Tour De Cure

[bcipam]

Hi VALERIE and bcipam,

I would love to join you on the TdC but I'm not sure I'm up to the 65 mile ride. I haven't ridden too much this year since my husband's crash (I kind of felt guilty riding when he was not able to, and we like to do things together. Although he has started to ride again. He is not ready for a ride like this since his fractured pelvis). I could do 65 miles if the wind and hills aren't too bad. Could either of you tell me a little about the course. You can PM me if you want. I've never done this ride.

Thanks girls,
Nina

Nina:

There are all kinds of ways to short cut the ride and still enjoy it. The ride is generally flat with the exception of the climb up Newport Coast. What I recommend (and what my friend Richard and I will probably do) once you cross Newport Harbor onto Balboa using the ferry, take Bayview to Back Bay and meet up with the other riders coming down from Newport Coast/San Joaquin. This shortens the ride to about 50 miles. Very flat. Depending on how Richard feels (his diabetes affects his mood and stamina) we might avoid Back Bay all together and head straight back on PCH cutting the ride down to 40 - 45 miles. There is also a 30 mile option.

Richard and I generally just cruise this ride. Enjoy all the sag stops (which are well stocked) and talk to everyone along the way. i.e. party! The day is generally beautiful so we just enjoy being out by the beach. You can do it, it's for a great cause and I always enjoy the ride each year as one of my favorites.

**The ride starts in Long Beach goes inland for awhile and out along PCH to Newport to the Pennisula and you take the Ferry to Balboa. All this is very, very flat. The Metric heads down along PCH which gets rolly to Newport Coast. NC is a good climb - about 1 1/2 miles at a 6% grade. You turn and go down San Joaquin to Back Bay, around BB (which is rolly but not bad) and back to PCH which again gets very flat. You generally have a tailwind out but a headwind coming back in. It's good to have someone to draft off of. Let me know if you need more info about the route.