Central Coast Double

[Veronica]

Homey and I at the start of the ride.



On Route 1.



Poppies!



The view from about two miles up NastyMental, err Nacimiento Rd.



What 179 miles of biking will do to you...

There are several more photos on our website. We haven't put a link on the homepage yet so use this one.

http://www.tandemhearts.com/coppermi...lbum=25&pos=17

V.

[SadieKate]

Oh! I finally got the Nasty Mental joke. It's Lake Nacimiento (you're missing an i after the m). For someone who grew up with clearly enunciated Spanish, I couldn't figure out the joke. That's actually pretty good.

So Homey finally found some wildflowers, huh? That gorgeous country.

PS - just ask me how my classmates laughed at our patio, shopping on the Esplanade, and having a Xmas poinsettia. Being from NM, we didn't pronounce them like the average 'Murcan.

[Veronica]

Thanks. I fixed the spelling.

I can't take credit for NastyMental. It was someone working the Morgan Territory rest stop for DMD that I got it from.

V.

[DarcyInOregon]

Veronica, I think your ride is an amazing accomplishment.

Can I ask, how many years did it take you to reach this goal? I ask because a double century is my long-term goal and I am wondering how long it takes to reach that level of fitness.

Also, awesome photos. You have that cyclist's grin, a happy smile that most cyclist's have when they are out biking.

Darcy

[Veronica]

I already had a pretty good fitness base when I decided I wanted to do doubles. I had been doing centuries and double metrics for a few years so I was able to do my first double last year with only four months of serious training. That was one of the "easy" doubles though and I naturally want to do the extreme doubles.

V.

[jobob]

That was one of the "easy" doubles though and I naturally want to do the extreme doubles.

V.

Oh, sez hoo?!! Even the CA Triple Crown website ranks this one as "Extremely High" difficulty. So there. neener.

Yeah, yeah, I know, you're aiming for the "Radically High" difficulty ones.

Got any plans for the weekend of Oct 20? If you say it's too easy I'm gonna have to slap you upside the head, though ...

[maillotpois]

Wow - great photos!

And yes, I grew up there but I finally got it - Nasty Mental!! That's funny.

[aka_kim]

Great report and pics!

21 percent grades? - shouldn't they be outlawed or something? Really. And 7 percent for 7.5 miles (or v.v.) just makes my hips ache.

Well done!!!

[Deanna]

Congratulations Veronica! That road up the hill is amazing! This does NOT sound like an "easy" double. I didn't know there was such a thing.

[maillotpois]

I think she meant her first double (Spring Solvang) was easy. This one is listed as "extremely high" - easier than Tam (which she did last year) and tougher than Solvang spring, Davis, etc.

[Deanna]

Thanks for clarifying. Though I think "easy double" is an oxymoron of sorts.

[Veronica]

You'll notice I put easy in quotation marks.

I have to say I think Tam was a bit easier than Central Coast. Maybe it was the wind. Maybe it's the extra 9 pounds I'm carrying. Maybe I've just blocked out feeling crummy at all on Tam.

V.

[maillotpois]

Well, you'd also ridden a lot of the Tam course in the weeks leading up to the event. I think that helps a lot.

[Veronica]

Oh Jo, Solvang Fall is on my calendar. That's a cool birthday present to give yourself.

V.

[Starfish]

Ooooh...such beautiful country. GREAT pics!