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No. 1 Holme Moss (582 m), England
21-August-03
This climb was tackled as part of the 'Phil & Friends' ride and was by far the biggest hill I'd been over at that time. My day's ride would be 100km and that too was a new record for me so I was more than a bit nervous about the amount of climbing to be that would be involved on the day. Thankfully my training had been enough to give me a chance and 'big day' adrenaline did the rest.
The Holme Moss climb is a good steady ascent which is manageable once you find the right gear. It was odd seeing people on mega-expensive carbon bikes hanging over the side wall with a green complexion!
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No. 2 Col des Limouches (1086 m), France
27-May-04
My first serious climb and intended to test my legs and gears for Ventoux. The approach to the bottom of the hill was harder than I expected but the actual climb was pretty straightforward: just stick the bike in a low gear and pedal up a 1 in 7 gradient for 10 kilometers...
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No. 3 Col de Tourniol (1145 m), France
27-May-04
The same day as Limouches (I already had an eye for multiple climbing opportunities!) and a harder test. The road initially swept down and across an upland meadow before climbing up the gritty and somewhat steep road. The weather threatened to turn at the top with black clouds closing, but luckily my lack of extra layers was not exposed. This time...
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No. 4 Col de la Madeleine (448 m), Provence, France
03-Jun-04
This little climb is a bonus on the road between Malaucene and Bedoin at the base of Ventoux. I'd only seen "The Giant of Provence" from a distance and, to be honest, it didn't look that daunting. As you crest Col de Madeleine the road sweeps round the sides of a small valley before turning to face Ventoux. It's the only time I've had by breath taken away on a downhill!
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No. 5 Mont Ventoux (1912 m), Provence, France
03-Jun-04
One of the most famous cycling climbs in the world with a reputation to be feared. The first section from Bedoin is 15kms winding (not hairpinned) road in amongst the trees. There are no views and no real indication that you're getting anywhere apart from by the leg jellifying effort. Then Chalet Reynard appears and it's time for coffee.
The second section is up the windswept upper slopes where the only things growing are rocks. The gale stopped me in my tracks a couple of times and caused some gingerly descending from those on their way down. And then, after 21kms of climbing, the top appears. There are no fanfares just other cyclists and sightseers but it's well worth the effort.
The descent was incredibly quick (I bottled it at 75 km/h) and my lack of windproof clothes forced me to ride down with the map up my shirt. Despite this I was shivering uncontrollably by the bottom regardless of the 30-odd centigrade temprature.
You've read the report, now see the movie
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No. 6 Col de Linsticone (232 m), Corsica, France
11-Jun-04
The first of the climbs on the road from Ajaccio to Corte. Well, Evisa as it turned out. A nice little climb with good views back to the coast and an opportunity to warm the legs up.
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No. 7 Col de San Bastiano (464 m), Corsica, France
11-Jun-04
One of the prettier climbs. The road continues from Linsticone and barely loses any altitude as it hugs the valley walls. After a couple of quick kilometers the low gears once again get called into action. The temperature was starting to rise even though it was barely 8 o'clock, causing both the me and maquis scrubs to sweat, one more aromatically than the other.
There's no road sign at the top but a rather nice church which gave me something to aim for on my return journey later that day.
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No. 8 Col de St Antoine (491 m), Corsica, France
11-Jun-04
The triumphant feelings of the first two climbs evaporated on this hill. The 464 meters gained earlier were given away in a plunging descent to the sea. After a couple of kilometers flat riding the gradient kicked in a level that was hard enough to wobble my legs without being so hard that I threw the bike in a ditch and waited for a cab. But there wasn't much in it.
The cafe at the top (at Vico) seems a very remote spot and there's no col marker to encourage the tired cyclist. Not that it bothered me.
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No. 9 Col de Sevi (1101 m), Corsica, France
11-Jun-04
The road continues up from Vico and the retention of altitude should have cheered me up. I broke on this 8 or 10 kilometer section despite only occasional steep sections. The heat and mental weight of continuing were too great a burden causing me to attack this climb in 15 minute bursts, each of which lasted 4 or 5 days.
I crawled to the top with no gear low enough, stumbling off the bike and setting the camera for the photo. If the camera had a lenscap then this picture would certainly have been darker.
This 4 col trip saw me clock up 110 kilometers in the 8hr17 ride.
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No. 10 Col de Canareccia (156 m), Corsica, France
13-Jun-04
I was feeling that perhaps riding my bike up big hills was a stupid thing to do when, on a quiet solo ride along the seafront towards Les Sanguines, Ajaccio, I saw the road snaking up towards a gap in two hills. Ten minutes later I was up the top snapping away. Big or small, a col's a col!
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