[Closed] Ventoux routes and bike hire

For my money, Malaucene is the best both up and down. Sault is pretty gentle; Bedoin is a bit uninspiring. Malaucene has the best views and great variation as well as the capacity to chew you up and spit you out 😉

We went last year and hired bikes from Albion Cycles in Sault who were excellent , decent bikes and not too expensive. There is an English speaker on the staff to make things even easier. For the actual ride up Ventoux we divided our party, the fit ones went up from Bedoin, the less fit [including me] went from Sault. We had a great ride, it wasn't even too windy when you come out of the trees at Chalet Reynard and it was clear at the top giving great views. We are all old farts but the fit ones who went up from Bedoin said it was very hard. In fact the less fit went back to our digs over another col, the Homme Mort, while the fittest went back in the van. In fact one of them has still to live down his nickname, Van Boy.

I'd say that's my least favourite route up. If you want the iconic view of the tower at the top / moon scape / Tom Simpson memorial you need to go up from Bedoin or Sault. (Sault is longer and starts very gently before joining into the Bedoin climb). There's bike hire pretty much at the start of the climb in Bedoin, you will probably want to book in advance. (It's called Ventoux Bikes, I think.)

Great responses thanks. I was thinking I'd hire a bike for a few days nearer where we're staying rather than at the base.  Get a few leg looseners in first (aka excuse to have a couple of hours to myself) and then ride to Ventoux at dawn and back to give a 70km route.

You do miss out on the Full Moonscape Experience if you only do Malaucene, but you get more variety of views and you get Oh Christ It's a Wall as you come round one corner.

If I only had the chance to do one ride there, I'd go up Malaucene, down Sault, and loop round via the valleys to the north or the Gorges de la Nesque to the south.

Bedoin climb is pretty dull in the trees, but not done the others. We were there when Frome ran up on Bastille Day.

The best ride was definitely down to Sault then on to the Gorges de la Nesque. It was really incredible, down through the Lavender.

A few of us are trying the Cingles this year, three ways up in one day. Not sure if I’ll manage it, not fussed if I don’t.

I’ve ridden up from Bedoin and down to Malaucene. I really enjoyed it. There are a few steep sections but if an old goat with a bad back like me can do it.....

As jkomo says, the Gorges de la Nesque and Sault is a great ride, though we did it the opposite way round, and then rode round the back of Ventoux

Agree with the Malaucene route is better. Try up from Bedoin to see the memorial down to Malaucene and back over the little col between them.

The Gorges de la Nesque is a beautiful ride. You could go up this to get to SAult, go up Ventoux and then descend to BEdoin or Malaucene.

beautiful 75 mile ride around mt ventoux as well.

ALbion cycles is SAult is excellent and much cheaper than rentals in Bedoin.

Agree with people's opinions on the three routes. I've done all 3 and all were well worth it. Also highly recommend the Gorges de la Nesque, do it from Sault and it's a spectacular swoopy descent along the edge of the gorges with tunnels and beautiful scenery. Have a great time!

This is the only proper mountain I have done. Went from up from Bedoin and down to Malaucene. It was very hot in the woods in July. I was not my fittest and I found it very hard. Took me ages. I baked. I found it much easier after the trees as it was cooler. After gettting down, the hills I'd faffed over on the ride-out seemed rather flat on the way back.

I really enjoyed it, loads of people on bikes, good friendly atmosphere on the most part.

Planning the col'Aubisque this summer as we are down that way.

interesting thread. I plan to do this in the summer sometime.

FWIW

https://mashing53.cyclyc.com/a-game-of-three-halves/

Thanks all. So I'm thinking (assuming a big leap in fitness over coming months!):

Pernes Les Fontaines

Bedoin

Ventoux

Saux

Gorges de la Nesque

Villes sur Auzon

Malmort du Comtat

Pernes Les Fontaines

Any alarm bells with that route? eg massive climb in the last 20km when I'm toast :-> ?

Bedoin - Ventoux - Sault - Gorges de la Nesque

I've done this and and it's a cracking route. I'll be doing it again in September.

