cool breeze - august 19th

[Brandy]

We're doing 50 miles tomorrow...I can't wait!

http://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=2087

ETA: If you click on the link and zoom in, you'll see that we're riding right through houses...lol. There is a bike path, but unfortunately it doesn't show up on the map, so I had to improvise and guess where it ran...lol

[Tiffanie]

We're doing 50 miles tomorrow...I can't wait!

http://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=2087

ETA: If you click on the link and zoom in, you'll see that we're riding right through houses...lol. There is a bike path, but unfortunately it doesn't show up on the map, so I had to improvise and guess where it ran...lol

So we're not doing Newport Coast Drive??

[Brandy]

So we're not doing Newport Coast Drive??

If after all of that climbing, you feel like doing Newport Coast Drive we can throw it in somehow...lol.

[tprevost]

Actually, Newport Coast from East to West isn't bad at all. I just got into my granny gear and plugged my way; its hardly a grade - just long and hot in that corridor. Now of course Mike (Pam's friend) and ACG were on hammocks with drinks by the time I got done, but I wasn't tired, not breathing hard and HR was very low.

You two can whip that right out!!!!

T~

ps. I am told that the road from West to East is much harder, so why don't you two do it that direction and let me know how it is????

[Brandy]

I think Newport Coast will be on the menu for next week sometime.

[bcipam]

Here's the thing about Newport Coast - the two sides are almost the same. I think the East/West route is about 1.3 miles and the W/E is 1.6 miles so not much difference in length and I've been told that the gradient is also not all that different (anywhere from 3 - 6 percent). I think what I hate about the Ocean side is that I usually don't do it until after I've put in some mileage, say 25 - 30 miles and am just tired. The E/W side (which I did last night) I usually do after a warm up of say 10 - 15 miles and am still fresh. Neither are particularly easy for me but the Ocean side just seems like it's 5 miles longer.

I may have told you this story... I have a friend training for the "The Bear" - she wanted to do the distance (100 miles) and the elevation (9000') before the ride. She rode the Ocean side of Newport Coast for 8 hours!!! Up and down, up and down, up and down... for 8 hours. OK personally I could never ever be that focused on one task for so long, second, after that, I would never ever again want to ride NC. It would be ruined for me.

[caligurl]

I may have told you this story... I have a friend training for the "The Bear" - she wanted to do the distance (100 miles) and the elevation (9000') before the ride. She rode the Ocean side of Newport Coast for 8 hours!!! Up and down, up and down, up and down... for 8 hours. OK personally I could never ever be that focused on one task for so long, second, after that, I would never ever again want to ride NC. It would be ruined for me.

YIKES!!!!!!!!

[Brandy]

I may have told you this story... I have a friend training for the "The Bear" - she wanted to do the distance (100 miles) and the elevation (9000') before the ride. She rode the Ocean side of Newport Coast for 8 hours!!! Up and down, up and down, up and down... for 8 hours. OK personally I could never ever be that focused on one task for so long, second, after that, I would never ever again want to ride NC. It would be ruined for me.

Pam,

I was just telling Tiff the other day that we should do hill repeats on NC and I thought of when you told me about your friend doing that. That's some serious dedication!

[Tiffanie]

If after all of that climbing, you feel like doing Newport Coast Drive we can throw it in somehow...lol.

Eh. We can do it another time.

[Tiffanie]

ps. I am told that the road from West to East is much harder, so why don't you two do it that direction and let me know how it is????

Sure Tracy... only for you.

Pam, your friend has some serious dedication. I couldn't imagine doing that over and over and over....

[bcipam]

My friend (who btw happens to be a hand surgeon) told me after doing NC for 8 hours she could tell me every crack, bump, patch of dirt etc on the climb side. On the downhill side she would just almost close her eyes (it is a scary descent). She's an awesome rider and obviously very dedicated to her sport. Me? I avoid the hill at all cost!!! AND.. I have no desire, whatsoever, to ever do the Bear!

[Ninabike]

Pam - Is NC the one we didn't do? Alex and I have decided to "give in" and get triples on our bikes!!

Nina

[caligurl]

nina... don't consider it "giving in".... consider it a move to allow you to do rides and climbs you want to accomplish.... and to do so comfortably!!!!!!!!

there is no shame in a triple!!!!!!!

[Ninabike]

Cali - You're right. We had triples on our previous bikes, but we kinda got "talked into " getting compact doubles on our current bikes by the LBS guy (he is no longer there). You really do lose versatility though, both on the low end and the high end.

[caligurl]

when i was still in the planning/looking process for my new bike.... hubby looked into a compact for me... did the calculations, etc... and determined that i would loose too much off both the top and bottom.... just like you said! i already "spin out" coming down hills... i would have started spinning out sooner on a compact! and for several of the climbs... i go to my very easiest gear.... i think they could have gotten me there.. but at the expense of my higher gears... so we decided on the triple.. then when i changed my mind from a custom to a ruby.... the bike shop tried to convince me i needed a compact... fortunately they weren't that pushy (not that i would have changed my mind! lol!) cuz i KNOW i woulda been uber disappointed with a compact!