Diablo - Apr. 24

[Trek420]

he obviously has never ridden the mountain or he'd understand the name ;-)

" The name Kawukum first surfaced in 1866, when a church group tried to change Mount Diablo's name for reasons nearly identical to Mijares', according to San Francisco Bay area researcher Bev Ortiz.

"We abhor the wicked creature to whom the name is appropriate, and spurn the use of the name for anything noble or good on earth," proclaimed the Congregational Church of San Francisco in its newsletter of the day.

The church proposed Kawukum, spelled then as Kahwookum, "a word learned from an unidentified Indian living at the base of the mountain,"

What the "unidentified Indian" didn't tell them is that Kahwookum means "stupid couch potato whiteguy, you'll never make it to the top"


http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...s/mount_diablo

[SadieKate]

Here you go, Snap. Come join us! Maybe I'll be able to recognize my own teammate at the Top Hat then.

[aka_kim]

... and Top Hat has hills. Gotta get that last training ride in.

[SadieKate]

Kim, could you compare the Top Hat climbs to Party Pardee? Is there anything on the Top Hat worse than Pardee (as in I'd need lower gears)?

[aka_kim]

I didn't follow last year's route too closely, so I don't know what may be in store for us this year. But, in the past, Pig Farm and Reliez Valley Road have been the hardest climbs (the climbs harder than Pardee).

Since I don't have an altimeter I like to make up gradients (and miles), but Pig Farm is about as steep as the top of Diablo, except it stair steps so there is a little relief (and the fact you haven't been climbing continuously for the past hour+ helps too). It's maybe a half mile.

Reliez Valley is maybe 2 miles of 7% grade... I don't know. It's hard because it's pretty much the last of the climbs, so you've already got 5000 feet of climbing in your legs.

I don't know if extra gears are needed or not. I'll be using my 30x27 on the hard stuff, but if I had anything lower I might bring it.

Both climbs are on the 75 mile route, not the 50 mile.

[SadieKate]

I don't know if extra gears are needed or not. I'll be using my 30x27 on the hard stuff, but if I had anything lower I might bring it.

28x34 or 30x26. Guess your response makes it an easy decision! Thanks.

[snapdragen]

So, what can us wimps doing the 50 expect?

Both climbs are on the 75 mile route, not the 50 mile.

[CorsairMac]

So, what can us wimps doing the 50 expect?

If I may be so bold?.....Anyone riding a bike for 50 miles isn't a wimp in this girls book!

[aka_kim]

Yep, no wimps on either ride.

Let's see, Dublin Grade to start. It's just a slight grade for a few miles, and is only a problem if it's windy (like on Primavera). It's not usually windy in the morning, so shouldn't be a problem. Then out Redwood Rd into Chabot Regional Park. This is very pretty and passes San Leandro Reservoir, so it's some climbing and rollers for quite a few miles until Moraga. And that's basically it for climbing.

Here's the topo.

The 50 mile is challenging if you don't do a lot of climbing, but still very doable.

[cindysue]

Reliez Valley is maybe 2 miles of 7% grade...

Where on Reliez Valley are you referring to? I ride that road a lot when I ride to Richmond from Walnut Creek.

[Veronica]

For those of you joining us on Sunday - Thom's b-day is Tuesday. I'm not planning anything special. And he 's already gotten his present for several years to come. But maybe at lunch we can sing him Happy Birthday.

V.

[SadieKate]

Since the starting place was changed mid-thread, I thought I'd re-post. We wouldn't want to lose anyone before the ride even starts.

9 am - Train Station in Danville (aka Musuem of San Ramon Valley)
205 Railroad Blvd. Danville
Links to the Museum location are provided up above.

We still need restaurant recommendations. V, what kind of food does the b-day boy like?

[aka_kim]

Where on Reliez Valley are you referring to? I ride that road a lot when I ride to Richmond from Walnut Creek.

Coming off Alhambra Valley Rd down to Pleasant Hill Rd. Am I exaggerating? I always find it tough going, and it's through a residential neighborhood (so how "epic" can it be?).

[Bike Goddess]

Hey V- I'll send some flowers-i.e. Chico Wildflowers that is
Happy Happy Birthday to Thom!!!

[Veronica]

Oh, he'll eat most anything and he HATES to be made much of. So of course I have to make a big deal.

V.