Diablo in July
07-31-16, 06:28 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Diablo in July
As of this morning, my first Diablo ride is in the bag. Last year in April when I started to get into road cycling, on our first ride we joked "Let's do Diablo" and today we did it.
I'm sure my chubbyness costed a ranger some money for making it to junction, then again to the summit.
https://www.strava.com/activities/659912923
I have to say, Diablo is beautiful in a car, but it's absolutely stunning on a bicycle. I have a new favorite ride.
I'm sure my chubbyness costed a ranger some money for making it to junction, then again to the summit.
https://www.strava.com/activities/659912923
I have to say, Diablo is beautiful in a car, but it's absolutely stunning on a bicycle. I have a new favorite ride.
07-31-16, 06:34 PM
#2
Family, Health, Cycling
It was just my great honor to give you your 1st Strava Kudo on your 1st Diablo.
Great job, welcome to the love affair many of us, myself included, have with Mt. Diablo.
Great job, welcome to the love affair many of us, myself included, have with Mt. Diablo.
07-31-16, 09:23 PM
#3
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
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I almost wish I could see it again for the first time
08-01-16, 07:41 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
And now that I have time, for a more of a useful ride report... We arrived to scenic drive a bit before 8 and the ranger truck followed us up to the gate. 4 or 5 cars waiting, but overall there was a lot less traffic than I expected for a beautiful summer day. Started up, took me 5 minutes to clip in the left foot (new pedals and new shoes *sigh*) but eventually everything returned to normal.
As the first Diablo climb it was hard to gauge effort, but the elevation markers were great. I wish they were every 500 feet rather than 1000, but then it's my job to learn the mountain.
Got to junction feeling really good with legs still feeling strong. Took a short break there and after we decided it would be better to have 11/54 gearing with 11 in the front, we started on summit road.
Summit road felt a whole lot harder to me. Maybe a combination of steeper sections and the morning starting to heat up, but this is when it felt like I was climbing a mountain. Clearly tiring from a physical standpoint, but I know a lot of it was psychological because it became 'easier' when someone mentioned the slope eased off after the rocky outcrop (around mile 9 if I recall).
At the bottom of the wall I stopped for a few minutes. This break was NOT optional. After some recovery I started up the final effort. I got to half way when I had to step off the bike and walk up the rest. This did not affect my speed very much I'll make it up next time.
Scenery was amazing, the weather was great, cars were sparse. It definitely smelled smoky most of the way. If anything, that added to the experience.
For next time up:
Gauge effort better Save more sauce for summit road. There an easier recovery section after the ranger station.
Faster overall time.
Climb the whole wall on the bike.
As the first Diablo climb it was hard to gauge effort, but the elevation markers were great. I wish they were every 500 feet rather than 1000, but then it's my job to learn the mountain.
Got to junction feeling really good with legs still feeling strong. Took a short break there and after we decided it would be better to have 11/54 gearing with 11 in the front, we started on summit road.
Summit road felt a whole lot harder to me. Maybe a combination of steeper sections and the morning starting to heat up, but this is when it felt like I was climbing a mountain. Clearly tiring from a physical standpoint, but I know a lot of it was psychological because it became 'easier' when someone mentioned the slope eased off after the rocky outcrop (around mile 9 if I recall).
At the bottom of the wall I stopped for a few minutes. This break was NOT optional. After some recovery I started up the final effort. I got to half way when I had to step off the bike and walk up the rest. This did not affect my speed very much
I'll make it up next time.Scenery was amazing, the weather was great, cars were sparse. It definitely smelled smoky most of the way. If anything, that added to the experience.
For next time up:
Gauge effort better Save more sauce for summit road. There an easier recovery section after the ranger station.
Faster overall time.
Climb the whole wall on the bike.
08-01-16, 08:51 PM
#5
Family, Health, Cycling
Nice report, thanks for taking the time to write it up.
