Northern California - 8/25 Mt Diablo ride report

That looked like it was a lot of fun. And you all finished within an hour?! You guys are studs. Good thing I wasn't there. I'm not worthy. I would have been the slowest of the bunch. I went for a 40 mile ride around Brentwoods outer limits that morning. And got chased by dogs.

There's been a couple responses like this to Curtis' post. I'd hate for anyone not to come on one of these rides because they think we're all super-studs (not that we aren't, just that I don't want that to stop you :) )

Let's just say we didn't break any records getting to the top and leave it at that. And we didn't pack our bikes into the Rolls w/ a hottub, it was just a regular Rolls cuz my one that has a hottub was in the shop on Saturday.

Can't wait for the next ride, wish I could make the labor day ride.

Let's just say we didn't break any records

What do you mean we didn't break any records? :eek: I broke my personal best on Mt. Diablo.:)

Is there a emoticon or some symbol I need to be adding to my posts that are complete and total fabrications, unrelated to reality?
I mean, sure I said we made it in under an hour, but I just didn't want people to feel bad. The truth, of course, known by those who were there, was that no one took more than 20 minutes. And descending with bursts of 72? Heck, we all know we hit at least 83. Topless beer models giving neck massages? I left out the details because this is a PG forum.
Sorry, I'll try to be more honest in the future.

Is there a emoticon or some symbol I need to be adding to my posts that are complete and total fabrications, unrelated to reality?

How's this: http://mail.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/21.gif (I think that's a halo over the head).


The truth, of course, known by those who were there, was that no one took more than 20 minutes. And descending with bursts of 72? Heck, we all know we hit at least 83.
I cannot tell a lie. It actually took me 25 minutes on the ascent as I was helping tow a stuck motorist up the final climb. And, on the way down, I never broke the 75 mph barrier what, with the serrated rear tire and all. And the reason zorro made it down so fast was because, for the last half of the descent, he went off-road and made a bee-line for the parking lot while the rest of us were sticking to the asphalt http://mail.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/21.gif.

This one is pretty good for fabrications ;)
But yeah, thanks for clarifiying guys.. we actually made it up in 20 minutes to the south gate...
I spoke too soon about the records.. that's my longest climb to date and also the first time up Diablo, so it was a PR for me as well.

That looked like it was a lot of fun. And you all finished within an hour?! You guys are studs. Good thing I wasn't there. I'm not worthy. I would have been the slowest of the bunch. I went for a 40 mile ride around Brentwoods outer limits that morning. And got chased by dogs.

Absolutely not true on both counts. I was, and remain both (a) the largest and (b) the ssssllllllllooooooowwwwweeeessssstttttt one up the Devil Mountain. Let's just say the number of minutes it took me to get my sorry self to the top was waaaaay into triple digits. Bigbossman claims he was as slow as I was, but truth be told, he waited and/or circled back for me repeatedly (if you look carefully at his Garmin printout, you can see it) and talked me into keeping on going more than once when I was ready to bail (hey, you try draggin' 285 lbs up 11 miles of non-stop up :eek:). So c'mon out next time, and fear not - if you can pull off 40 miles including dog-sprints, you're easily good to go with this bunch.

And besides, nobody bites.




Much.:D

Sorry, I'll try to be more honest in the future.

Please, please, please don't do that! We'll be deprived of your wit and humor. People will come to "filter" your comments as they get to know and appreciate you!


Absolutely not true on both counts. I was, and remain both (a) the largest and (b) the ssssllllllllooooooowwwwweeeessssstttttt one up the Devil Mountain. Let's just say the number of minutes it took me to get my sorry self to the top was waaaaay into triple digits. Bigbossman claims he was as slow as I was, but truth be told, he waited and/or circled back for me repeatedly (if you look carefully at his Garmin printout, you can see it) and talked me into keeping on going more than once when I was ready to bail (hey, you try draggin' 285 lbs up 11 miles of non-stop up :eek:). So c'mon out next time, and fear not - if you can pull off 40 miles including dog-sprints, you're easily good to go with this bunch.

