New member Sylvain Thibaut

We have a new member who is going with us to the Mont Ventoux. After two people canceled the trip due to privat circumstances I was able to ask Sylvain Thibaut, from Deols France, to join us. Sylvain asked some time ago if he still could join us but due to a lack at hotel rooms I couldn't confirm this to him. Yesterday I was able to send him an e-mail with the messages that he could join us. Today I got the message that he would be pleased to join us. Welcome Sylvain to our group.

Today Peter, my son, registered for the three times climb in 24 hours. The costs for this are 15 euros and for that he will get his stamp card, and after he did the climb a lifetime membership of the Club des Cingles du Mont Ventoux.

I will try to pick up training again on Friday or Saturday, maybe there is still time for me to get ready. If not then I will support you with bananas and my voice.

The route from Bedoin and Sault is open

Hello,

Today I saw on the Dutch Mont Ventoux website that the route from Bedoin and Sault is open. Only the route from Malaucene is at the end still closed due to snow on the road. This side should be open in about two weeks if we don't get more snow over there. Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope that the weather gets better. What would it be nice if we had a nice warm sunny day on the 25th.
Yes it's less than a month to go, I'm looking forward to it.

I had yesterday my surgery and everything went well, I came home today and I'm still weak. They couldn't find the problem during the operation and as far as they said to me is everything ok and is it allowed to climb the Mont Ventoux at the end of the month. I don't now if I will, I'm a little confused because I really had a problem a couple of weeks ago. We will see, I will decide this in the coming weeks.

Amstel Gold Race for two members

Last Saturday two of our members has joint the Amstel Gold Race in the south of the Netherlands. It was Chris Schuts and Peter Theelen (my son). They where riding the 150 kilometer tour. The weather was in the beginning very good but the last 1,5 hour they had rain. They started at 7:40 and ended the tour at 16:20. The tour was very good organised, there where two posts where they could get drinks and food.
I had to look from beside the road and this was not as easy as I thought. But due to my heart problems it was not wise to join them. Good job guys, good practise for you 3 times goal on the Mont Ventoux.
If you want to see an impression of the Amstel Gold Race then is here a link where you can see Peter and Chris in several films.
http://www.amstel.nl/agr/?rennerid=4808201493
I will have this Thursday (in 2 day's) my surgery in Krefeld, Germany. I will probably be back home on Friday. This means that I will join you to the Mont Ventoux in May. Friday I made the order for the clothes for all MWV employees from our challenge, the design was very nice but this is a surprise and you will see this when you are in France. You will not regret that you joint this challenge while after our tour you will have a special MWV collectors item. Only 23 pieces will be made.

Twan Beurskens

This is me (photo will follow), Twan married with Petra and we are happy with our 2 kids daughter Anouk (8) & son Thom (5) living in Tegelen close to the river Maas. I'm spending my time besides working for MWV as Technical & Development Manager with enjoying life. Like eating (all kinds of food), drinking nice glass of wine or good beer, playing Euphonium in a Brassband, play squash ones a week and prepare for the Kale Berg challenge. It will be my first challenge cycling up an mountain for at least 2 hours but I've already cycled "De Elfstedentocht" that's 240 km in one day on a regular bike (no race bike). I'm probably going to challenge the Kale Berg by approaching it from 3 different sides but for that I also need you. Who's is picking up the glove with me and go for it ........
Seeya & meet in France, Twan Beurskens.

Preparation

Hello,

Today I want to tell something about preparing for the climb. A lot of you will say we know this already but maybe for some is this new and help full.

1. Choose the right gear on your bike. This means take care that you can go as light as possible. If you have a to heavy gear your muscles will explode on the way to the top. For those who never climbed before and so have no experience I would suggest a triple on your bike or a Compact crank with 27 at the backside.


2. Listen to you body. If possible use a heart rate meter. Theoretically your max. heart rate is 220 - your age. This is a something that you can do for a short time. You should stay about 15 % below your max to reach the top. This is just theoretic, you should try it before going to the Mont Ventoux at which heart rate you can keep riding. For me is this 165/min. above this I can not normally talk anymore. But this is different for everybody.


3. Make as much kilometers as possible (miles is also ok) and if you have the possibility to climb some hill's use this, this will help you to experience climbing.


4. Take care that you are fit en healthy when you start the climb, so don't drink alcohol before climbing and take enough rest before. Celebrating is for after the climb!


5. Take a good meal before the start, and take some food and drinks with you during the climb. Food: Bread, Candy bars, Bananas. Drinks: Water, Energy drinks (Extran or Isostar) two bidons should be enough, when it is very hot you would need some more. (we can provide you from the car)


6. Warm clothes, even when it's warm you will cool down during the way back down. A raincoat because if you are wet you will cool down very fast in the wind on the mountain.


7. Wear sunglasses even if it is not sunny. The insects that you will meet uphill will wait for you until you get down. Can you imagine to get a wasp in your Eye by 60km/h or faster?


8. Watch out for test driving BMW's and Mercedessen, the mountain is also a test road for those cars and the road will not be blocked for this.


9. Take you mobile phone with you and putt some numbers in from people who can help you if you get in trouble. There will be several cars with supporters on the hill.


10. Don't over do your self, being part of is more important then the time. Remember in the summer in average ones a week the rescue teams has to get a person down after an accident. This is the last thing we want!

I was last week with my Cardiologist and as I already new he said that I have to go back to the hospital for surgery. Probably this will happen in Germany again and maybe already next week or the week after. I should have enough time then to recover to join you all to France. I will of course leave my bike in my garage. Even if this hurts quiet a lot.

So if you do not see any updates, I probably will be in the hospital or recovering.

I still do not have a little story from everybody. What is it, who sends me something about himself, it doesn't cost so much time and this helps me to keep our weblog alive?

Top is open from Bedoin and Sault

Today I saw a article from some Dutch guys who had been at the Mont Ventoux on the 22-28 March 2008. They climbed him from Bedoin and from Sault. The route to the top was open, There was a lot of melt water on the road but that was no problem. The route from Malaucene is still closed at ski station Mont Serein (North side) due to snow. But this will change probably until we are there.

Today I sold my ticket for the Amstel Gold Race in Holland, I will definitely not ride my bike this spring. I hope to pick-up training in the summer or early autumn and maybe I will be able to climb the mountain somewhere in the Autumn.

For all of you keep training, you have less then 50 day's to go and you will need a good shape over there!