Fell off Ventoux... Ouch!

I dont think I fancy doing an epic descent on a hire bike to be honest, it would spoil it, I use hire bikes myself, but havent ever done any of the big name climbs on them.

As for continental brake levers, my bikes have always been laced that way, its always been the 'serious' way and other than some minor issues with British city hire bikes, its better all round and ideal for continental bikes.

Even back in the 50's (I am informed) in the handbuilt scene, the serious customer would have his or her brakes laced continental as a matter of course.

Having done two training rides up Ventoux via Bedoin and Malaucene with two simulators. I can see from the video the dangers of going a little too fast downhill. Get well soon

Firstly - commiserations, hope you heal quickly and great to see you've still got your chin up.

Secondly - we must never mention this to my wife, okay? 

I'm glad you are ok-ish and admire the way you are putting on a brave face when you've taken a major hit.

Alpine cols require skills we don't really hone on UK roads and it's easy to find oneself cornering at unfamiliar speeds and failing to read bends and road surfaces early enough.

I'm fortunate in spending 3-4 weeks every year just climbing and descending cols, but always with my own bike, and the first few days I'm really cautious with descents until I get my eye in - even on cols I know well. I only start pushing descents hard in the second week.

If I had to use a hire bike, I'd dial it back on all descents for just this reason.

Anyone reading, please remember on hairpins that anything coming up will usually come over the centre of the road, sometimes all the way over - and long vehicles have no choice as it's the only way round. So be prepared to slow right down unless you can see the road approaching off to the side and are sure it's clear.

Hope you recover soon...

Commiserations; I'm addicted to riding in France but always 'have a word with myself' ref getting carried away on descents.  Just had 2 weeks in the Lot valley and did some hills near Clermont (Pas de Peyrol, Mont Dore area).

Heal quickly!  I went up and down Ventoux a few weeks times a couple of weeks back.  Contrasting rides, one in 38 degrees and so v v hot, the other into cloud and mist and a fearsome headwind from Chalet Reynard. A necessarily slow descent on latter but on the hot day i overcooked a bend and saw trees rushing towards me. Or was it me towards them I had my own disc braked bike though and was able to slow and gain control and continue. It was dry so i am sure a caliper brake would have been just fine. Just glad i wasnt riding a hire . I know many people are happy to do so but i wont now after a pretty scary  wet descent into Morzine from col de jou plane a few years back on a hired bike. 

We travelled  to Ventoux with La Vie en Velo and Angus who runs the company brough all our bikes over. Really nice guy and great knowledgeable company on our many rides.

Sounds nasty, hope you recover soon.

Your comment about the helmet is probably not as controversial as you think. It's these kind of activities where their use is generally* accepted to be of some benefit.

What bugs people is with widespread helmet use in normal commuting, utility riding, the peception grows in the general public and the motoring lobby that to not wear one is irresponsible or renders you somehow liable in the event of a collision with a vehicle. As if the polysterene is going to prevent being crushed by several tons of metal!  As soon as discussion focuses on helmet wearing, it takes the debate away from the much needed improvements to road safety, driver responsibility, driving standards, infrastructure etc. 

(*not universally by any means. Some would still attribute crashes to the choice to wear a helmet and thus take more risk!)

I was kind of hoping this was the guy asking the question about carbon rims and alpine descents. Would have beeen a delicious irony

Glad you survived. That continental bike set up is a real PITA. Heal well, and then go try again

 Get well soon. At least you went up before you came down!

All the best with the recovery and getting back on the bike.

I don't ship my bikes overseas, and I haven't done enough descents on 'forrin' bikes to overwrite my existing UK braking muscle memory. Like you say, it kicks in when you really need it to, and it can be hairy when that means pulling the 'wrong' brake.

A couple of near misses has led to me dragging the brakes a bit whenever I'm overseas on a hire bike, just to play it safe. It's a bit of a shit compromise, but compared to the off I surely would have had by now, probably worth it - and I can't bring myself to trust my best bike to baggage handling.

Sounds painful, hope you still saved it to Strava. Get well soon.

Get well soon!

This sort of thing actually worries me more than a little; I don't fear riding up some of these epic mountains, but descending them on a hire bike is kinda scary.  Even the baby descents I did earlier in the year on Fuerteventura were much longer and faster than anything I get around Surrey - on an unfamiliar bike its disconcerting.