Northern California - Mt Diablo Challenge - Pics, words and thanks

Since no-one’s posted, thought I’d get a couple of of lines and pictures from today’s Mt Diablo challenge. This was my first, and I really enjoyed it. I want to thank the organizers (including DiabloScott) for a great event and making this so much better than “another climb up Diablo”.

It was little over a year ago that I first climbed this hill, and I think I’ve become pretty well acquainted over the last year or so. After making it up on my first attempt in 78mins and change, I knew I wanted to do the challenge. In May I surprised myself with a PR of 70min 47sec without really planning anything epic, but have done substantially worse since. So I hoped I could get close again to that time today. For reference my BF KOM challenge time was 74min, then last weekend, in the heat, I clocked a pretty rough 76min 53sec, I was worried about my backwards trend. Today I decided that in conjunction with my motivational handlebars, I’d try to spin more and see if I could put in a time closer to my PR (60-something would have been real nice) while marshalling my resources more efficiently up Summit Road.

My secret weapon - motivational handlebars

http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn384/RDW5980/2009_10_04_MtD_Challenge/IMG00277-1.jpg

It was a cold start, but met up with BenRidin and some of his buddies (we looked like Team Hammer, which was quite amusing) and did a nice little warm up into Danville and back. Long story short, I managed to spin my way up the climb and put in 71min 2sec (15sec off my PR) which I’m actually pretty happy with. My “official” time is 71min 11sec, but I was closer to the back at the start of wave 2.

Some general observations:

The start through the potholes wasn’t too bad, BR’s advice was good. The field separated but didn’t string out too much until we got to the park.

It was nice to find that I wasn’t passed by too many aggressive wave3 or 4 riders and caught some of the cooked wave 1 riders on the way up.

I really enjoyed trying to spot climbers to try to catch or pace with, while avoiding chasing those who would have burnt my entire book of matches in 5mins.

Finally, really appreciated the organization, the cow bells, the “go Hammer!” from the kids on the summit wall and props to powpow who gave me an almighty “Go Richard!” as I was starting the summit wall. I caught up with brentley and Robocheme in the lower lot as we hung out chit-chatting and watching the crowds.

It amazes me the times that are recorded on this hill, very insiprational. Here are the podiums:

Men’s winners (Kenny Rakestraw (Go Bears), Bradley Hillebrandt, Jonathan Moskowitz)

http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn384/RDW5980/2009_10_04_MtD_Challenge/IMG00278.jpg

Women’s winners (Jenny Slawta - 11time in a row!, Susannah Breen and Tracy Barhydt)

http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn384/RDW5980/2009_10_04_MtD_Challenge/IMG00279.jpg


Sea of helmets – waiting for the descent to begin

http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn384/RDW5980/2009_10_04_MtD_Challenge/IMG00281.jpg

I am already formulating my goal for next year, it'll definitely have a 6 in it. I’ll post my snapshots from the event photographers when they’re available.

Congratulations Richard, very impressive.

Hey Richard, nice to finally meet you in person. I love the HTFU on the bars....an excellent idea that I might steal.:p

Good to meet DiabloScott, BenRidin and RoboCheme as well. Brentley, sorry I missed you. Any other BF folks out there today?

Scott, a big thanks to you and the crew for doing a great job. It was a well-run event.

I had a pretty good ride mostly. I got a PR and didn't totally blow up, but I don't know if it's technically a PR because there was a bit of drafting. My legs were FRIED at the end.

PS -- quote of the day "Hey, it's another 200 grams!" heard coming from a large bush near the starting line.

I am already formulating my goal for next year, it'll definitely have a 6 in it. I’ll post my snapshots from the event photographers when they’re available.

76 has a 6 in it.

Seriously though, looks fun. If I weren't at least 5-10minutes off my best time condition right now I would have enjoyed it. As it was, my lazy Sunday right was good enough.

Good job Richard. How was the descent with so many riders, and the road was closed, right?

Well done! :thumb:

I think I can do it in the upper 60's. 72 minutes is my current PR. Maybe next time I get out there.

How was the descent with so many riders, and the road was closed, right?

Surprisingly, not that bad. They had people go down in waves, with a park ranger as an escort to check the speed. The road was closed, which helped a lot on the way up and on the way down.

Very nice. I started cramping pretty good at the top but still managed my PR of 75 mins. I'm shooting for the 6X range next year too, it's gonna take a lot of work!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/SsltaDuHRqI/AAAAAAAAIFo/D9sI_1FZs34/s800/PA040090.JPG

Organization wasn't as good as last year. Two boxes of backpacks didn't make it up but I was maxed out.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/SsltajUlzNI/AAAAAAAAIFw/h2VBaOMejSg/s800/PA040137.JPG

Official BF.net celebrity Allison.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/SsltbMvEMtI/AAAAAAAAIF4/WIU72Rpj51A/s800/PA040131.JPG

This guy has aero bars!

