Mt Diablo Friday Sept 4th

[Bike Goddess]

Dear Bay Area folks,

Beth (Allez Girl) will have a bike on Friday and Saturday of next week. She and BF want to do Diablo Friday and then Marin county Saturday.

I"m setting up a ride from Heather Farms on Friday morning (early). We'll do the north side up and then, for those who have time and would like to come, the south side down which includes a tour through the "hole in the wall".

Beth and I will talk next week re time to meet and I"ll get back to you. Since it's the famous Labor Day Weekend, we should plan to get off the mountain early so people can get home easily.

Hope some of you can join us!!!!

[Bike Goddess]

We're meeting at Heather Farms at 9:15. We'll do the north side and then decide if we want to go down the south side and back to Walnut Creek that way. Weather is looking good. Cool temps should make the ride very nice.

[gnat23]

Drat, I'm leaving town in the morning to attack the long weekend. Have fun, and spill a little coca-cola on the ground for us at the top!

-- gnat!

[AllezGirl]

Nancy....you truly are a Bike Goddess! It was such a pleasure meeting you! Thank you so much for organizing your club and escorting us up the mountain! I've never done a climb of that length, and having great company sure made it easier!

I'll post our pictures as soon as I get home and load them on my computer.

If you ever get the chance to head East, let me know and I'd be glad to repay the favor!

[Bike Goddess]

Thanks Beth!
You were awesome! That's one tough climb and you did it with grace and a good dose of humour!

I'm sorry you didn't get to know some of the other riders from the group due to our late start. Glenn (GW_12) came from an invitation I had put out on the Bike Journal site and I was grateful that he stayed with you to the top. I had planned to ride to the top as well, but my two lady friends Riva and Sherri didn't know how to get back to our cars going down the south side. (they had had enough at the junction!)

Come visit us again and we'll show you some more great climbs in this area.

For Marin rides, just PM Maillotpois as she lives over there. I know she would be a great resource.

Enjoy the rest of your stay here and please come back again! Alex is an impressive climber!

[maillotpois]

Sorry I was busy w/work and a sick kid today and could not join you.

As Nancy noted I am certainly happy to suggest or join you on Marin rides. Not sure how much longer you are here. Feel free to ask for routes or PM me for a ride.

[AllezGirl]

Nancy and Me at the Junction

Starting the climb

The summit...I made it!

Alex and Glenn at the summit...Glenn was a great escort!

Alex and Me at the summit

[AllezGirl]

Sorry we missed you Sarah...it would have been nice to meet up with another TE'r! Fortunately, Marin turned out to be quite easy to navigate...just follow the 100's of other cyclists! We did some climbing, then some descending...walked around Muir Woods...then climbed and descended some more.

What an amazing part of the world you live in! I can't wait to go back!

[jobob]

Congrats on the ascent of Mt. Diablo!

I hope to make it up there again, eventually

[luv'nAustin]

Wow, you all amaze me! I used to live in Diablo near The Athenian School and would often hike the trails...that was hard enough for me. I didn't ride at the time but every so often I would see cyclists on the road.

Now I live on the other coast and do ride but I still can't imagine how one could do a climb that long and steep. Do you need a triple? Could you do it with a compact or a double? I think I'd need a motor! You all rock and provide inspiration for the rest of us...thanks!

[jobob]

There are plenty of studly souls in these parts who can do it with a compact double or a regular double -- they whiz by me no problem -- but mere mortals such as myself need every gear she can get.

If you take your time on the climbing, Diablo is pretty do-able.

The last short steep bit to the summit parking lot is a real bear -- it took me several attempts before I could climb the darn thing without bailing partway & walking the rest. But boy oh boy the first time I made it all the way up that last steep bit it was thrilling!

[SadieKate]

[...Glenn was a great escort!

Did he use both legs?

Some of us like to tell him to just go away and let us suffer the climb solo. We mean that in the nicest way possible.

[Bike Goddess]

Yes, when I saw Glenn he was a two legged climber altho I'll bet he could do it with just one!

He actually climbed up south , came down north , climbed up north to junction and then on to the summit (with Beth) and then came back down the north side (escorting Beth to the Sweet Affair- he didn't partake in any food there), then went back up north and down the south side to his car in Danville. I think he got his workout!

He told us that he does Sierra Rd with his buddies about once a week. No wonder he's so strong. Maybe he's part monkey.

If anyone is able to do Mt Diablo during the week, PM me with your email address and I'll put you in my Mt Diablo group. I'm hoping to go up once a week until the weather gets nasty. Good for the legs and clearing out my muddled brain!

Rules for the rides I lead up Diablo- go as far as you like, no whining just climbing.