Northern California - Mt. Diablo loop?

Hi all,
I'm planning to drive out with a couple of friends to ride up Mt. Diablo from the Northgate. I've ridden Diablo only once before and went up and down the Northgate, but this time, I'd like to go down to the Southgate and then ??? Can someone post me a route from the Southgate back to Arbolado Park? And your fav place to stop for lunch along the way?

Thanks!

~Diana, the flatlander

It'd be easier to show you. ;) :D

Which day do you plan on riding it?

Veronica

Here's a route on Bikley that looks pretty good. It isn't exactly what I've done, but it keeps you out of major traffic and would be easy to add the park you want to it.

I'm on spring break this week, and would be interested in doing this perhaps Tuesday in the day time.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/walnut-creek/1185529077

Sweetnsourbkr: ;) You're too cute!

Veronica: Sometime the week of the 24th. I'm on Spring break, and a couple of guys in my bike club have been wanting to ride Mt. Diablo, and I've been itching try it again! Don't have a day set, though. I'm like molasses climbing up, lol. But it was FUN, in a painfully leg burning way...:D

Curtis: Thanks for the link! I tried getting 'closer' and writing down the street names, but it's obscured by the line...maybe I'll try googling some bike clubs around there and seeing if they have a route with street names listed.

Any input for food, which is usually foremost on my mind? :D

~Diana

Result of Google?
This:
"Note: the route back through Walnut Creek involves bike paths, sidewalks, parking lots, and general voodoo and trickery." lol!

Any input for food, which is usually foremost on my mind? :D

~Diana

Downtown Danville - -there's a place called "Norm's Place (http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3710907987)", right across from Elliot's Bar. Excellent food, and outdor seating. Very bike -friendly. The Memphis Burger and the Man Salad are very, very good.

I usually go with Peanut or Oatmeal Cliff bars. Sometimes I'll add a bit of Hammer HEED.
After the ride I prefer a nice, cold IPA.

....I'd like to go down to the Southgate and then ??? Can someone post me a route from the Southgate back to Arbolado Park?

Coming down Southgate, go down Diablo Rd into Danville. Stop for lunch there, and then go north up Danville Blvd all the way into Walnut Creek. Grab onto the Iron Horse Trail as it crosses the north end of the blvd and goes under the 680 freeway, take it to where it intersects Mt. Diablo Blvd, go up Mt. Diablo Blvd and eventually bear left on Homestead. Take Homestead to Ygnacio Valley, and then go up Ygnacio for a short bit until you hit the Canal Trail behind John Muir Medical Center. Take it to Walnut, and your home.

I usually do this loop in reverse, as I live in San Ramon. It works out to ~40 miles or so. Ygnacio is a bit dicey, but it is only for a short bit and I think bikes are allowed on the sidewalk.

Let me know which you decide. I'm off that week as well. I've got doctor appointments on Mon. & Tues. but if you do it later in the week, I can join you.

I can't really tell you the route. I don't do the south gate very often. But I know it well enough to not get too lost. :)

Veronica

Sweetnsourbkr: ;) You're too cute!
~Diana

I know! My wife tells me that everyday. :D

If you guys are riding this on a weekend, let us know. We'll join ya! :)

Coming down Southgate, go down Diablo Rd into Danville. Stop for lunch there, and then go north up Danville Blvd all the way into Walnut Creek. Grab onto the Iron Horse Trail as it crosses the north end of the blvd and goes under the 680 freeway, take it to where it intersects Mt. Diablo Blvd, go up Mt. Diablo Blvd and eventually bear left on Homestead. Take Homestead to Ygnacio Valley, and then go up Ygnacio for a short bit until you hit the Canal Trail behind John Muir Medical Center. Take it to Walnut, and your home.



Pretty good, but I'd stay on the Iron Horse trail a little farther until it connects with the Canal Trail, turn right there up through Bancroft for a nice wide bike lane and minimal voo-dooery. The area behind the hospital is kind of confusing for newbs.

Also, the extended version would go to Blackhawk and Tasajara for some good speed riding and rollers.

BBM's probably better with the restaurant reviews... I usually get a Jamba Juice and maybe a pretzel.

Thank you everyone! Will there be a sign for the Iron Horse trail, or is it just a visible multi-use trail from the north end of Diablo BLvd?

BBM, we'll check out Norm's Place!

Veronica, I'll try to pin a date down with those guys. I'm hoping Wed or Fri, so we can have you ride and guide us. :)

DiabloScott, your blog is one of the links that came up on my Google search - who knew there were so many landmarks? lol.

~Diana

I know! My wife tells me that everyday. :D

If you guys are riding this on a weekend, let us know. We'll join ya! :)

Hey can your wife tell me that everyday too? I can't get mine to. :D :lol::roflmao:

Thank you everyone! Will there be a sign for the Iron Horse trail, or is it just a visible multi-use trail from the north end of Diablo BLvd?


From the end of Diablo Blvd you can turn right on Danville Blvd, a very popular riding road. Or cut across the parking lot through the sidewalks and shopping area to get to the Iron Horse Trail.

Just south of Rudgear, the trail comes on to Danville Blvd and then you have to cross Rudgear under the freeway to continue on the trail - you pick it up at a sidewalk curbcut... pretty obvious. Danville Blvd ends here - it continues to either South Main or the South Broadway Extension with the trail just to the west of the extension behind a sound wall.

I should probably edit this to make it prettier, but this map shows the turns OK.
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/walnut-creek/273061846



DiabloScott, your blog is one of the links that came up on my Google search - who knew there were so many landmarks? lol.

~Diana

Yeah - we used to just say things like "you know that place where there's a steep sharp hairpin with about 3/4 miles to go?" It's so much easier to have landmark names, like "Chainbuster". I got the idea from a rafting trip where the guides had names for every rock and water feature. Please feel free to use these names in daily conversation... it's part of my plan to achieve Diablo immortality.

I'm going to do this loop, from that same parking lot, on Tuesday 3.18 at about 8:30 or 9.
Anybody wanta meet me and do it?

I'll take the Garmin and log the ride, maybe there's a way to get a decent map out of it by sending it to map my ride or bikley or something....

I did the Diablo Loop this morning. It was beyond grand. What a great month to be a Californian.
I posted a photo, a map (very zoomable) and an elevation chart at
http://ccorlew.blogspot.com

I did the Diablo Loop this morning. It was beyond grand. What a great month to be a Californian.
I posted a photo, a map (very zoomable) and an elevation chart at
http://ccorlew.blogspot.comDamn, that looks nice. I might have to drive out and try that route this weekend. The weather report calls for perfect on Saturday. I'd have to take extensive notes so as to not get lost and die, of course. Hmm.

I did the Diablo Loop this morning. It was beyond grand. What a great month to be a Californian.
I posted a photo, a map (very zoomable) and an elevation chart at
http://ccorlew.blogspot.com

Ok you've convinced me, I'm going up there tomorrow. :D

Nevermind, be there thursday afternoon. ;)

Nevermind, be there thursday afternoon. ;)



Thursday? That's the Curtis Sawyer/Huckleberry Petes Spring Break Tour!!!!!!
You don't want to miss that.