Mt Diablo 5/27/06 -TE Girls' Hill Training Prog back in progress

[jobob]

Elephants and water at the junction.

Is there the same at Rock City, anyone?

Yep, just past Rock City there's a picnic area with same.

[aka_kim]

I know, let ask the Executive Decision Maker.

If you're referring to me, I would be quite happy with meeting at 7:30.

[maillotpois]

Great ride! Thanks for organizing, SK!

It was great to meet some many of you all - Em and I had a great time even though we didn't get to the top. I think maybe some of the mysery about Mt. Diablo has now gone for Em so maybe next time she'll want to go all the way up. I can dream!

Anyway - great ride, great food, great company!

[SadieKate]

It was all the Executive Decider's doings!

Whew, we had a humongous group show!

Kim (executive decider)
Jobob
Lee
Bubba
Sarah (SK)
Ed
Kelly
Veronica
Thom
Sarah (MP)
Em
Ann (BikerZ)
Dita (Trek420)
Gena (Spazzdog)
Janet (for lunch only so the poker game never happened )
Lisa (Winddance)
Nicole
Cindy (CindySue)
Marie
Patric

Did I miss anyone? I had so much fun.

[tprevost]

Pictures? Report??? We want to hear how it went!

T~

[yellow]

I thought about youse guys this morning (5:30 am your time) as I did a ride of very similar length from my house up Emigration Canyon here in SLC. But I had to pedal DOWNHILL into the up-canyon winds that were at the front of the storm that dumped a bunch of rain a couple of hours later.

I'll bet you didn't have to pedal downhill. But then your ride was steeper than mine.

Glad you had a good ride. I miss you guys!

[SadieKate]

We needed you there to laugh at Scoflaw Ed! In a 15 mph zone he rode (sedately for him) around the ranger who was doing 16 mph. Lights, siren and a stern talking to!

Hoo boy, frigid cold and gusty winds on the descent. I think we all rode down slower than we ever have because going faster meant more shivering. No one was hanging out waiting for anyone because it was so cold up high. Ed, Lee and I had this big discussion about Nicole and whether she knew to take the left hand turn at the junction. I was willing to ride up to find her but I just couldn't face going downhill in those temps again. So Ed rode up and gave the ranger another big wave.

Lots of personal bests today.

We'll be there soon. Do a dance to the sun gods, OK?

[snapdragen]

We needed you there to laugh at Scoflaw Ed! In a 15 mph zone he rode (sedately for him) around the ranger who was doing 16 mph. Lights, siren and a stern talking to!

Oooh! I missed this story! I would have DEMANDED a speeding ticket! Just so it could be framed and hung on the wall.

[jobob]

Way quick report -

Wow, what a great turnout ! Basically, everyone on the list, including new gal Marie, who will be introducing herself to the rest of us soon , I hope !

It was wonderful to see spazz, it's sure been a while. Don't be a stranger now, y'hear?

We rolled out at about what, 7:45, and poor MP/Sarah and Em had a flat on their tandem only a few miles out on our approach to Diablo. A couple of the guys hung back to help out (the report later being she needed no help whatsoever ) and since we were such a huge group the rest of us trudged onward.

Was it ever windy on the mountain this morning. And chilly ! Many of us remarked how chilly we felt even riding uphill. You siply don't expect to be cold on Mt. Diablo at the end of May.

Oh but boyohboy, it was beautiful up there. Thanks to the very late rains (can't believe I'm saying that) the landscape was still very green. And it was so clear up there, probably thanks to all the wind (I *really* can't believe I'm saying that). Pics to follow. I spent much of the time gawking at the scenery.

Pics probably won't do it justice.

But I'll give it a try anyhow


Ho-hum, just another day in paradise


The speedy folk went on ahead. I was sort of in the middle of the pack and a lot of the time I was on my own, which was fine and dandy with me. Like I said I was happy just sort of watching my surroundings. I did ride a bit with spazz early on, and Lisa and Ann, and then I hooked up with Ann's friend Nicole a bit. Nice gal that Nicole, hope she joins us again sometime !