Just registering an interest as we are in the area this summer

Moi aussi

The climb from Bedoin is the ‘classic’ route up (and best IMHO) , Sault is definitely the easiest (but gets harder for the last 6k after chalet Reynard) . For me the climb from Malucene is the least interesting as it’s a lot of long straight ‘wall like’ climbs , these do mean however that the descent into Malucene is one of the few where you can realistically hit 100kph (before a very sharp right hander) . As others have said the gorge du nesque is beautiful and an easy climb to Sault. Also worthwhile is a clockwise loop around Ventoux from Bedoin through the valley de Toulerenc which brings you into Sault. The mountain biking can be pretty good too (I did the Ventoux extrême last week which was great) The road from Malucene is still closed btw being North facing but should open soon.

the descent into Malucene is one of the few where you can realistically hit 100kph

It used to be really fast but they resurfaced that section a few years ago and when I last came down it, it was corrugated like hell. I only hit 80 before I got a hefty speed wobble, and I took the loser's option of slowing down rather than speeding up through it and then having to haul anchors back down through another wobble right before the corner. YHMV, Your Harmonics May Vary 🙂

...said something vaguely interesting but stoopid forum coding ruined it so I edited and deleted it.

This is a well timed thread as I'm planning on heading down there in a few weeks.  Can anyone recommend a campsite Inn or around Bedoin and whether I should book in early June. Gorge de La nesque is definitely on the to do list.

My two cents worth: up Bedoin and down Malucene. it's the "race" way up and the fastest(most fun?) way down.

Gorge de la nesque I would do as a loop going up the gorge and then up (turn right) to St Hubert and down another set of gorges to a town called Methamis, much less traffic and frankly just as pretty.

If you're going to be in pernes there's loads of great MTBing in the hills just behind the town - we ride every Thursday evening (just throwing it out there).

your suggested route seems ok, no massive surprises in it, I'd be inclined to go pernes Mormoiron bedoin as the last stretch into bedoin on the main road is pretty dangerous on a bike. plus the T de F came that way a few years ago, if that makes any difference!

it's a big hill, but you'll be fine so long as you don't go crazy out of the blocks...

Camping in Bedoin, my favorite is Camping le Pastory, easy walk into Bedoin and lovely views (the municipal is also  good if you want a pool and need more a more shaded Pitch)

I did all three routes in one day last year, Malaucene was nicer than Bedouin as I felt that climb was really busy... Ok the 6am start on Malaucene helped but the crowds spoilt it for me. Sault was a lovely climb too though especially the early stages through fields of herbs..after lunch this was very quiet too... enjoy it's one stunning mountain 😊

Svensvenson, I don’t suppose you have a gpx route for your gorges loop? The day after the Ventoux day we are heading out that way.

Also any recommendations for bars, restaurants, anything at all would be most welcome. I thought the food in Bedoin was a bit touristy (it was just during the tour), not sure what I was expecting.

Theres 20 of us!

Impressed - I'll just be doing it the once I think after the 35km warm up from our accommodation! I do plan to get up plenty early enough though and try to be up the top before 10 to try and avoid the worst of the august heat.

jkomo,

gpx route no, but it's really very simple. once you get to the top of the gorges de la nesque, you take the second road on the right, then follow that to St Hubert (which is a gite d'etape) then it's down hill (mostly) with on junction where you turn left towards Methamis. then keep on going.... until you get there. It may be the perfect ride after the Ventoux, assuming that you're mere mortals and not cycling gods that need 150km per day just to sleep properly.

If there are 20 of you, you'll definitely need to book a table anywhere I would guess. Bedoin is definitely touristy and finding somewhere that can take 20.... In smaller groups for Bedoin I'd recommend Lily et Paul, at the top of the village by the round about that heads off to the ventoux. or if you want pasta there's pasta e basta down near the supermarket. (more touristy that one though!)

If not there's my local in Flassan not too far away and after that the list gets pretty long!

does that help much?

Svensvenson, thanks yes I’ve google mapped it, it looks like a great route.

I’ll check out those restaurants, we’re not going till July, but I can’t wait.

We could stop in at Flassan, so, yes a recommendation for there would also be welcome.

recommending a restaurant in flassan is easy - there's only one! (it's not very big where I live!)

For me Bedoin was nicer for both the climb and descent. This might be due to doing the climb first thing and the descent fairly late (when it was nice and warm).