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/SsltbUk7n-I/AAAAAAAAIGA/8hwBy_djS3k/s800/PA040118.JPG

Also rodes.

Hey, great fun. And by fun I mean suffering. I did it in 1:04. Good lord, did that hurt. Next year, I'm going to earn a tee shirt or die trying!

Organization wasn't as good as last year. Two boxes of backpacks didn't make it up but I was maxed out.
...
...



Sorry I didn't see you at the summit. I raced well, 1:12:41 (new PR) despite a huge fiasco yesterday.
http://bit.ly/1wqYWI

This year they didn't hand out pins ... I guess everyone is still saving where they can. When handing out bib and timing belt, they had to send you to another table so that you knew which wave you were in; other than those two rather minor issues, no complaints about the organization :).

^Funny, I had the full set of pins with my number.

I really enjoyed being able to make full use of the width of the road on the way up. I was definitely taking it easy on the descent - there were a handful of folks still coming up Summit Road as we were heading down.

Hey guys, I unfortunately didn't see any of you out there. I was sure that I would get that under 60 minutes t-shirt, but 15 minutes in, i was cold, sleep deprived (1 hour that night), and poorly warmed up. I pushed as hard I could the entire time, but I came in at 62 minutes and 30 seconds (sooo close!!!). This was my first real timed race so now that I know what to expect, I will kill it next time!

Re Pins ... I was referring to the Diablo Challenge pins from SMD that they used to hand out at the finish

Re Pins ... I was referring to the Diablo Challenge pins from SMD that they used to hand out at the finish

gotcha. Great story by the way, and congrats on a PR on the backup bike.

no complaints about the organization :).

All the organization is by Save Mount Diablo employees - generally they're good at fund raising and letter campaigns, not so good with bicycle logistics. Responsibility for each task gets rotated each year so they don't learn from mistakes ... and most importantly... they don't listen to my suggestions!


So it's important for BF folks to listen to my inside tips :thumb:

Good job guys! :thumb:

Love the motivational handlebars. :lol:

It was cold in the morning when we left WC at 7:00 and rode over for out warm up. Met Richard at Athenian and then did additional warm up over to Blackhawk. Got back in time for the first wave to start.

I was in wave 4. In hindsight, I should have pedaled around more. Waiting 20 minute to start, I froze in the shade. Oh well, now I know. I was pretty tight until the SouthGate Ranger Station.

In the end, I made it up in 65 minutes. That was my goal and it's a PR.
Highlights: No cars on the road! Pass/being passed ratio was in my favor. Cute screaming kids on top. Jamba Juice recovery drink. Swag from Cliff. Riding with 2000 cycling friends.

BR

Results have been posted:

http://results.active.com/pages/displayNonGru.jsp?orgID=218713&rsID=85335

There were rumors flying around after the ride that the winner did a 40 minute ride. I thought that sounded crazy fast (like three minutes faster than English last year). Anyway, it was just a rumor and the winning men's time was 47:10.

Also, mad props to the female winner Jenny Slawta, who I think they said has won (or at least been on the podium) for ELEVEN STRAIGHT YEARS. :eek:

Results have been posted:



I'll bet most people recorded 11.3 miles - right? SMD always says 10.8 and that bugs me. They've got timing chips reporting to the tenth of a second but they're off on the distance by half a mile. They use the 10.8 number for calculating average speed too so actual average speed is higher.

18 years of riding this Mountain, every other rider I've ever talked to, and Google Maps confirm this error.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/SsovoctgMVI/AAAAAAAAIGo/oLRwmB0gYT4/s800/Diablo%20Challenge%20on%20Google%20Maps.JPG

Results have been posted:

http://results.active.com/pages/displayNonGru.jsp?orgID=218713&rsID=85335

There were rumors flying around after the ride that the winner did a 40 minute ride. I thought that sounded crazy fast (like three minutes faster than English last year). Anyway, it was just a rumor and the winning men's time was 47:10.

Also, mad props to the female winner Jenny Slawta, who I think they said has won (or at least been on the podium) for ELEVEN STRAIGHT YEARS. :eek:

I stood behind her in the porta-potty line down at the high school parking lot. I didn't realize she's Diablo Royalty until I saw the podium ceremony.

