

Now I was frantically planning on how to do this.

I knew it was 21km to the top and I also knew that it got very tough after the first 5 kms. I decided to note the grade on my Garmin and every time it was lower than 8% I rode on the 26 and I would bail myself out to the 28 when it got tougher than 8%. The average grade over the last 15 kms was 9%! Note the grade on the swtich backs!

here is some info from Wikipedia - South from Bédoin: 21,8 km over 1617 m. This is the most famous and difficult ascent. The road to the summit has an average gradient of 7.43%. Until Saint-Estève, the climb is easy: 3.9% over 5,8 km, but the 16 remaining kilometres have an average gradient of 8.9%. The last kilometres may have strong, violent winds. The ride takes 1h30m-2h30m hours for trained amateur riders. Professional riders take 1h-1h15 min. The fastest time so far recorded has been that of Iban Mayo in the individual climbing time trial of the 2004 Dauphiné Libéré: 55' 51". The time was measured from Bédoin for the first time in the 1958 Tour de France, in which Charly Gaul was the fastest at 1h 2' 9".

The last 5 odd kms was over the tree line and it was easy to spot the tower. It also got very windy. The sight of the tower provided enough motivation to charge the batteries for the final push. Each pedal stroke brought me closer to it and I was very excited. The last switch back provided the perfect opportunity to stand up and sprint towards the tower! My first climb on the touring Bianchi to the summit took 1 hour 57 min. The few times I descended to snap a few pictures I had to turn around to descend a few meters in order to clip back to my pedals such was the grade on the final kms! It was a real pleasure to be on top of it.

At the summit of Mt Ventoux at 1912m! Rode up thrice!

It was very cold on top and within minutes I started to freeze. I quickly wore the wind vest and decided to descend. Though satisfied with the ride I knew I could do better without the back

without the back pack and so I climbed again from Malaucene and clocked 1 hr 45mins on the Bianchi!. What I like about the numbers are that they are in beginning of the 1hr 30- 2 hr 30 range for trained amatuers and plus it was on a touring bike!

I came down to Malaucene and climbed again on a rented Cervelo carbon bike but I really did not have anything left in me for the final climb. I just rode to survive to the summit. The descend was furious and I averaged 60km/hr to the base with few coasting at 85/hr. The biggest gain out of this experience for me is that I feel I have learnt to descend fast with fear!

By the end of it all I look like someone who went for a nordic expedition. My lips and nose are totally ripped to pieces and i did not sleep for 2 days due to fatigue.

Got a tag of Club des Cingles du Mont Ventoux. That was more than 4500m of climbing!

First 40K Time Trial Race

Disappointing is the first word that comes to mind. Anger is the second! It is only a few weeks ago that the words Time Trial got fixated in my mind due to the discussions on the forum. Sumitpal being the kind culprit :) The real focus of training in 2009 was mostly on building strength on climbs and rollers and the last thing on my mind was TT until a few weeks ago. I had done two 10k efforts prior to the race today. Past 2 months I had some awesome rides in which I was climbing better than ever and consistently finishing with the pelotons in group rides. I was hoping to put up a respectable performance. My wife is the one who got me enrolled for the race without my knowledge. I learnt about it when I received a message from the race organizers on my blackberry while at work. With 2 weeks to the race, I tried to do incorporate some elements of TT training. I also attempted riding the TT bike only to realize that it was a little too late for it. So I rolled out my Pinarello to the first TT race in my life.

The biggest surprise was when I realized last night that the race was 170kms from my home!! My wife, son and I packed up 3 bikes in the car and set out for the race venue early. Second bad news was that I was scheduled to race at 12.30 in the afternoon in the bay area where the temperature soars in the nineties this time of the year! A long ride brought us to the small town of Church Creek and the registration area was loacted at the local high school while the race start line was 8kms away. The organisers wanted everyone to park at the school and ride to the start line which also served as a warm up for the race. The arrival at the school parking lot immediately made me feel like a fish out of water. Every single participant had a TT bike, disc or aero wheels, skin suits and aero helmets. Most riders were out with their team jerseys warming up in their sponsored tents like we see on the pro tours.I felt like I had turned up at the wrong event with my road bike! Honestly it did take a hit on my morale. After digesting the look of my competition and their gear, I headed to the registration desk where I had to buy a day license from US cycling and collect my tag number 232! First time in life I was racing. It took me 35 years to reach this day.  

