Riv Ride on Diablo

[jobob]

How does Diablo compare? [to the climb up to Gilroy Hot Springs, which was part of our ACTC Academy graduation ride a couple of weeks ago and is on the ACTC's annual Tierra Bella ride]

Up to the Junction (via the North Gate) I'd give it maybe a 2.5 to 3X Gilroy Hot Springs - mostly in terms of distance. There were only a few portions that were challenging for me in terms of steepness; it just went on and on and on, w. lots of switchbacks. But there were a lot of nice people to chat with (and most of the time I was able to carry on a fairly coherent conversation), and did I happen to mention the scenery was simply gorgeous? By and large that took my mind away from any discomfort (that, and worrying about Lee )

We didn't go beyond the Junction, but just based on what I've heard and read, the ride from the Junction up Summit Road to the top sounds like another 3X Gilroy (not counting the fact that you've already done the ride up to the Junction so you're not exactly fresh as a daisy ).

It was a bit warmer than anyone originally expected, and you know how much I luuuve to pedal uphill in the heat. But I had the advantage of being able to take a few stops here & there to check & make sure Lee was still alive (poor bunkie).

When Lee went up to the summit last weekend on his reconnaissance mission, he went up via South Gate. In retrospect he thought South Gate was a bit more pleasant to ride, with more shady parts, and it seemed slightly less steep to him - granted, at that time it was much cooler out and he could breath . [ Just a side note - South Gate and North Gate roads meet up at the Junction and you continue on Summit road to the top. ]

We've both pretty much concluded that Diablo isn't particularly steep (though it has it's moments!), it's just that at the distance you're covering you have to be especially careful to pace yourself, and perhaps take frequent short rest stops to prevent burning out.

Next time we go up (probably during Thanksgiving weekend, if not sooner) we'll make sure to take lots of short stops (read: photo ops!), and maybe go up South Gate rather than North Gate road.