A cool off is coming here, and although Saturday is supposed to be a few degrees warmer than Thursday and Friday, the current forecasts for Saturday still have the highs below 80 everywhere Stage 7 goes except when they go into the San Joaquin Valley side, Byron and vicinity, where it might creep into the low 80's, but if the current forecasts hold, it won't hit 80 even out there until after the riders have already passed through. Barring a drastic change, nothing like desert 100's.

I know one guy who's going to MTB from Morgan Territory up to Summit Road so he'll get to see the peloton go by twice.


There are lots of places where you can see lots of the road below... just keep riding until one feels right. Actually one of the reasons I like the Pipe is because there's not a lot of room for other people to hang out there and block my view... not a wide shoulder. Your knees and heart won't explode with a 39x26 - nobody's going to be trying to set Strava KOMs on Saturday... ride slowly and take in the atmosphere.

^Thanks. I look forward to checking out "your mountain" on Saturday. ;) Give a shout if you see a someone huffing it up on an old steel Bernard Hinault Look.

Well I seriously hope (and expect) NorCal to represent far better than Socal did. So far, the route down there has been exceptionally uneventful and frankly boring. Those roads they are using are seriously in the middle of nowhere, coming from nowhere, going nowhere. They move the race to May, then go race the desert...go figure. I really hope we don't get any more DNS/DNF's...the World Champ has already abandoned (guess his wife is having a baby soon).

I think anywhere along the road from Juniper to Devil's Elbow will be a great spot. I think we're gonna try to find a spot as close to Devil's Elbow as possible, no doubt the race will be full on by that point. "The Pipe" looks like a great spot...didn't really think about finding a spot that can also see down below, but maybe I'll try to find a spot like that.

Does anyone know if they are gonna shut off the water in the park? They did last year (at least the 2 or 3 spigots I tried), and if they do, I'll probably bring a water bladder. I guess I can call, but I'm lazy :)

So my friend and I plan to leave Berkeley around 10 and get there 12ish, ride up and find a spot pass the rangers station. Anyone see any issue with this plan?

Sounds fine... when you say "there 12ish" you mean at the Gate? That's about when I'll be starting up too.

Be sure to budget some time and money to spend at the souvenier booth.

Can anyone think of something really clever that I can write in road chalk?

HTFU, you're on Scott's Mountain for God sake!

Where will the souvenier booth be? IO assumed only in Livermore, as where could they put on at the finish?

I too wil be starting up the mountain early, hopefully landing somewhere near Diablo Scotts spot. I'll be on my commuter weighty commuter bike with panniers filled with food and cameras, so it will be a long slow slog up the hill.

MyLilPony and I are both concerned about the after race descent. Even at the lower levels last year there were too many "I'm so cool" high speed low skill asshats unsafely coming down. Starting higher is worrisome.

DS: Chalk:
Lance who?

Where's Spartacus?

JENS!

Yeah at the bottom. Then leasury, or not so, climb to find a spot. Not sure I'll want to ride back to Berkeley with souvenirs in my back pocket. lol.

There were some mountain bikers absolutely bombing the descent last year, passing in oncoming traffic and going WAY too fast, it was the only group of riders whom I thought were really being dumb. My GF and I are gonna just hang out for a bit and then go down after most of the "asshats" have left (hopefully!)

It's hard to know for sure, but I really think there are gonna be a ridiculous amount of people on the mountain, I don't know if starting up at 12 is too late...I'm planning on leaving my house at 10:30ish, it's just over half an hour to get to the start of the climb.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1rDnRoIuX...hwag+Booth.JPG


I'm thinking it'll be at Junction... here's what the one looked like on Bonny Doon a couple years ago.


How about this for road art? If my mom asks, HTFU means "home of the flying unicorns".

There is always Mitchell Canyon on the MTB--you end up at the 3,000 foot level or the Juniper Camp Ground--If one goes just a little beyond the 3,000 foot level sign post one can see the road below--not a bad view!

I am thinking about it, but I am going up there for sure for the Public Astronomy Party at the lower parking lot--hopefully everyone will be gone related to the TOC!

:( My heart was set on being on an elbow of Mt. Diablo cheering. Head-on collision at low speed in my Prius changed that, not my fault. I'd love to see some live pictures of the scene if someone's situated at a good location.

Watching it on T.V. is not like being there breathing the atmosphere.

Does anyone know what was going on downtown Livermore around 3? A lot of police and the expo area was blocked off.

Suspicious package - apparently all clear now

I,ll have some good video as soon as I can get my daughter off the puter.

Anyone know what kind of time was set up the climb?

That was fun. Rode out from Berkeley, got as far a they would let bike go without VIP pass, then descended half a K to watch the show. Chilled right by Captain America. lol.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8259/8...50b7098b_z.jpg
ATOC diablo 2013 just past junction. I think that's the eventual stage winner, Leopold Koenig in front as the first riders passed us. by ccorlew, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/8...4b5aae7d_z.jpg
ATOC diablo 2013 groupetto by ccorlew, on Flickr

... except the racers, of course.

http://app.strava.com/activities/54969070#1001684116

Don't know but according to Strava, Ted King was 6mins of Nate English's record cclimb, while Jasper Stuyvens (Bontrager) is 2:30 off.

http://app.strava.com/segments/830562

Edit: Chad Haga just took 2mins out of Nate's time. Oof! I'd love to know Koenig's time

That's Koenig's teammate David De La Cruz, Koenig's attack came quite close to the end iirc

Well I would assume that Haga and Konig entered the park at the same time, as Haga finished 1:02 off the winner (Konig) and Konig attacked with about 3K left. So I'd guess they more or less had the same start time (in the peloton). If Haga put up 41:59, then Konig would be 40:57, more or less. Fark that's fast! Next time I ride SG to the summit, I'm gonna see where I'm at in 41 minutes then laugh hysterically. And that's from the school according to Strava! So less than 40 minutes from the gate, that's ridiculous!

BTW, some nice pics from you guys so far, please post more!!! None of mine are worthy, though I did get several of Sagan clearing his nose, and Andy Schleck messing around with his brake or wheel.

My wife photographed this studly photographer/cyclist. I'm not sure if he's a pro cyclist, pro photographer or both. She seemed very taken with him, and even I can see why.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8537/8...65ca17d68b.jpg
ATOC diablo dude by ccorlew, on Flickr

he does seem very well equipped.