After finishing the formalities, my family and myself set out with our 

bikes to the start line. They decided to keep a easy leisurely pace and I used the 8kms to warm up. I quickly got my speed to the 40's and I was feeling good. Next instance I heard this loud grinding sound approaching behind me and I moved to the side of the road thinking a truck was going to pass me only to realize it was 2 cyclists coming at me at 50km/hr with their disk wheels screaming! My morale was taking severe beating and I still had an hour to go!

The start line tent was set up next to the road and cyclists were in line waiting for their turn. I still had a good 45 mins to go so I found the only shade in a nearby private building and sat outside with my family for 30 mins looking around in total awe. With 15 mins to go, I went for a 10 min warm ride and then headed straight to the start up line. My HR was beating at 90 and every step I took toward the tent, I saw it steadily increasing. Rider 231 was set to go now. One of the organizer held the saddle while rider 231 got on and cleated, he was a little out of balance and he almost fell. Immediately I thought I am not doing that. My turn was next up and i told the organizers I would just head out on my own, I was told I could lose up to 10 seconds, it did not really matter to me. I just did not fancy falling and any way I was not even the favorite by hundred miles! The image on above is an example of how other riders looked and their rides.

5 4 3 2 1 and I was off sprinting the first race of my life. Who would have ever thought I would race for the first time at 35? My HR went from 100 to 170 in 20 seconds and the speed shot to 42km/hr. I tried to settle down into a groove but the adrenalin was flowing like a river coming down the Himalayas! I was emotional, I was overwhelmed by the occasion. At the 10k mark I was averaging 40km/hr and my HR was stuck at 170. I don't think that has ever happened before. I was not even sure I could sustain it. I lost control of the occasion. My mind and my body were working independently. I was not feeling fatigued by the high HR and I continued with the effort. At that point I was passed by a rider who had left 30secs after me. He was cruising at 50km/hr. I did not know what to do, should I go after him? I decided against it and kept my pace. At the 20km mark I was averaging 38.9km/hr. I was happy. I could hear my heart screaming. I have never ever sustained my heart rate at 90% for 30 mins. 

I was feeling the heat in the swamp! The sun was right on top of my head and the shadow just beneath as narrow as my bike. The road suddenly turned a corner and almost instantly my legs went numb! My cadence and pace dropped and I was not sure what was going on. This was not a bonk. I was clueless. My speed dropped from the 38 to 26km/hr. I just could not gather myself as my mind frantically tried to find an answer. The next 10kms was painful, not on my legs but on my mind. I was angry. I saw helplessly 2 other riders pass me with their aerodynamic bikes. I even contemplated stopping!! But I had to keep going to finish this. At that instance the road turned again and with that I felt a new beginning. I found some courage to give it a last try. By now I had hurt my numbers, I was averaging 34km/hr. That was a significant drop. I recollected myself and started to push again and limit the damage. I kept it around 34 for the rest of the 10kms. I found the legs and here is where I made the mistake. I was so scared that I was content keeping it around 34 instead of digging in further. 

Every passing km was a relief and I even saw the speed go up during the last km. My wife and son was there waving at me and I felt a bitter disappointment with my performance. I could have done better. I should have averaged atleast 35!  

Many questions will pop up in the next few days but for now I know TT is a different beast. I have it in me to do better. It needs specific training. Most riders had a different physique. They were big and muscular unlike me who is built more for climbs. They were built for such races. I know this because I routinely drop a lot of these riders on climbs almost every weekend during club rides. I can also easily conclude that aerodynamic gear could have given me another 10% if not more. But hey for my first TT race 34km/hr over 40k is not all that bad and that too on a road bike? No excuses offered and I promise to do much better next time. Mark my words.