Devil Mountain Double spectator

[Adventure Girl]

Hey, Veronica.

I'd like to come and watch you and cheer for you in the DMD on Saturday. I'll stand on the side of the road and ring my bell like crazy! Do you have any suggestions for good places to watch. And what is your anticipated time you will be at these fine spectator viewing areas?

[maillotpois]

Me too! I already mentioned wanting to go to Pet the Goat (which is how I suckered my daughter into going with me). But I expect you may be at Sierra after dark (? I don't know but I was sure I would be if I did it) and I would rather try to cheer you on earlier on the course.

Any projections would be great!

I find that doing a projection chart with ranges of times based on ranges of mph does help keep me on track. It's interesting to go back then and see how close or how completely off base my projections were!

[cindysue]

I'd like to try and show up to Mt. Diablo about the time you'd be there.

Here's what we know:

The course starts at the San Ramon Marriott Hotel.
- Mt. Diablo
- Morgan Territory
- Altamont Raceway
- Patterson Pass Road.
- Mines Road. (a little over 91 miles)
- Mt. Hamilton.
- Crothers Road
- "SIERRA ROAD"!
- Calaveras Reservoir
- town of Sunol, (mile 181).
- Niles Canyon,
- Palomares Canyon.
- Crow Canyon,
- Norris Canyon Road.

- finish at the San Ramon Marriott! That is 205.6 miles and over 20,000 feet (Cateye accuracy) of elevation gain in one day!

[Veronica]

Wow! Thanks you guys. Here's what I think:

The course starts at the San Ramon Marriott Hotel 5 AM start
- Mt. Diablo - 7:30 AM
- Morgan Territory 9:30 - 10:00 AM
- Altamont Raceway 11 - 11:30 AM
- Patterson Pass Road. 12
- Mines Road. (a little over 91 miles) 1 PM
- Mt. Hamilton. 6 PM
- Crothers Road 7:30 PM
- "SIERRA ROAD"! 8:30 PM
- Calaveras Reservoir 9:15 PM
- town of Sunol, (mile 181). 10:00 PM
- Niles Canyon,
- Palomares Canyon.
- Crow Canyon,
- Norris Canyon Road.


I haven't ridden past Sunol, so I can't really give estimates. These times are based on how fast I have ridden these sections in the past. Hopefully I'll be a little faster than this. 18 hours is what I hope for, but realistically I'm thinking more like 19. I'm really going to try to minimize my time at stops.

V.

[aka_kim]

Dude, you're going to make me stay up way past my bedtime to see you come in to "dinner".

BTW, do you have any food/drink requests for the ride or after? (Sorry, I don't think Noah's bagels pre-ride will be doable.)

[Veronica]

Yeah, it's way past my bedtime too. I'd do it faster if I could. Frappicinos, pretzels with peanut butter and Espresso Hammer Gel come to mind. Otherwise my eating habits are pretty normal.

V.

Oh and orange soda for after.

[cindysue]

would that be the top or the base of Mt. Diablo at 7:30? I'm wondering if I can drive and meet you at the top of the "wall" but I don't think the gates open until after 8am. ....yeah I know what you all are thinking: "her lazy a$$ should bike up there!"

[Veronica]

Summit at 7:30.

V.

[Bike Goddess]

I wonder how they are going to take you on Sierra Road. When we did the Primavera the other day, the sign said it was closed. Anybody know what the conditions up there are?

I get off work at 6:00PM on Saturday. I'd love to come support you as well. I was going to PM you to get Thom's number. Perhaps we could set up some kind of phone tag so we could get an idea of where you are!

I'll print out your ETs.

I'm so excited for you!

[aka_kim]

Sierra Rd does have a road closed sign, and a section of about 100 feet of road is chained off. Most of the damage is to one lane, with about a 20 foot section having collapsed.

[maillotpois]

My understanding is the ride will still go up Sierra. There may be a part where you have to get off and walk, though.

[Veronica]

I've been told I need to take pictures of the road.

So, not only am I still getting over my cold (almost gone!) I have another salivary stone. This is NOT how I envisioned the two weeks before DMD.

V.

[tprevost]

Hey Veronica!

I'm a bit crazy here and keep worrying that time will get away from me and I'll forget to tell you...

Knock 'em dead! Have a safe and wonderful ride - you've worked very hard for this and you're gonna STOMP them thar hills!!!

Tracy

[aka_kim]

My understanding is the ride will still go up Sierra. There may be a part where you have to get off and walk, though.

What ride? Remember the saying, "the walls have ears"?

[aka_kim]

Veronica, for anyone hoping to spot you along the course and pick you out of the "throng" - what will you be wearing?