Here's Nicole riding into the clouds


Here're Ann and SK:



I hung out with SK/Sarah and Kim and Ann for a bit at the South gate, then rode a bit more with Ann. Then as we passed Rock City I encountered Veronica who was on her way back to check up on MP/Sarah and the others. I kept going for a bit and then hung out at an overlook where I saw MP and Em on the tandem approaching Rock City so I thought I'd go back & say hi.

My vantage point, view of the back of Rock City


Encountered Veronica again, we hung out for a little while with Dita and MP/Sarah and Em, who had stopped at Rock City and was having a great time clambering around the big rock outcropping.

Who's having more fun?


I decided to keep heading up to the Junction, and possibly call it a day there. So, when I reached the Junction I called Lee on the cell and told him not to wait up for me. Did I mention it was cold up there ?? I needed to put my leg warmers back on, it was that cold, and that was to keep going up!

Veronica pulled up and we decided to keep going toward the summit and turn around when the others passed us. Soon thereafter Ann zipped past us with a big smile on her face, clearly this ride was going so much better than her first assault up Diablo with the broken spoke! V & I turned around when we were about what, 1/2 of the way up to the summit, when Thom, Cindy, and Kelly whizzed pased us.

We met up at the Junction and I continued down with Ann. Her descending is quite good ! We reached Rock City were a bunch had congregated, including MP and Em, and we all set off again.

I have no idea what was so fascinating here ...


Just before we set off again Marie appeared, so she and Ann and I had a nice little group going for the rest of the descent. Dang, it was cold ! But it was also beautiful. We all took the descent fairly carefully since it was gusty-windy. It seemed pretty much everyone had at least a vest w armwarmers or a jacket so while probably no-one was comfy warm on the descent at least there were no near deaths from hypothermia. At least none I heard of. And as we were heading down we encountered little or no car traffic heading in our direction, which is always nice.

We reached the bottom of the mountain and Marie continued on to the parking lot (she was mighty chilled by then) and Ann and I waited for the rest of the group that had gone on to the summit. We then all headed back to the parking lot. There was no sign of anyone else from our group so we just assumed they went on their merry ways. We dawdled, yakked, tried on sample size jerseys, and just as we were about to mosey on to lunch Ann got a call from Lisa asking where the heck were we and that they were all waiting for us at the restaurant. Ooops!!!

So we hightailed it over to the restaurant and lots of yakking and noshing ensued. We had a room off to the side all to ourselves which was very nice since we were quite the animated bunch !

This was a really fun ride, and it was so great to see so many of you.

[SadieKate]

Did you see how many corn chips failed to escape from Ed and Kim? They are wicked good corn chip hunters.

[spazzdog]

It was a fun time, great to meet all those who were just names to me before.

Beautiful place even from the lower portion where I called it a day: made it up to 6 mi and was all the old legs could climb this time. The downhill was fun even though the chill required a lot of brake action.

Lisa/Winddancer and I hung out for a bit on the downhill at a great hairpin and took bets on which idiot drivers were going to slow down enough to make the turn or go sliding into the driveway on the straight. With the score 9 idiots to 9 drivers, we went on down.

Can I tell you how good that food was! YUMMMMMMMM!

See y'all again soon.

spazz

[aka_kim]

I think SK/Sarah (chief executive DM) needs to regale everyone with the tale of how she sold a complete stranger an Amici Veloci jersey!


aka - chief corn chip hunter (bring on those trans fats) - kim

[Trek420]

It was a fun ride. I was at my usual spot in the back of the pack and caught up with Lisa and Spazzdog, we rode together for a while then I went on, caught up with MP/Sarah and Em sunning on their rock. We chatted then the Riv twins Jobob and V arrived, they took off again and I was getting a little cold so set off. I figured I'd just keep going as far as I felt up to. Shortly over the 2000 foot sign I could see the ranger station and decided I'd head down anyway so back to the rocks. MP & PP are still there we set out and changed to another rock, then the pack arrived and we headed down.

