Mount Diablo Time Trial

[Veronica]

Today I had my own personal race up the mountain. The object was to go as hard as I could and not use my very lowest gear at all, not even on the 17% at the end.

First some stats about Diablo. The first 6.5 miles climb 1785 feet at an average grade of 5.1%.

The second section is 4.6 miles long, climbs 1605 feet at an average grade of 6.6%.

I have in my head that my previous personal best up the mountain was around 1:50. I was hoping today to bring it down to 1:40. I haven't ridden up the mountain in awhile, but I know my fitness has improved since last time.

I did the first 6.5 miles in 50 minutes. I was thrilled with that. Normally people stop at this point and take a breather. No stopping for me today. A couple of riders pulled out ahead of me here and as I passed them, they asked me for a tow rope. WooHoo!!! I'm usually the one doing the asking.

The second section I rode for about a mile with someone who did Knoxville, the ride I volunteered at last week. It was nice to have someone to chat with, through the section that I personally find the most difficult. It's one of those places that doesn't look especially steep, but is.

I had a guy pass me and he said that he also had a Rivendell, but he thought it was too heavy to use for climbing Diablo.

When I arrived at the parking lot just below the summit, I rode around the parking lot for a minute, letting my HR drop. This is where the grade kicks up to 17%. It was so hard to not go down to my littlest gear. I thought I was going to die. My heart rate went from 174 to 192. But I stuck with it. It took me nearly 47 minutes to do this section, including my little break.

Total time from the gate to the summit 1:37! Holy moly! Thom tells me I'm an animal. Yes!!!!!!

Things I learned today, My tested lactate threshhold 3 years ago was between 173 and 179. I think I've changed that. It's now up above 180, as my HR average was 180 for the first section, 183 for the second. And I was able to talk with it that high. But if I stayed above 185 for very long I felt pukey, and the 17% at 192 was NOT pretty.

I am so pleased with how much faster I've gotten. It will be interesting to see how the lighter bike will affect my time.

V.

[Trek420]

Go V!

so are you doing this ride?

www.savemountdiablo.org/mount.htm

[Bikingmomof3]

Way to go V!!!

[Veronica]

Nope, I have the Davis 200 K brevet the day before.

V.

[Denise223]

WOW!!!

Awesome results, V. I can't even imagine!

Rest up

[Lise]

Wow, V, you are an animal! What a great ride report.

[deedolce]

I bow to you!! That's my life goal, as spoken by a flatlander. I grew up in that area, had my senior high school picnic there. But I haven't even ventured to ride it. I can barely make it up the local Cantelow...

someday...

[Trek420]

Deedolce, I'm sure we'll do another TE climb of MD soon, c'mon out and ride with us. should we do one before Cindysue leaves (temporarily I'm sure) the bay?

[RoadRaven]

Wow veronica - thats an awesome and significant improvement in your time!

Particularly considering its almost all uphill...

Did I say that was awesome? Did I say you were awesome?

An Awesome Animal!!!!!

Road left-in-the-carpark-just-below-the-summit Raven

[Bike Goddess]

Hey V- I trust you did the south side. I wonder what the diff would be if you had done the north side (shorter steeper depending on where you begin).

I'm totally impressed! But of course I'm not surprised as you've really worked hard this year. All of that hard work is paying off!! Yipee!!!!

If I didn't have floor issues at home this weekend, I'd do the brevet with you. I've done all of that route in one way or another and it's not bad as you know. I'm sure you'll be a star on that ride as well!

You might look at the 2005 stats for women your age Diablo Challenge and see how you compare. Bet you'd be in amongst the top contenders!

[Cassandra_Cain]

V for vicious mountain climber

That's really impressive, congratulations on your PR and doing so well.

Good on ya

[Trek420]

RoadRaven "Particularly considering its almost all uphill..."

almost? it's allllll uphill, one of those "even when it looks flat it's not" hills.

I'm in awe. I've gotten perhaps a mile from the top

[jobob]

V did the north side.

[Veronica]

V did the north side.

Yep, I almost always do it from the north side. It's so much closer to home for us.

I did look at the results from last year. I would have been in the top 700, 13th in my age group. There were about 900 riders total. That's just too many people in too little space for me. I think that's why I like double centuries, so few riders.

V.

[Bike Goddess]

See- 13th your age group and you did the harder side (after I said that I realized you had said in the Calif thread you were doing the N side)! I'll be you'd be even faster on the South Side........

Since the road is closed for that event, it might not be so bad. I had having to watch for cars when I go up. And escorted down- pretty cool!

Oh well, another time. I do wish I could come with you on Sat, but it doesn't look very promising

Weather should be good. Go for it girl!!!!!