thurday july 26, 2007

This is 4 kilometers into the "epic" climb up Mount Ventoux and at this point the real climbing hasn't even begun. Things turn nasty at the 6 kilometer mark and the grade stays at a whopping 9 to 10 percent the rest of the way. Each percent of grade is like putting another cinder block on your back. OK, I'm being overly dramatic, hundreds of people climb this mountain every day, so it can't be that hard, can it?

Yes! It's strange how many people climb this mountain, from thin guys in fancy bike attire riding $5,000 bikes to overweight men - and women - on crappy mountain bikes. This is at the 7 or 8 kilometer mark and I was struggling (That's not me, by the way) ... only 1,150 more meters up to go...just take it nice and slow, one kilometer at a time... Soon after, as the sweat poured down from my helmet and into my eyes, that I began to understand why the Tour de France guys take steroids. But no, if I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it clean...

I eventually made it, in about 2 hours and 40 minutes, about an hour and 10 minutes off the world record. Damn, I just missed the record. The top was filled with sweaty, exhausted and smiling bikers, as well as an equal number of people who came up by car (which doesn't seem fair). Vendors at the top were selling candy, biscuits and sausage. That's right, sausage. I have no idea why you'd want sausage at the top of Mount Ventoux. The photo above was taken a couple hours later by Susan; I have a couple pictures from the top but they are crappy.
***We are headed to Seguret today for 5 nights - and probably won't have internet access. But keep posting messages and e-mailing us. In fact, the thought of reading your witty, pithy messages is what kept me going when things got tough on Mount Ventoux. Susan will have lots of incredible photos of Seguret and the surrounding area to post eventually.

Comments

[angie]

congrats, steve!

you'll get that world record one day :-)

enjoy the next five days.

[bryan and possibly michelle]

steve, can't you find anything else to do except bike all the live long day ??? I mean what did you go there for any way ??? You can bike at home , did you really need to leave the country ??? I mean bike, bike,bike bike, bike - I think its enough already. Those roads get enough activity w/ the Tour not so de Force with out the likes of you terrorizing them. Just thought you should know.

[plasticfantastic]

did you get some fresh blood injected as soon as you got back to the hotel. works a treat every time. or a pint or two of locally brewed testosterone?

[Arlene Wartenberg]

Steve, you earned Segurex (forgot how to spell it). Proud of your non-steroid body reaching the top. I bet the way down was a heck of a lot faster!!!!
Glad the 2 of your are spending 5 days in paradise. We know how much you love the beautiful spot.
Love, Mom (I'll share the pictures and comments with Dad who is at the gym continuing to prepare for his climb of Ventoux.

[craig shoemaker]

this trip has been amzazing. next time i will go on the adventure instead of observing it. thanks for the inspiration! shoe