There were about 60 of us setting off from the town of Bedoin at the foot of the giant of Provence at around 9.30am.
I started my stopwatch at Bedoin and went for it
The first km was almost flat at only 1.8% so I changed into the big ring, then each progressive km after that gradually rose up and up with the % getting higher.
At the hairpin of Les Bruns after 6km it winds up into the dreaded Bedoin forest from here on in it was constant suffering at 10% and I could only use the lower and lowest gears on the cassette.
It was nice having lot's of targets always up the road to pick off one by one, many riders were out today there literally were thousands of people summating.
I would pass a few people no words were muttered only the ocasiaonal ohh lalal from the odd mountain bikers I passed
Through the forest you had no Idea what awaited you round the next bend, the road just ascended skyward at an alarming rate through the trees, I was trying out a heart rate monitor for the first time and it stayed at 165-175 at all times.
Finally the ski station of Chalet Reynard appeared through the trees and I imagined Tom running into the bar to grab a bottle of Brandy and then run off without paying.
After this the looming summit was visable if you cranked your neck right up, just like sitting in the front row at the cinema
It was a hot day but the breeze after the trees actually felt cooler than in the trees, the Lunar landscape is incredibly barren, here there were lots of cyclist suffering big time, weaving all over the road and some even walking.
I passed the Tom Simpson monument just as they were setting up all the flags and everything for the official opening later, but none of the cyclists that set off from Bedoin were there yet.
I continued up with 1 km to go round the next sweep the road cranked up to 11% with a last honk out the saddle I finally rounded the last hairpin 100m up to the famous observatory at the top.
I made it in 1h 25 then had to wait a while for my 3 other mates, so had a well deserved croque monsier at the restaurant before descending for the ceromony
), did you ride all the way up on a 53 chainring. 
