So you can get Eurostar to Marseille..plan hatching...

[JustinF]

Friday morning Eurostar to Marseille gets in at 15:22, or Lyon/Avignon if better for ride destinations.
Wee spin Fri, big TdF stage Sat, recovery ride/hangover Sun, train back.

£99 for train booked early enough, iirc it's £35 for bikes.

[richardxjr]

Alps, need a few days really, but Ventoux is out on it's own and near to Avignon.

www.clubcinglesventoux.org/en/

[SixPotBelly]

IIRC, there's one direct Eurostar a week there, and one back. If so, no reason one couldn't TGV it if the return day didn't suit - except crossing Paris can be a pain, they tell me.

Disregard. I didn't recall correctly.

Edited by SixPotBelly on Sunday 31st May 11:44

[j00pY]

I've got no time and no money but I'd be in

[Gruffy]

As soon as I saw the article I was on the site checking times and prices, thinking Club des Cingles. Unfortunately it seems to be fully booked until August/September and even then there's only weird travel days available. No bikes allowed on Avignon or Marseille trains, unless they're in a bike box, which is a real shame.

[JustinF]

Friday:- Train to Marseille, nice evening there food beer etc.
Saturday:- Ride from Marseille to Ventoux and on to Avignon circa 180k
Sunday:- Early start and the three climbs of Ventoux before catching the 16:45 home.

[Gruffy]

[Desiato]

Gruffy said:

As soon as I saw the article I was on the site checking times and prices, thinking Club des Cingles. Unfortunately it seems to be fully booked until August/September and even then there's only weird travel days available. No bikes allowed on Avignon or Marseille trains, unless they're in a bike box, which is a real shame.

And don't forget that on the way back, when you get to Lille, you have to get off the train with all your luggage to go through passport control/customs check before getting back on again.

[richardxjr]

It's an easy drive down in a day split between 4 people
A mate and his brother sneeked off there one weekend last October and just did it.

It was hot and cold and effing windy.

The 3x will take about 10hrs inc some big food stops, the 4x includes an offroad track apparently.

[Gruffy]

I think once there's 3 of you it makes more sense to drive down. One day there, one day acclimatising with a Z2-3 ride, Ventoux shenanigans, one day back. That allows plenty of breathing space either side to enjoy the whole thing.

[JustinF]

well that sounds like a consensus, game on!

[Gruffy]

If we get two cars we can leave one at the top with gilets, warmers and bidons full of lead.

[numtumfutunch]

I plan on being a Cingle one day

Does anyone have direct experience of the off road track as Id like to be a proper Cingle not a 3/4 one?

Google research suggests it can be ridden carefully on a set of Ksyriums which would be OK
Taking our crossers or MTB's makes it a bigger logistical nightmare

Cheers

[Gruffy]

Locally rented MTBs might be the solution.

[richardxjr]

A second set of tyres if you've got clearance. A crosser with discs would be handy

[SixPotBelly]

What, no-one's suggested riding down from Calais?

Actually, would that be that ridiculous? It'd be, I guess, 4 days riding down the D-roads. Or Autoroute to Reims and start the ride from there, where the countryside starts to get more interesting. If there's 4 going then everyone would get 3 days riding and one day driving the support/luggage car. Work commitments, schmerk commitments...

[JustinF]

The Train is 6hrs 15mins to Avignon from London, by car it's double that.

[anonymous-user]

I'd be quite interested, I'd like to cycle up ventoux but know I only have the legs for one ascent so I can plan a shorter loop taking in the ascent, back to the car then 'll happy do some support car work if required for those planning a longer route/more ascents...