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01-02-07, 01:03 PM
{cross-posted from the road forum**
I've been wanting to go up Mt. Diablo on New Year's Day for a couple of years now, but weather and events have so far been able to conspire against me. Not this year - the weather was 58'ish without clouds and wind, and I had nothing better to do. I conned the wife into going on the ride with me - she was a little more than hesitant as she didn't think she could, but my boyish good looks and overwhelming charm convinced her to give it a go.
I won't bore you with a blow-by-blow account of the climb, but the weather remained stellar and we had a very good time. It started to get a bit windy here and there, but nothing too bad. There was enough bike traffic to make me think someone was paying for folks to ride up there - must be a New Year's tradition with a lot of folks!
It was an 11 mile or so ascent mostly in the 5-8% grade range with a few flatter spots here and there. The last 4.5 miles saw short pitches in the 9-12% range, and the last 1000 feet starts at around 11% and towards the end gets to 17% with a brief visit to 20% (according to Garmin). These last miles used to be fairly treacherous descent, but new pavement has made it a lot of fun.
Anyway, I've attached some pics for your amusement. I have a 98GB Quicktime .MOV file of the first couple miles of the descent, and as soon as I get it to Youtube I'll post a link - it's kind of fun to watch.
My wife on the beginning of the climb, looking down towards Danville on South Gate Road:
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/4063/beginningofclimbcv7.jpg
Looking down, after about 3-4 miles of climbing:
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/254/lookingdownmi3.jpg
Oak trees:
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1939/oaktreesgb4.jpg
My wife, climbing up towards the first ranger station and park entrance:
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/8880/lynnetteclimbingys2.jpg
Close to the top, looking down towards San Ramon:
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9292/lookingdown2sx9.jpg
My wife at the top, just cresting the last 1000' of 17% grade
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/9830/lynnettesummiting2nn5.jpg
Proof - the top!!!:
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/2774/lynnetteattop1ly6.jpg
On the way down:
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7862/goingdownsj8.jpg
I've been wanting to go up Mt. Diablo on New Year's Day for a couple of years now, but weather and events have so far been able to conspire against me. Not this year - the weather was 58'ish without clouds and wind, and I had nothing better to do. I conned the wife into going on the ride with me - she was a little more than hesitant as she didn't think she could, but my boyish good looks and overwhelming charm convinced her to give it a go.
I won't bore you with a blow-by-blow account of the climb, but the weather remained stellar and we had a very good time. It started to get a bit windy here and there, but nothing too bad. There was enough bike traffic to make me think someone was paying for folks to ride up there - must be a New Year's tradition with a lot of folks!
It was an 11 mile or so ascent mostly in the 5-8% grade range with a few flatter spots here and there. The last 4.5 miles saw short pitches in the 9-12% range, and the last 1000 feet starts at around 11% and towards the end gets to 17% with a brief visit to 20% (according to Garmin). These last miles used to be fairly treacherous descent, but new pavement has made it a lot of fun.
Anyway, I've attached some pics for your amusement. I have a 98GB Quicktime .MOV file of the first couple miles of the descent, and as soon as I get it to Youtube I'll post a link - it's kind of fun to watch.
My wife on the beginning of the climb, looking down towards Danville on South Gate Road:
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/4063/beginningofclimbcv7.jpg
Looking down, after about 3-4 miles of climbing:
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/254/lookingdownmi3.jpg
Oak trees:
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1939/oaktreesgb4.jpg
My wife, climbing up towards the first ranger station and park entrance:
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/8880/lynnetteclimbingys2.jpg
Close to the top, looking down towards San Ramon:
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9292/lookingdown2sx9.jpg
My wife at the top, just cresting the last 1000' of 17% grade
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/9830/lynnettesummiting2nn5.jpg
Proof - the top!!!:
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/2774/lynnetteattop1ly6.jpg
On the way down:
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7862/goingdownsj8.jpg