Thomas Nicolai

My name is Thomas Nicolai, I'm 40 years old, married but no kids. I'm living
in Dortmund but not related to that soccer team (my favorite would be Schalke 04).
I'm working for a logistic company called "Agility Logistics" as a Key Account Manager
and of cause MeadWestvaco is one of my Key Accounts. My office location is Dortmund but my responsibility is throughout Germany and when necessary Central Europe (that is Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Poland).
My hobbies are: Badminton (with more than 30 years of experiences), Cycling, Jogging and I like to watch almost every kind of sports on TV.
What do I expect from our event? I expect an interesting and challenging climb up the mountain "Mont Ventoux" and get an idea of the performance of the pro-teams during the Tour de France. I hope to get to the top in a reasonable time, without breakdowns and damages (which definitely counts for all participants).
My challenges for 2008: Get my bachelor degree done and complete as many sport events completed as possible.
I'm looking forward of meeting you and the complete MeadWestvaco Team and I wanted to thank Daniel for giving me the opportunity to participate.
See you soon, Thomas.

One free place

Today one of our members, Jacques Boquet, send me this mail.
"Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the Mont Ventoux Challenge. ( but I checked it in my calendar... so I may still pop up unexpectedly..)
I have been several times at Mont Ventoux ( including the brevet "Cinglés" du Ventoux...., "Crazy" of the Ventoux ).
For those interested in Mountain Biking ( VTT ) the best is to avoid the asphalt road as illustrated by the small brochure that everyone can obtain at the Bedoin Syndicat d'Initiative.. ( Summary attached ). The very end of the climb must still be on the asphalt road. I did this with a friend a couple of times, we were the only ones in the local woods for more then 2 hours ( don't forget your Camel Back ) then joined back on the regular road. For any is interested in more info's you have my E Mail address.... Good Luck !! Jacques" The E-mail from Jacques is JEB19@MeadWestvaco.com
This means that we have one place free for one more person. I will not cancel the hotel room at this moment, I will wait a while so that if we find another person to join we can offer him this room. So do you now somebody who wants to join let me now we have one room available. The first one who reacts gets it.
I've got from Jacques two files with some info about mountain bike routes. I can't post them on this weblog so I will send them to all the members who go on a mountain bike. It's up to you if you take these routes or the tarmac road.

Jacques I hope you will find the time in May to pop-up as you wrote. You already know what your going to miss, A LOT OF FUN on the best mountain to ride.

Daniel Westphal

Hi everybody,

I'm Daniel Westphal from MWV Calmar in Hemer. In October 2000 I joined Calmar as supervisor warehouse and distribution logistics. At this time Calmar was under ownership of SAINT-GOBAIN France. Since 2006 Calmar belongs to the MWV group. We are producing first class trigger and fine mist sprayer and dispenser pumps. Right now I'm 44 years young, married and my daugthers are 13 and 15 years old.

In 1983 I bought my first race bike, in 1984 I was able to ride 20 kms less then 30 mins but nowadays I'm happy if I'm able to go 20 kms at least... ;-)) So the MWV Mont Ventoux challenge is a real one for me. My aim is according to the Olympic principle: to take part is anything. Therefore I decided to climb by mountain bike and if possible to ride the total distance without pushing my bike uphill.

I'm very glad to meet all of you in May and I'm sure, that this event will bring all of us a lot of fun!

Thank you Daniel for your contribution. Who will be next?

What do you need for the climb?

Because we are very early in the season when we climb the Mont Ventoux we will need to be prepared for all kind of weather conditions, just look at the pictures in an earlier posting. I made a list of things you should consider to bring them with you.

For those who climb the Mont Ventoux with bike is a helmet a must. If you ride up the mountain it would be no problem to ride without (you must get the heat out off your head) but if you ride down hill you must wear a helmet. The most important thing is that we will have fun without incidents. In high season weekly the fire brigade has to go up the mountain to get to people down who had an accident with high injury's. We don't want this! As you all now SAFETY FIRST!

So what will we need:

• Helmet


• Drink bottles ( bidons) you should try to take 1,5 to 2 liters of energy drink or water up.


• Light rain jacket ( for rain but also for the cold wind on the top)


• For the bikers you have leg warmers and arm warmers


• 

I don't now what runners could wear when it's cold but they will now it self I think

• Something to eat during the climb (maybe some bananas to buy in Sault, or a energy bar)


• Your usual repairer equipment for bikers


• If we will have fly's in the Forrest a lotion against them could be helpful


• Shoe covers


• Gloves


• A bandana or thin cap to protect the head against cold and sun.


• Sun cream (the sun can be very strong on the top, there is a lot of reflection)


• A little photo camera


• Sun glasses


• And mandatory is a very,very, very GOOD MOOD

New supporter, welcom Charlotte

Welcome Charlotte, we are pleased that you come to the Mont Ventoux where you can support us in our challenge.