And besides, nobody bites.
Much.:D
Bikingshearer: I want to go on record and say how much I admire your perseverance in getting to the top! You didn't give up, dude!!! And you have the photos to prove it. My biggest regret in not riding with you is that I probably missed out on a lot of laughs along the way.


Hehe, my guads are HUGE in that picture :D

Dude, your guads are HUGE in person!

Dude, your guads are HUGE in person!

Yeah they are! And they weren't even pumped up yet in that photo since that shot was taken at the bottom before the ride.

Damn, news travel fast. :rolleyes:

She's not on BF, but I'll ask her to sign up. :)

I'm thinking of going with a Look 565 Elle (I'm crazy about Looks). She's not real fond of drop bars, so it may turn out to be a hybrid of sorts. We'll see. ;)

Here's at flat bar road bike for her.
http://www.gitabike.com/cgi-bin/shop/pinarello_loadhome.cgi?user_id=id&file=pinarello.html
http://www.gitabike.com/images_cart/pi_treviso_pink_me.jpg

Funny you should suggest a pink bike, there was a pink bike powerfest at the summit while we were there as two or three summited at nearly the same time as we cheered them on.

Please, please, please don't do that! We'll be deprived of your wit and humor. People will come to "filter" your comments as they get to know and appreciate you!


Bikingshearer: I want to go on record and say how much I admire your perseverance in getting to the top! You didn't give up, dude!!! And you have the photos to prove it. My biggest regret in not riding with you is that I probably missed out on a lot of laughs along the way.



Dude, your guads are HUGE in person!

+1, on all accounts except I didn't see THE guads in person. They could be legendary, even beyond ryanf's.

And besides, nobody bites.

I do....... but it costs more.

I was up there with my GF on the tandem with a different group (the one in the background). The tandem and part of me are in the picture as well.

http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/10688/2838445320068796226S600x600Q85.jpg

You weren't the tandem that fell over on the steep final ascent were you?

You weren't the tandem that fell over on the steep final ascent were you?
Yes, that was us and my fault... we shouldn't have tried to start again on the steep section. :(

I was up there with my GF on the tandem with a different group (the one in the background). The tandem and part of me are in the picture as well.

I remember seeing you. Ya shoulda come up and said hello!

Yeah, restarting on that is difficult even for a single bike. It's so narrow, there's no space to turn to clip-in..

Since the image upload limit is 10, the rest of the pics I took can be found here (http://alainp.zenfolio.com/p770041478). Feel free to view and download.


Hey Alain!

You got lots of pictures there, and it's great we can download them at their original size, thank you very much for sharing!
:beer:
Angel (Zorrov999)

Zorro, you're very welcome and likewise to you. Just thought people might be interested in the originals since, for some of us, this was a momentous occasion. Always happy to share :).

Yes, that was us and my fault... we shouldn't have tried to start again on the steep section. :(

Beats blowing out a front tire on a tandem going back down the first really steep part from the top.:eek: Been there, done that, stayed upright (still don't know how) and lived to tell the tale (ditto). But lordy, that was the longest fifteen or thirty seconds of my entire life. My life flashed before my eyes. Hell, my stoker's life flashed before my eyes. Fortunately, he had the good sense to stay . . . very . . . still . . . and not add to my problems. He trusts me completely now since I didn't get him killed. I just say: Sometimes, it's better to be lucky than good.

My biggest regret in not riding with you is that I probably missed out on a lot of laughs along the way.

Yeah, my climbing style, or lack thereof, has that effect on people. :D

But thanks. All credit actually goes to bigbossman, who basically would not let me quit and nagged the snot out of me until I gave in and kept riding just to shut him up. :p

I have to work on Labor Day :( bummer...
I was curious about the ride. I've been wanting to do the Devil for many years. I look at it every day from my office window in Sacramento ( however right now I see nothing due to the smog). I'm curious what route y'all took up there? Did you take the north or south gate to scenic? I want to do this sometime soon.

We started at the Athenian school on Mt. Diablo scenic rd., then we headed up through the South gate.

But thanks. All credit actually goes to bigbossman, who basically would not let me quit and nagged the snot out of me until I gave in and kept riding just to shut him up. :p A tried-and-true coaching technique !