JoelS

We don't have any plans yet for the weekend and I'm just going to have to go for a ride (a shame, huh?). Anyone interested? Either Saturday or Sunday is fine.

I'm also game for a ride that includes Diablo (I've never been up it), preferably early in the ride rather than late. Anyone from the bay area interested in taking me up that?

Beaker

Hmmmm tempting. Unfortunately my riding window is pretty narrow for Saturday morning. I do feel a strange compulsion to go ride up South Gate and time myself (), but I'd probably only have time to drive out climb up and back and then head home, so I'd not be much of a tour guide this weekend.

If you manage to sort out something, perhaps I can stop by Athenian at a pre-agreed time?

JoelS

What's "Athenian"?

Either Saturday or Sunday is fine.

Beaker

Sorry - that's the Athenian School, it's the most convenient meeting point before you get to the south gate, and is also the normal start point for timing rides up South Gate. The other meeting point we've used for a BF ride up Diablo has been the *bux in Danville - you get a few rollers to warm up before reaching Athenian school.

Unfortunately I can only really make Saturday AM - hopefully some bay area bretheren will be able to make this into a bigger ride for you (although Diablo is an awesome ride on its own).

gpelpel

Hey Rich, I might be able to join on the climb up South Gate. I will need to be back home around 12 -12:30.

bam

hmm, i've still not made it out to diablo.. but i'm also not much of a morning person. what time were you thinking?

JoelS

Me or the others? For me, 9am is good. I've got a 2 hour drive to get out there. But I want to ride some other local roads. Maybe 75 or 80 miles, give or take a few. I don't want to drive out there and just climb the hill.

Ygduf

I can make it out there by 9am on a Saturday, no problem. Would be up for the whole ride. 75-80 sounds fine. I can do more if you want to start earlier...

bam

9am, that could be doable. i think it's about a 1 hour drive from los gatos which would cut into my beauty sleep a bit, but such a sacrifice for my first time up diablo might be worth it

Ygduf

Am in Mountain View, could carpool.

bam

that would be perfect, assuming you'd be willing to drive.. my other option is borrow a friend's car, or put the top down and have the bike ride shotgun (which i've actually done before. don't laugh) hehe

Beaker

If you guys can agree when you'll be at Athenian, I'll try to meet you there. 9am would be perfect. A little either way should be no problem either, depending on whether you start at Diablo or not.

RoboCheme

I might be up for it, too, but I'll be doing a timed ride like Rich, but at a much slower pace.

Note that you can't park at the Athenian School. I usually park at Monte Vista High School on Stone Valley road and warm up by riding up to the Athenian School.

JoelS

Hey, I'm going to need an address so that I can map it out to find my way there.

Also, can someone work up a route and post a link? I have no idea what's out there.

gpelpel

There's no problem parking at Athenian school. I do it all the time and did it last Saturday morning. I saw other riders do the same.
If the gate is closed you can park on Creekledge Court across the road from Diablo Road.

The school address is: 2100 Mount Diablo Scenic Blvd, Danville, CA

Beaker

You could ride out along Camino Tassajara after climbing Diablo - there's some nice countryside out that way, and then loop back around San Ramon to Athenian (if that were the start point). That's probably get you 60+ miles given that Diablo is 11miles one way - this would be somewhat similar to Ron's Post Thanksgiving route last year IIRC. Having said that it would be a pretty flat ride afterwards, and there may be some more exciting/epic options if you were so inclined.

Ygduf

I also have never been out there. Trying to find relevant routes on bikely or garmin connect, but both sites are terrible to search.

JoelS

Yes they are. Hence I'm hoping a BF'er will be interested in leading the ride. Something not pancake flat for the non-Diablo part would be welcome, even if it's a bunch of rollers.

bigbossman 

Hell -as long as you're making the trip, do Diablo and Morgan Territory combined. Two great climbs and two great descents in a ~60 mile loop.

Start at The Athenian School, go up the south side, down the north side, and then take Ygnacio out to Marsh and Morgan Territory. Come down that on the Livermore side, and take Highland back into Danville/Blackhawk and The Athenian School.

Here's your starting address: 2100 Mount Diablo Scenic Blvd Danville, CA

jonathanb715

yup - it's only during the week or if they're having a big event that parking at the school is a problem.

As for routes, if you're just doing Mt. Diablo it's pretty straightforward. Turn right out of the school, go over a rolling section (bad pavement on the descent!) then climb. At the junction, turn right and keep climbing. At the top, turn around and go back down. You'll know you're at the top because there's nowhere else to go.

If it's hot, there's water at a bunch of places along the way up. Most folks will stop at the junction (there's a spigot behind the ranger station), but if it's not too hot it's reasonable to expect to do the climb on one bottle of water. I start from my house, about 8 miles away, so a 2nd bottle comes in handy on hot days.

JB

BenRidin

Because of your late start, I wouldn't recommend doing Morgan Territory. It gets pretty crowded on Ygnacio and even worse on Marsh Creek leading out to Morgan Territory. Then By the time you get over to Highland and Camino Tassajara, it can be crowded there too.

My suggestion would be to take Diablo in and add some Oakland/Berkeley hills.

My other suggestion would be to park at St. Timothy's Church. they don't mind, it's in the shade, and you get a bit of a warmup before you start climbing on Southgate.

Just my $.02,

BR

dl33

A couple of us are planning a little longer ride with Diablo in the middle of route. The ride starts at Fremont Bart at 8am. We can pick up riders at the Danville Starbucks around 10am. The route will be:

1- Fremont Bart
2- Niles Canyon
3- Palomares Canyon
4- Norris Canyon
5- up/down Diablo
6- San Ramon Valley south
7- Dublin Canyon
8- Palomares Canyon
9- Return to Bart, about ~88 miles and ~7800ft of climbing

You can add an out and back down Mission Blvd and climb Mills Creek for the extra 1500 ft of climbing and 12 miles for the century.

JoelS

dl33, I'm afraid the timing is bad, and you'd be waiting for me a lot I expect.

Any other BF'er in that area want to show me around and up the hill?

uspspro

Ruthie is going to drop me at Menlo Park. She has to be somewhere at 7 am or so. So I'll be riding solo.

I am going to ride across Dumbarton to Fremont Bart.

brentley

I can most likely do this. How far total would you like to go? I am not the fastest climber but do fine on the flats and rollers.