Today I had a phone call with Jaques Boquet and guess what, he is a "Cincle" and as you now this means he did the Mont Ventoux from all 3 sides in less then 24 hours. Look at this site in the list of "Cincle" he is number 790. http://www.clubcinglesventoux.org/index.php?pid=4 Click on the arrow at "Lauréats"and choose "liste"
We have a PRO in our team. Jaques was not sure if he could make it that weekend so maybe he will not be there, I hope he will find a way to join us because he has a lot of experience in climbing the Mont Ventoux. He also did him with the mountain bike over a mountain bike route. If somebody wants info from him you can always ask him by mail. You will find his mail address in the MeadWestvaco address book.

Mont Ventoux 10-07-2007; Chris, Peter and Jan

4x Mont Ventoux on unicycle!

Today I made a little change in the weblog. On the first side you find the last 10 postings ( otherwise the page gets to long). If you want to read the older postings, then there are two way's to do.

1. On the right side you see the Blog archive. Choose the article you want to see.
2. On the bottom of the postings there is a button what says "older postings" Click on this and you will see the previous 10 articles. This you can do until you have seen all articles.

Below this posting you find a film about an Belgium man who has as sport riding on a unicycle. In this film he climbs the Mont Ventoux 4 times in a day. If you look at the end of the film you can see what kind of wind we could have on the slopes. I think this is on the border of madness, others will think I can do better. And ones again you see that everybody makes his own challenge on the Ventoux.

Hotel reservation completed

Today I made the hotel reservation fix. Yes! The most difficult thing in the organisation is fixed. I want to thank Steve for his help with the translations and contacts with the hotel in Sault, because my French is not so bad if I can use my hands and feet (haha looks great) during conservation but this is on a telephone useless. So thank you Steve.

As you all can see has Heiner introduced him self and since today we have a picture of him so we now know who we will meet in France. I didn't receive from anyone else a introduction of him and so my question who will be next. Peter and Heiner where first now lets follow them and send me some info with picture. This make this weblog a living thing!

Then for our Dutch speaking members, if you want to now more about the Mont Ventoux and like to read then you should consider to buy the the book "De kale Berg" from Lex Reurings. This book gives you all the ins en outs over the climb of the Mont ventoux. The ISBN nr. is 978-90-6005-683-7 and it cost € 19,50. You can order the book on http://www.alexpages.net/mventoux/mvhome.html or at you local bookstore. I read in this book very often because of very much interesting information.
For the non-Dutch speaking members I must say sorry this book is only in Dutch and I don't now if there is somewhere a book equal to this book in English, French, Russian or German.

Heiner Korschewski

My name is Heiner Korschewski (Age 40) and I'm living with my wife and 2 sons (6 / 12 years old) in Tangstedt. Tangstedt is near Hamburg in Northern Germany and located between North Sea and Baltic Sea.
I'm working as Sales Director with Messrs. Alfons Koester & Co. GmbH in Hamburg. We transport all kind of goods - we operate worldwide.
My hobbies are cycling, canoe driving & the family.
On September 7th, 2008 the Vattenfall-Cyclassics race will take place in Hamburg. It is analog like the Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands. Perhaps that some members of the coming Mont Ventoux challenge are interested to start with the Vattenfall-Cyclassics. Marcus Gluth, Thomas Nicolai and myself will also participate. The registration is possible starting from January 29th, 2008. Further information you will find under www.vattenfall-cyclassis.de
REMARKS: In year 2007 this race was already sold out within 5 days after starting the registration.
See you soon!
Heiner

Thank you Heiner for your contribution, If you have a picture of your self please send it to me then we have a face at a name.

Ok guys, who is next? Send your info to me and I will put it on the site.

Where the wind blows

At this picture you see the "Col des Tempêtes", if we are "lucky " to have a windy day this particular piece of road will be very difficult. Last year at our climb the wind came over the ridge with an enormous speed. It has one + you see the end it's only a couple 100 meters to the top.

Heavy, Heavier, Heaviest

I put today in the right side to link columns to the 20 most climbed mountains of Europe and the 20 difficulties mountains of the world. And if you think The Mont Ventoux is difficult then you should look at the Scanuppia. This is heavy. If you look at the mountain who is climbed the most, yes then we see our Mont Ventoux.
If you click on the links of the mountains you will see a page with a lot of info about this mountain. These sites are in several languages so you can pick the right one out for you.
Typically you see a lot of French mountains in the list of most climbed but you don't see them in the difficult mountains.

Have fun by surfing over the mountains.