I'll bet most people recorded 11.3 miles - right? SMD always says 10.8 and that bugs me. They've got timing chips reporting to the tenth of a second but they're off on the distance by half a mile. They use the 10.8 number for calculating average speed too so actual average speed is higher.

18 years of riding this Mountain, every other rider I've ever talked to, and Google Maps confirm this error.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/SsovoctgMVI/AAAAAAAAIGo/oLRwmB0gYT4/s800/Diablo%20Challenge%20on%20Google%20Maps.JPG

Yes, you're right! That's exactly right. And when I did 5.4 miles in 29:30, I thought to myself "Hey, I'm going to get that T-shirt." Half a mile at 10mph is 3 minutes! :mad:

Results have been posted:

http://results.active.com/pages/displayNonGru.jsp?orgID=218713&rsID=85335

There were rumors flying around after the ride that the winner did a 40 minute ride. I thought that sounded crazy fast (like three minutes faster than English last year). Anyway, it was just a rumor and the winning men's time was 47:10.

Also, mad props to the female winner Jenny Slawta, who I think they said has won (or at least been on the podium) for ELEVEN STRAIGHT YEARS. :eek:

Sara Slawta, 16 years old, finished in 67 minutes. Good genes?

There were rumors flying around after the ride that the winner did a 40 minute ride. I thought that sounded crazy fast (like three minutes faster than English last year). Anyway, it was just a rumor and the winning men's time was 47:10.

What happened was that the two apparently fastest times that were posted in the parking lot were later DQ'd - probably for sneaking into and earlier wave than they were assigned.

If I understand the timing system correctly, your individual start time is assumed (based upon when the signal goes for your wave), and then your climb time is calculated by subtracting the start time of your wave from the measured time when your timing chip crosses the finish line. Hence if you were signed up for wave4 but sneak into wave 1, you'd appear to have climbed the hill 15 or 20minutes faster than you really did.

^ Correct. Now go back to work.

This year I knew would be the year I would do it in a sub 60 time. I was in the 3rd wave which I found troubling since I would be behind a lot of riders that I would end up passing. It was mostly okay. I ended up with 54 mins & 54 secs. Beating my previous personal best by over 6 minutes. I'll be back again next year, even though its more driving then riding I love the climb.

Wow! Outstanding! You were one of the many riders who passed me. What were you wearing/riding?

This year I knew would be the year I would do it in a sub 60 time. I was in the 3rd wave which I found troubling since I would be behind a lot of riders that I would end up passing. It was mostly okay. I ended up with 54 mins & 54 secs. Beating my previous personal best by over 6 minutes. I'll be back again next year, even though its more driving then riding I love the climb.

Nice job! That's pretty quick.

^ Correct. Now go back to work.

I dunno, Cliff, last month you're leaping out and surprising me from the bushes while I'm dying on Marin Ave, this month it's public chastisement on BF. What do you have in store for me in November?

I dunno, Cliff, last month you're leaping out and surprising me from the bushes while I'm dying on Marin Ave, this month it's public chastisement on BF. What do you have in store for me in November?

I'm thinking

I'm thinking

I've already anticipated the frame pump in the spokes trick, so you'll need to be more innovative.

Are Jenny and Sara Slawta somehow related (married to, daughter of) John Slawta of Landshark fame?

Are Jenny and Sara Slawta somehow related (married to, daughter of) John Slawta of Landshark fame?

They were in Landshark kit. So good guess.

Wow! Outstanding! You were one of the many riders who passed me. What were you wearing/riding?

Red and white SugarCRM kit. I ride a Parlee.

Organization wasn't as good as last year. Two boxes of backpacks didn't make it up but I was maxed out.


It seemed like the problem with the stuff getting up was that the first wave had already left, while the next waves were dropping stuff in the box (that's what I did, and was left hypothermic). No cars could go up. Maybe some strong riders with child trailers stuffed to the brim could go up with ride, arrive about 10 AM, and be like heroes.

It seemed like the problem with the stuff getting up was that the first wave had already left, while the next waves were dropping stuff in the box (that's what I did, and was left hypothermic). No cars could go up. Maybe some strong riders with child trailers stuffed to the brim could go up with ride, arrive about 10 AM, and be like heroes.

Which is an organizational/communication problem. Wouldn't have mattered though because we didn't have any more vehicles to put them in. Backpacks for 1,000 riders and we had 1-1/2 trucks and a Prius.

Red and white SugarCRM kit. I ride a Parlee.

Hey Mike right? I was the poser trying to stay on your wheel in the third wave but didn't make it haha. After talking to you about powertaps, I was getting ready to order online and literally that afternoon my clutch started slipping. Looks like fait wants me to spend $1000 somewhere else right now...:(