You will have faster times, better Walls, and lots of good times on Diablo, but you never forget your first.
You will have faster times, better Walls, and lots of good times on Diablo, but you never forget your first.
08-03-16, 06:56 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: East Bay CA
Posts: 192
Bikes: 2016 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Disc Di2, Cannondale F1000 SL
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2 Posts
As of this morning, my first Diablo ride is in the bag. Last year in April when I started to get into road cycling, on our first ride we joked "Let's do Diablo" and today we did it.
I'm sure my chubbyness costed a ranger some money for making it to junction, then again to the summit.
https://www.strava.com/activities/659912923
I have to say, Diablo is beautiful in a car, but it's absolutely stunning on a bicycle. I have a new favorite ride.
I'm sure my chubbyness costed a ranger some money for making it to junction, then again to the summit.
https://www.strava.com/activities/659912923
I have to say, Diablo is beautiful in a car, but it's absolutely stunning on a bicycle. I have a new favorite ride.
08-03-16, 09:35 PM
#7
Senior Member
Summit road felt a whole lot harder to me. Maybe a combination of steeper sections and the morning starting to heat up, but this is when it felt like I was climbing a mountain. Clearly tiring from a physical standpoint, but I know a lot of it was psychological because it became 'easier' when someone mentioned the slope eased off after the rocky outcrop (around mile 9 if I recall).
Congrats on making up the first time! It's a great ride.
08-03-16, 09:55 PM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
This is me at the summit, feeling alive again when my HR returned to humane levels.
https://goo.gl/photos/Bt1EQbo1UB2QW4SFA
08-04-16, 12:45 PM
#9
Senior Member
Haha. I was behind those two guys and overheard you. Thank you for the heads up. It helped
This is me at the summit, feeling alive again when my HR returned to humane levels.
https://goo.gl/photos/Bt1EQbo1UB2QW4SFA
This is me at the summit, feeling alive again when my HR returned to humane levels.
https://goo.gl/photos/Bt1EQbo1UB2QW4SFA
08-04-16, 01:05 PM
#10
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
Posts: 10,011
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
Liked 3,060 Times
in
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Haha. I was behind those two guys and overheard you. Thank you for the heads up. It helped
This is me at the summit, feeling alive again when my HR returned to humane levels.
https://goo.gl/photos/Bt1EQbo1UB2QW4SFA
This is me at the summit, feeling alive again when my HR returned to humane levels.
https://goo.gl/photos/Bt1EQbo1UB2QW4SFA
Nice photo, but for future reference, the proper place to take a photo is in front of the Elevation = 3849 FT sign.
Seriously... that's why it's there.
Do over.
Not me below
Last edited by DiabloScott; 08-04-16 at 01:17 PM.
08-04-16, 05:50 PM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
And yet, can't look *this* heroic next to that sign. https://goo.gl/photos/kyKHuatVewGd224i9
08-04-16, 06:54 PM
#12
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
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BTW - construction going on in the Upper Lot - not sure if it'll be accessible for a while - they might make you walk to the visitor center or something from the Lower Lot.
08-04-16, 08:45 PM
#14
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
Posts: 10,011
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
Liked 3,060 Times
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1,655 Posts
08-08-16, 01:48 PM
#15
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
Posts: 10,011
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
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No bike parking, no bathrooms or water - plan ahead Diablo Riders.
08-08-16, 03:37 PM
#16
Full Member
Anybody know how long this is estimated to last? I looked at the State Parks website for Diablo and couldn't find anything about this. Maybe I'm not good at looking, but this seems like sort of a big deal for the park that they would make obvious.
08-08-16, 04:48 PM
#17
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
Posts: 10,011
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
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1,655 Posts
10-02-16, 08:09 AM
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I just can't seem to get this picture thing right. Darn it... I guess I'll have to ride up another time... <sigh>
Last edited by slimyfrog; 10-08-16 at 07:18 AM.
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