There's Gorge De La Nesque route at https://ridewithgps.com/routes/25099557 - don't follow it too literally as the routing websites seem to autoroute on walking/MTB trails in preference to the road (just don't go down the side of the gorge and you'll be fine!)

The Luberon national park to the south also has some nice rding https://ridewithgps.com/routes/23519264

Some of the group I was with also hired from Albion Cycles and they seemed happy. The bikes were Giant Contends (?) with 105, compact chainset, 11-32 cassette.

Our group is doing Cingles ride in 3 weeks, can anyone recommend a taxi/ bus company to pick up from Avignon TGV and drop in Bedoin area.

SVENSVENSON!!!!

Edit, for 12.

Take arm warmers and gilet. Proper chilly at the toptaking photos and then coming down.

HI there,

Just saw this. I will ask a couple of people here at work when they pop in towards the end of the week. running bike trips is what we do, albeit for a certain kind of "guest", but we also use local contractors for moving luggage etc, so hopefully they'll come up with something useful.

Weather has ben kind of wet and stormy for the last two to three weeks, so everything is abnormally green. makes a nice change.

Are you coming with bikes in boxes, or is it just 12 people with "normal" luggage?

Hi Svensvenson

It’s 12 with hand luggage, the bikes and our big stuff is going in a van.

We are 3 groups, Bedoin, Le Beaux, and Les Tournillaries.

Wet and stormy!!! Should be fun doing the Cingles. Oh Christ, I’m on rim brakes.

Thanks again!

Cheers

Jason

Hi Jason,

we use a company called Taxi Fabien. their number is 00 33  (0)6 03 42 90 40

If you call you can say that you heard of them from Jon from Backroads - it might get you a mini discount?

either way they have mini vans and they're used to shuttling people and bags around for us and if we're still using them they must be competent!

If there's a problem just shout out.

Steve.

There’s a decent rental place round the corner from Avignon station. Lots of cannondales

We cycle toured with camping kit around and up Ventoux 2 years  ago.

There is only one bar in Flassan, didn't eat there but food looked great.

Camping at Malaucene- the site just up the hill towards the dentes du something is nice with pool with stunning views of ventoux. Not many shady pitches

Camping site in Villes sur Auzon at start of gorges de la nesque also good - lots of kiddy entertainment and nice heated pool (not that you will need that in high summer but we were there in late May)

We also stayed in Bedoin at La Garenne which has lots of shade and nice pool and huge trampolines (son found that a bonus)

the cycling museum at Bedoin s well work a visit - shows the development in rd bikes since the 1st Tour. Owner gives everyone a personalised tour.

Steve you are a gent.

No idea why that’s in italics btw.

cool, I'm off there next Friday (22nd) for a mates 50th, 12 of us planning to ride the Cingles.

Say hello if you see us. I'm getting the train to Avignon so may well utilise one of those cab firms if i cant get one of the others to pick me up (me on train, some flying, some driving etc)

Mtb- Idle, I’d be interested to hear how it goes, we are 14 doing it on the 7th July.

You should do the Gorges ride if you can, it is amazing.

Travelling out to France soonish and the bike hire and route is sorted, thanks for all the advice.

Outside of shops in the villages are there any options for filling bidons en route - eg springs at Chalet Reynard, the summit?

Yeah at the Chalet, and there’s a cafe just before the final ramp up.

If you refil at CR you will be fine.

We never tried the springs dotted on the way up.

not sure which route you are riding but there are shops to buy water plus cafes etc in Sault, Malaucene and Bedoin plus a massive cafe at Chalet Reynard which is 6km from the top of Ventoux.

also a nice restaurant in Nesque which seated 16 of us (see vid below)

I'm sure I've posted these on other Ventoux threads here but as @jkomo asked:

Cingles - Contact  https://www.pinkbike.com/video/488976/

Gorges de la Nesque - Comfort Eagle  https://www.pinkbike.com/video/488995/

Just wondered if there was l'eau potable from springs to save leaving a hire bike unattended outside a shop

Not sure, but when you get to Chalet Reynard you’ll find dozens of unlocked bikes and yours (probably) won’t be the most expensive.

Also the springs are at the bottom half so not much use.

Maybe take a small cafe lock if you are worried.