Saturday, March 25, 2017

2017 SMR 10

Whoa boy underdressed!
Looked nice and sunny and clear when I walked my dog this morning.
I figured shorts and a sleeveless windbreaker, short-fingered gloves.
Started my ride out to The Mountain and I saw a big dark cloud over The Summit.

It was into the clouds around one turn, and into blue sky around the next.
Didn't look like there were any clear spots above 2000 feet though.
So we decided to turn around at Junction.
JB's not coming next week - anybody want to meet me at The Gate?

And if you hadn't seen it, Mega Maximum Kudos to Diablo Rider Scott Cooper, who... for his 50th birthday, did 50 repeats up the Summit Wall.

I once THOUGHT about doing the Wall twice... thought twice, walled once.

The profile doesn't quite do it justice, but you know:







Strava folks can see it HERE 


























Saturday, March 18, 2017

2017 SMR 09


First ride of PDT 207.
Kind of funny seeing an aero tuck with a suitcase-size fanny pack on.

These cracks aren't going to fix themselves!
This chunk of road is only going to get worse.



Colonel Al joined us at the Junction.
We discussed flowering shrubs and low gears.



The requisite Pre-Wall Psych-up.



First timers I guess.


In case you missed it in the comments last week, Blog Reader Mike sends along instructions to get involved with the trail maintenance volunteers:

Mike said...

It's the 2nd Saturday of the month.

To get notification, just send an email to Mark.Sinclair@parks.ca.gov
He might not respond quickly but he'll put you on the list.A few days before he'll send you an email letting you know where and what they'll be working on that day.Bring water, lunch, snacks and sunscreen. Wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, boots or sturdy shoes, gloves. They'll supply all the tools and instruction. Work as hard or mellow as you want, they start at 8:30am and finish at 2:30pm.The core group is very nice and friendly - everyone is.I plan on doing this as much as I can in the future!


Saturday, March 11, 2017

2017 SMR 08

SHORTS!  Didn't even need my windbreaker after about 8:30







DiabloShoutout to Blog Reader Mike, who rode his motorcycle to volunteer for trail maintenance.

I tried a new setting on my Contour action cam - I thought maybe a higher FPS would give me better options for snipping photos from the video - but the photos aren't as good.  See for yourself.



Also... POPPIES!


My knee started to complain near the Ranger House.  Right when I got to Sunset I decided to listen to it.  Not the kind of aggravating niggling pain of over-use... the kind of sharp jolt of pain that comes at random intervals for no good reason.  Turned around and it even got a little worse on the way down.



Bikes everywhere enjoying the beautiful weather.
Including some big groups coming up on my descent.




Bonus Extra fun story:

Long-time blog readers will remember when I had my unique Masi fixed gear commuter stolen from my home while I was recovering from my broken pelvis three years ago.

Well Diablo Wife and Diablo Daughter were having lunch at a local establishment and they see some guy ride up and lock his bike that looked exactly like mine so they sneak a photo to me.  Well it could've been mine I guess - if he changed the handlebars and brake levers and saddle and fender... but on closer inspection this bike looks a size or two larger than mine.  Interesting though, because I've never seen another one like it.




Not my stolen Masi

My stolen Masi





Saturday, March 04, 2017

2017 SMR 06

 It was warm and sunny yesterday, so I dressed kind of light.

Short fingered gloves, tights, and a windbreaker.

Started to rain below Junction.

We went up to Livermore Overlook and called it quits.


Here's the mudslide from last week... impressive amount of earth moved.




.









They hauled ot of it away, but a lot of it just got piled up
on the downhill side of the road.