2017 SMR 31

Going to a wedding in Oakland today, so called a short Junction ride.

Special guest rider: RICK!  Rick's doing The Challenge in two weeks, so he was going to do a 

Double Diablo today... first time with the slow guys.

First SMR of autumn - this calls for arm warmers and windbreaker... JB went full tights.

New bike turnout is at the end of Segment 5 - about 5.5 miles up from The Gate

This guy took video of us on his phone as we passed, so I aimed my camera at him too.

2017 WNR 15

Only 15 WNR's this year?  Last year I had 28... where did they all go?

The Gruppetto is together as they approach The Gate

The fans are lined up along the course.

The leaders are confronted with a headwind.

 Tarantella Tally:  One going up, one coming down.

Roadkill Report:  snake

The last photo of the last WNR of the 2017 season.

Hoisting my bike into the truck, in the dark, I knew for sure, the season was over.  Soon I'll be riding my foul weather bike on Saturdays in tights and a jacket.  Welcome autumn.

2017 SMR 30

Quickie Junc Run today because company picnic.

Good weather, good air, good sky... good riding.

Wildlife Encounter:  deer.  Actually two... I stopped to watch and then saw the other one across the road... always assume there's another one.

Tarantella Tally:  one crawler on the go-down.

2017 SMR 29

JB and I got to The Gate at about the same time this morning, that usually means things will go well.

We talked about people we know in the hurricane zone... expressing the proper amount of concern.

Air was pretty good today, and there was a pretty fog layer over the 580 valley.

Right about here I always think "I'm almost there."  and "I might not make it."

Tarantella Tally:  Three crawlers on the climb.  I almost popped one.

This guy is a role model for young, skinny twerps.

Had to pull over for a fire truck with sirens... looked like they were really serious.

2017 WNR 14

Brought along a dead camera battery, so my loyal readers get a recycled photo today!

Same time of year two years ago.

Tarantula Tally:  1 on the way up and 2 on the way down.

Me, Shawn, and Charlie tonight... the end is in sight.

Shawn played our requests on his Bluetooth speaker... mostly disco!

2017 SMR 28

Too hot, too much smokey air, rode anyway.

This guy had a custom jersey that said "DUTCH DIESEL"  He stopped for a lot of photos.

Diablo Shoutout to Punkin' Jay

2017 WNR 13

Got a break on the weather tonight - only about 30C instead of 40C like the last few days.

Just me, Kevin, and Charlie though.  The Mountain was quiet.

Ranger at Junction said they had one heat illness emergency on Saturday - someone on the trail running event... got sick and off course so nobody noticed her right away and she had to go to the hospital.  

Wildlife Encounter:  a mangy coyote at the ZigZag.

Gettin dark early now.

2017 SMR 27

It was warm and the bugs were biting.  Somewhere in the distance, a coyote was howling.

Air is better today, knee wasn't complaining, I'm feeling one with my bike and The Mountain is calling.

Diablo Shoutouts to Nancy, Elmar, and Barrat.

Giant bike, Giant jersey... yup, he works for Giant.

Klein autoblog.

Cal Jersey autoblog.

Is that *really* my max heart rate?  If only I could summon a little more power up The Wall...
I bet I could find a couple more beats.

2017 WNR 12

Forgot my camera tonight so you get a recycled photo from the archives!

Me and Charlie and JB tonight.  I felt good, knee didn't give me much trouble.

I dropped my water bottle just after we started up and JB stopped to pick it up for me.  I've dropped bottles before but I don't think I've ever dropped one on Diablo.

Tarantula Tally:  two crawlers near Son of Chainbuster on the go-down.

Air quality is not good - hard to believe it's all the fires up north affecting us in the East Bay, but I can't think of what else it might be.  Officially it's just a little worse than "good", but it looks gray and hazy.

Rear ended a bee on the way down - rammed his stinger into me but didn't get much venom injected... it's a little itchy and tender... no biggie.

2017 SMR 26

Rode to The Gate with Kitty and we discussed cycling when we both got interested in it, around 1983.

My right knee was really acting up today though and I had to turn around at Junction.  I described the symptoms to Diablo Wife and she thinks it might be IT Band thing... I looked it up and maybe, but I'm not sure.  It doesn't feel like arthritis, and it's not sore, I just get these zings of shooting pain on the outside... kind of like tendinitis but really sharp and sudden.  Usually it goes away and I keep riding but not today.  ITB people please tell me in the comments what it feels like.

Tarantella Tally:  FOUR but they were all dead.

Diablo Shout-out to Mileage Marker MORROW... doing a recovery Double Diablo after a tough training week.

This guy passed us so fast I checked for a motor.
Also - Cal Jersey autoblog.

2017 WNR 11

Just me and Justin today.
Too many people with too much work.
JB came by but started early and didn't wait.

Tarantulla Tally:  TWO of the buggers, above The Washout.


I seem to have been getting my clothing options wrong recently - dressed for a cold ride and I was too hot.