Riv Ride on Diablo

[Veronica]

Here's a link to some pictures Thom took on yesterday's ride - including some closeups of the really light cross bike.

V.




Riv Ride pictures

[jobob]

I can now fathom why people would actually want to drag themselves up that mountain... or any mountain, for that matter!

We met at Rivendell Bike Works in Walnut Creek. There were about 20 participants. It was so much fun oohing and ahhing over everyone's bikes - there were some custom Rivs, some Rambouillets, some Romuluses, and some non-Rivs (all were welcome, of course). As someone pointed out, each bike was special in it's own unique way. I particularly liked the orange Rambouillet with the fenders painted in an orange-toned leopard print. It's owner sported leopard-printed accessories to match - tres

It was such a lovely ride. Going around a switchback, I would be rewarded for my effort with a breathtaking vista. The road up the mountain was in very good condition, for the most part, and very few cars passed us. It was so peaceful and serene up there.

My husband had a difficult time, he had a bit of a cold earlier this week, and while he seemed to be over it, his lungs declared otherwise. So he was in the unfortunate position of being the last one up, so not only was he struggling to keep up, he didn't have much opportunity to stop and rest. At one point I suggested maybe we should just stop at the Junction (that's roughly halfway up the mountain) but he was insisting he was okay. I was starting to concoct my own mystery illness to keep us from attempting the rest of the mountain, but hubby finally accepted the fact that he was just not up to the whole thing that day - there were a couple of nasty switchbacks before the Junction and I think that knocked some sense into him ( In all fairness he did ride up the entire mountain last weekend, I was out of town and he wanted to see if it was do-able, which it was, but just not yesterday. )

So Lee & I stayed at the Junction (that's where all the group photos Veronica posted were taken) and told the rest of the group we'd wait for them on their return from the Summit and join them for the rest of the way back.

Happily for us, Veronica & her husband Thom also chose not to go on to the Summit, so rather than wait for everyone else we rode w. them back down the mountain to Walnut Creek. I'm usually fairly timid going down steep hills, but I was able to go my own pace and I really enjoyed it, with my husband patiently following. We met up with V. & Thom who were waiting for us at the bottom (V. in particular is quite the downhill speed demon ) and as we were navigating through Walnut Creek one of the Riv employees met up with us - he needed to leave the ride early - and gave us a nice direct route back to Rivdendell Bicycle Works.

We left our bikes back at the Mother Ship and went to a nearby italian restaurant for a late lunch. RBW had reserved a large table for our group and it was just the 4 of us for well over an hour - we were all hungry and we decided to just have our lunches right away and have coffee with the rest of the group once they arrived.

A funny thing happened at lunch - Lee and I were sitting with our backs to the room. While we were eating I thought I heard a familiar voice - I turned around and found a table full of our old kite-flying friends! [ My husband and I met while flying kites, and for about a dozen years we were very heavily involved in kiting, competitive sport kite flying as well as building our own "show" kites, travelling to kite festivals, the whole nine yards. Over time our interest waned, for a variety of reasons - Lee's still a bit involved but I'm pretty much out of it ]. Anyhow, talk about worlds colliding! It was great to see them - I hadn't seen most of them since a holiday get-together last December. Many of them remarked on how good Lee and I looked (that's because we're riding bikes so much), while glancing warily at Lee's lycra-clad legs . They were astonisted that we rode even halfway up Diablo - great boost to the ego, that.

The rest of the group finally joined us. We had a great time reliving the ride and yapping about bikes and books and whatever else came to mind. A grand time was had by all.

Lee and I plan to ride up Mt. Diablo again very soon - at our own pace, with lots of brief stops to enjoy the scenery ( and catch our breaths )

- Jo.

[Veronica]

Nice write up Jo. It was a fun day. Let us know if you want some company next time you head up the mountain. I'll make Thom lug his camera - poor guy had 8 pounds of gear he was toting yesterday- so we can take pictures of you and Lee at the top.

V.

[snapdragen]

Great pix Veronica!

Good job jobob! I remember you weren't too sure about this ride as you pedaled up Gilroy Hot Springs. How does Diablo compare? Sorry Lee wasn't feeling 100%.

[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.

[Veronica]

I've always thought the South Gate entrance was easier than the North - except for that windy section right below the Junction.

V.

[Veronica]

I think Jo (in yellow) still looks fresh as a daisy here at the Junction.

V.

[jobob]

Except for my freakishly red forehead, which is the color I suspect my entire face took on during a couple of parts of the climb. The color must have gradually receded starting from my neck on up

[Trek420]

jobob sez "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."


hmmm, do I hear an organized after turkey ride?

[aka_kim]

Wow, I didn't even notice that "freakishly red forehead" until you pointed it out, Jo! I always look like I'm going to die when I ride Diablo, and frequently also feel like I will too. So you're not alone in the beet-red face problem.

I'm envious (green, not red, I think) of your ride Saturday. The weather was perfect that day, Diablo must have been gorgeous!

[Veronica]

Where were you? (she asks in her typical nosy fashion) I figured we'd see you up there.

V.

[aka_kim]

I sprained my ankle a few weeks ago, and was off the bike for 3 weeks. ARRGGH! Three weeks off the bike is misery! I had some short-term gratification and *did* do 2 short rides last weekend, but I'm paying for it now. Guess I need to stay off the bike until healed. Otherwise, I WOULD have been on the mountain.

[Veronica]

Oh, that's a bummer. I'm sorry to hear that. I hope it heals up soon. Is Jesse being helpful?

V.

[aka_kim]

Helpful? Oh, yeah, treats me like a queen. Not. But you already knew that.

[Veronica]

Hey - he owes you after all you did when he had his surgery.

Do you think you'll be up for a ride up the mountain the day after Thanksgiving? from the South gate.

V.