Mount Scanuppia average of 17.6 % and a maximum of 48 %

Peter Theelen

Hello

I'm Peter Theelen and I'm 19 years old. I live in Venlo and study "Wood Sculpture" in Belgium, this year I will finnish my study and for that I'm making a oak cabinet with a lot of sculptures on it. Next year I want to do another year on school doing furniture "Style and Design". I'm living in Venlo together with my Mother, sister and Dad who is organizing this tour.

My hobbies are riding my race bike, driving my car and going out with my friends. Last year I was with my father and a colleague on the Mont Ventoux ( I was the first one who was on top) Hihi.

Besides school I work with MeadWestvaco in my holiday's and free time. I'm doing several job's like painting, cleaning the place etc.

See you all in Mai,

Who will be next to tell something about your self?

Look at the route in 8 minutes

On You tube you can see an ascent in 8 minutes, it a film out of a car who is racing up hill. The film is played a bit quick but you still can see how the road looks.
Just click on the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW8Ggcwo0WU

Tip, put your sound of the music is terrible

Cincle, Galérien, Diable,Canibale, Forestier and Grandonneur

What is this will you probably think.

Well there are some achievements witch result in a member chip of a club.

If you climb the Mont Ventoux on a bike from all three sides in 24 hours, 136kilometers and height difference of 4390 meters, you may call you self "Cincle".

If you do the same as above but then do also in the same 24 hours the "route de Cèdres, 180 kilometer and 5990 meter of height difference you may call your self "Galerien".
You will find the members of these clubs on http://www.clubcinglesventoux.org/index.php?pcr=1&tpe=id_pry&ad=ASC
You need to write in before you do it by Mr. Christian Pic, and after you get your stamp card you can go for it.

The Dutch/ Belgium are as usually totally crazy and made another club for those who do a Galerien + another route. And of course in 24 hours. Who does this may call him self "Diable"

This was still not enough and so there came another challenge, 6 times in 24 hours. For this you should do Diable + once again another route. He who does this may call him self "Canibale"

Then there are two titles for mountain bikers Forestier and Grandoneur for this you have to do 2 or 3 climbs on mountain bike tracks.

For all these "crazy"things you can find info on the Dutch (sorry no English available) site http://www.alexpages.net/mventoux/mvhome.html and then clic on "uitdagingen"

I would say let them go for me is one climb at the moment fine. But as you see there is a lot to do on "the most famous mountain in France"

Then I have as extra some nice pictures from our Mountain last year on the 29Th of Mai, so just around the time we will go too. With thanks to Willy who send me these pictures.

Le Trail du Ventoux 2008

Hello,

Here is a little info bulletin over something else that happens on the Mont Ventoux.

On Sunday 23th of March Le Trail du Ventoux will be done by 800 runners. The Trail du Ventoux is a marathon from Bedoin to the top and back. 42 Km and a height difference of 2200 meters. The trail goes of the roads and it's been done 5 times before. If you like you can have a look at the trail from last year on the next site: http://www.ventoux-tv.com/frameset_01_archives.html After you got on this page click on the button sport in the upper field. in the next page you can scroll at the right side down until you see "Le Trail du Ventoux episode1 to 4" click on this and you see a film over this event.



This tells us that we are not the only "crazy" people who climb this mountain.

Then I had an idea, now we now who is going to the Mont Ventoux, and we all can read the names of them, is it maybe an idea that everybody tells something about himself, things like:

1. How old are you?
2. Whats your job?
3. Where do you live?
4. Are you married or single?
5. Do you have children?
6. What do expect from the event?
7. What are your hobby's?
8. Maybe a picture of your self so we can put a face to a name.
9. And anything else you want to share.

Send this information to jt11@tiscali.nl and I will put the info on the weblog. This could be a way to learn more about your colleagues climbers.

So who will be first?

Update for some members

As some of you already knew, I was trying to organize a bus to travel from Holland for the Dutch, German and maybe Belgium members. We had about 19 to 20 people in this region who maybe would join traveling together.
I must regret to say this will not going to work the cost of a bus are to much to high for so little people (between 4500 and 6000 euros).

So this means we will have to organize the trip by our own. Please have a look in the members list if we can share cars so that it will be the best for all of us.

If someone else has a brilliant idea just put it on the mail and we will look at it.

Happy and healthy 2008

Happy New Year everybody, the year 2008 has started and after a lot of party's we will have to start training again. In 146 days we will climb our mountain so there is still some time left to get in a better shape but don't wait to long or the mountain will punish you for that.

I hope to start somewhere in two weeks training again. I will need this training because I had a little heart surgery just before Chrismas and this cost me a lot of my condition. I had a couple of months ago the idea to climb the Mont Ventoux from all the three side in one day but now I will be happy when I make it to the top one's.

It would maybe nice to hear from different members how they prepare them self's for the challenge. So if you want to tell us how you do this send me a mail with your story and I will put it on the weblog, we probably find some best practices.

Send it to: jt11@tiscali.nl