I think I missed the cut off through the fence so took a slightly different route back but I got back on route somehow and arrived at the lot.

Yummm, stuffed sopapillas

[bikerz]

I had so much fun yesterday! Wow - what a beautiful day for a ride, and great writeups from everyone!

It was a lot of fun riding in such a big group, although except for the times Jo mentions, I was pretty much all alone. But I didn't mind - the views were always gorgeous, and everyone who pased me had a friendly or encouraging word to say, so I enjoyed my sloooooow climb up! I actually made it past the junction (!) and turned around at Blue Oak picnic area - partway up a particularly steep hill with a nasty arctic wind blowing down it. Three big strong guys started up that hill as I was pulled over considering my options, and they all had the "cursing hill and wind" face on, and I thought - eh - this is a lot farther than I got last time, I think I'll head back down. In hindsight, knowing now how close I was to Juniper and the 3000 ft sign, I wish had just put on the "cursing hill and wind" face and pressed on! But now I have a goal for next time, right!

It was just past that point that I saw Jo and V as I was coming down, and I *almost* turned around to follow them - but by the time that thought made its way through my frozen brain, it didn't really seem that fun to start climbing again. I waited a few minutes at the junction for the first pack coming down, and Jo told the rest of the story...

Unfortunately the pictures I took are all completely overexposed (I really need to read the instructions on of these days ).

All this followed by a great lunch and plenty of fun hanging out in the parking lot, watching the Amici Veloci Evangelists in full swing!

Q: How many AV members does it take to recruit one cyclist chosen at random?
A: (I agree with Kim - SK need to tell this one!)


Also - my friend Nicole had a great time, really enjoyed meeting all of you, and appreciated the concern everyone, especiailly Ed, showed in making sure she came down in one piece. Think good throughts for her next week - she leaves a week from today on the Aids LifeCycle!

[cindysue]

a nice day. Cool and windy but nice.

I arrived at the parking lot and we looked like an invasion. It was really cool to leave the parking lot with a huge line of bicyclists all ready to conquer Mt. Diablo. It was good to see Marie there - she had already introduced herself to everyone (I don't think she has internet access this weekend but we should hear from her next week).

Marie had emailed me a few days before to inquire about the ride and I knew she would be a good fit with this crowd. She and I chatted all the way up to the summit, not too far behind Veronica, Thom, and Kelly. Veronica arrived at the junction ahead of us and turned around to sweep up the other riders (guess that means she did the junction twice!). Thom, Kelly, Marie, and I continued to the summit. Thom and Kelly were slightly ahead of us and climbed the last bit (about 100 meters of 17% grade). I chickened out of the steep grade bit. Marie probably would have tackled it if I were up to the task but decided I'd leave that bit to a little later in the season when I was in better shape. I might also try it with my new touring bike (with much lower gears than my compact double).

So, it was getting pretty darn cool at the top. We all took off. down, down, down. The decent always makes the climb worth it (in my opinion). I got a chance to chat with Kelly on the way down - very sweet - hope she can come out again! We waited for a bit at the junction but didn't want to get too cool, so took off again. Then a short stop to pick up MP and Em. Can I tell you how cute they are with their matching blonde ponytails on that tandem. Oh and then Thom, taking pictures with one hand on the handlebars and going about 30mph.

I wasn't able to stick around for lunch since I had to get to San Jose for the babtsism party. But I'm sure there will be plenty of Hill Training Rides in the future. And of course you all are welcome to join the LUNA Chix on Thursday nights at 6:15pm for a ride to the junction (meet at California Pedaler in Danville).

Happy Memorial Day weekend!!!!!