Northern California - Spotted on Mt. Diablo

Too weird- when I got up to the junction on Tuesday, there was a guy there, wearing jeans, no shirt, and his ride - an old single speed Schwinn cruiser style bike with a horribly uncomfortable looking saddle (nose pointed up at about 20 degrees). To top it off - he was smoking a cigarette! The bike had to be at least 40 years old, coaster-style brakes and all. Descending must be kind of interesting.

That guy must be in some kind of shape to push that beast up that hill, though (I lifted the bike - at least 30 pounds, with flat-land gearing). He did say he was stopping for a breather every mile or so.

JB

A breather or a smoke break?

OK, if a smoker on a 30 lb bike can get up then so can I (non-smoker, 30 lb overweight). ;)

Hey, if my saddle was pointed up 20 degrees, I'd be in an adrenaline surge too :eek:

Did he make it all the way to the top, or did he turn around at the junction?

OK, my oddball sighting on Diablo is this guy on an old tandem riding solo. I've seen him up there a couple times:

http://lh4.google.com/DiabloScottsBikeBlog/RpEqYh-soMI/AAAAAAAABBM/48Pk08ADHzo/s800/2007-07-07%20006.jpg

Red X ?? Click HERE (http://picasaweb.google.com/DiabloScottsBikeBlog/DiabloScottSBikeBlog/photo#5084892055204569282)

He probably lost his wife and didn't realize it! :eek:

OK, my oddball sighting on Diablo is this guy on an old tandem riding solo. I've seen him up there a couple times:

I've done that! But our tandem is relatively new. I took the "long" route to pick up my significant other from work in San Ramon. :D

Hey, if my saddle was pointed up 20 degrees, I'd be in an adrenaline surge too :eek:

Did he make it all the way to the top, or did he turn around at the junction?

I talked to him for a while - he wants to ride to the top, but wasn't going to on that day. I refrained from suggesting the obvious (lighter bike with multiple gears, stop smoking, etc.).

JB

Today on Diablo, I saw Mount Tam and a tarantula

http://bp0.blogger.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/Rr4KFnWeFdI/AAAAAAAABNI/_GXO5mwb96c/s400/2007-08-011+033.jpg

http://bp1.blogger.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/Rr4t93WeFrI/AAAAAAAABPE/pngxkRhGI6Q/s400/2007-08-011+061.jpg

Red X ?? Click HERE (http://diabloscott.blogspot.com/)

the tarantula was still there on Sunday morning.
Sunday was a perfect day on Diablo. Cool and windy at the bottom but once you made it past Diablo Ranch, perfect. That cool breeze doesn't feel so bad.

I actually saw Mt. D. from a whole new perspective yesterday - from Mt. Volmer, in Tilden Regional Park. I didn't know you could get near the summit on a road bike until a friend took me up the paved fire road that starts near the steam trains. Spectacular views of Mt. D. and the surrounding areas, and then a 26% (but very short) grade to get to the radio tower. Yikes! I looked at the still wet grade and decided to be smart for a change and didn't go up the last bit, saving the challenge for another day.

The trail is labeled "Seaview Trail" on the map on the bottom of this page:
http://www.ebparks.org/parks/tilden

JB

Aw crud, is it tarantula season already ??? :p

Maybe we can harness some of those spiders to help pull us up the hill!

The Mt Diablo Tarantula Round Up! YEEHaw!