The ride starts (104km, about 1900m of climbing) from the Hotel Sous L'Olivier in Buis les Baronnies (there is parking at the hotel and just next to it.) and finish here also, having done this ride with various groups of riders I can say that even very slow and unfit riders should be able to finish by 18.30 hrs if they start at about 08.30hrs. The ride is straightforward with beautiful scenery and uses the easiest of the three routes to the top. Fast riders should be able to finish in the early afternoon. There are café/bars on the route but please carry plenty of water and bonk rations.

See the AUK website http://www.audax.uk.net or handbook for entry form and details.
The entry fee is £5 or 7 euro

I run this ride as a permanent in conjunction with my CTC tours in Haute Provence and may have spaces available on these tours if you do not want to do your own thing. See www.ctctours.co.uk for more details and booking forms. Also www.halcserver.com/ctc/biketour.html for photos of previous rides.

Maps

The Institut Geographique National (IGN) TOP 100 map No. 60 (Cavaillon Digne-les-Baines) is very good and shows plenty of detail at 1:100 000. It is available locally if you cannot get a copy in the UK. The Michelin yellow map, probably number 332 (Michelin seem to keep changing numbers) 1:150 000 (Drôme Vaucluse) is useful as backup.We supply a more detailed map (on one sheet of A4) when you enter.

Getting There

Buis les Baronnies is about 15km north of Mount Ventoux and about 48km due east of Orange. The nearest airport is Nimes at 105km with Marseille at 130km (Nice is rather far at 280km) The high speed train; the TGV, goes to Avignon, 65km, but your bike would have to be compactly bagged with wheels removed. Slower trains do accept bikes unbagged. By road it is 660 miles from Calais to Buis.The trip can be done almost entirely on toll motorways in less than 14 hours but taking more time; two to three days, and using the 'Route Nationals' and 'Route Scenics' is much more pleasant.

If you are in the area the week before either of the CTC tours you are welcome to come along and meet us, you can, perhaps, tackle some of the lesser Cols as preparation. The groups will be staying at the Hotel Sous L'Olivier in Buis les Baronnies: www.guideweb.com/provence/hotel/sous-olivier/indexa.html

There are also several campsites in the area; the Municipal site being cheap, clean and very central or Les Ephelides, also of a good standard, nearby.

The Galibier Circuit (163 km) starts from the Hotel Florentine at Bourg d'Oisans (there is parking near the hotel) and finish here also. There are other hotels and campsites nearby. The ride is not easy but reasonably fit riders who can pace themselves should be able to finish within the time limit. Last year's ride was successfully completed by all the riders. It is worth 4.5 AAA points and includes the famous Croix de Fer, Telegraphe, Galibier and Lauteret cols of the Tour de France.

Riders cheerfully attacked just about every Col in the region with happy cries of:
"It's the hardest 'grimpeur' I've ever done", "I can't feel my legs anymore" and "Are you running it again next year?"

We are!

There are café/bars on the route but please carry plenty of water and bonk rations.

See the AUK website http://www.audax.uk.net or handbook for entry form and details.

Sheila Simpson and I run these rides in conjunction with our CTC tours of the French Alps and may have spaces available on these tours if you do not want to do your own thing.

Maps

The routes have been planned using the IGN Top 100 (1:100 000) numbers 52,53 and 54. Michelin 1:150 000 map, number 332 (Drôme Vaucluse) is also useful though less detailed.

Getting There

These rides are all within 60km or so of Grenoble. The nearest airport is Grenoble at with Lyon at 100km The high speed train; the TGV, goes to Grenoble, but your bike would have to be compactly bagged with wheels removed. Slower trains do accept bikes unbagged. By road it is about 540 miles from Calais to Grenoble.The trip can be done almost entirely on toll motorways in less than 12 hours but taking more time; two to three days, and using the 'Route Nationals' and 'Route Scenics' is much more pleasant.

If you are in the area the week before the ride you are welcome to come along and meet us, you can, perhaps, tackle some of the lesser Cols as preparation.