Quote Originally Posted by Bike Goddess
Hmmmm- does that mean we do Coleman Valley Road the OTHER way from the Sta Rosa double metric?? (I'll bet!!! Just my luck- more climbing. Love those hills!)
Um. Yes. But think of the sense of accomplishment! And, again, the views! (Last time I climbed Coleman, probably last November, it was socked in a fog bank and I got no view... ) And the climbing part is mostly over with in the first bit.

Okay, I admit - Coleman from Hwy. 1 sucks. The first part of Coleman is steep. You have cattle guards going up-hill so you have to get momentum up to propel yourself over so you can coast over the cattle guards. The gradient gets towards 16 - 17%. The steep part is over a mile.

(And SK stop the panic RIGHT NOW because this is the opposite direction from what you'll do at WCC. WCC is much easier.).

Anyway, Nancy, it is tough but you can totally do it and, again, think of the sense of accomplishment. And it really is a beautiful road - one of my top five cycling roads ever. And be glad you're not doing it at mile 130, which is where the double folks will be doing it. After climbing Alpine Dam to the top of Mt. Tam.