Office Gossip - October 2010
Mont Ventoux
It had all seemed such a good idea back in November 2009. Spurred on by that
year's Tour de France, four men who should have known better decided that they
were up to conquering the Giant of Provence, Mont Ventoux. Fast forward to October
2010. Still in a blissful state of self-denial Peter, Tim, Andrew and Craig,
clad in their Team Leech Velo tops, set off on the 27 mile ride to Sault and
the base of Mont Ventoux. Even a couple of minor mechanicals did little to dent
their optimism, while the ease that they raced up the Col de Fontaube suggested
this was going to be easier than they thought. But Fontaube was only 655 metres
high, while Ventoux dominated the skyline at a mighty 1,912 metres.
Following a lunch stop in Sault (and an ill-advised excess of goat's cheese
for the sole vegetarian), the ascent began. A steady but leg-sapping gradient
had everyone looking for their lowest gears and the group quickly fragmented
as each rider found their own pace. Peter was the surprise package, equipped
as he was with ultra-low gears and the Best of New Order. After 19 kilometres
of climbing, the gradient eased and the group reassembled at the Chalet Reynard
ski-station, ready for one last effort to the summit.
In this photo you can see Partner Andrew Dow and Associate Craig Delahaye
Only six more kilometres remained but they were by far the hardest: a gradient which swung between 8 and 10% on a ribbon of road clinging to the side of the moonscape which comprised the higher reaches of Ventoux. Just turning the pedals was the priority, that and ignoring the little voice that suggested getting off and pushing the rest of the way. Respite arrived with one kilometre to go, as the group stopped to pay homage at the memorial to Tommy Simpson, the most famous of Ventoux's victims.
In this photo you can see Partner Tim Shaw at the Tommy Simpson shrine
One final, ultra-steep ramp and the summit was reached. The riders were met with a howling wind and, bizarrely, a sweet stall. All that remained was to get back down, a 21 kilometre switchback descent that had Craig and Andrew reaching speeds of over 50mph, before a well-earned refreshment stop and an easy spin back to the village of Faucon.
In this photo you can see the team Partner Andrew Dow, Associate Craig Delahaye, Partner Peter Hartley and Partner Tim Shaw.
It wasn't the fastest ascent. It wasn't even the most difficult route. But four middle-aged men in lycra had conquered Mont Ventoux.
The Great North Run
Running the Great North Run from Leech & Co this year was System Developer Mark Hetherington. This was his eighth time competing in the event which took place with 54,000 entrants. Mark's time this year was 2 hours 1 minute, a great time and well done from all of us. This time was not Mark's PB but as you can see from the picture below he did pause to take celebrity photos!
Haile Gebrselassie won the fastest time with 59 minutes 33 seconds.
