2024 Diablo Day 30 - Saturday Morning Junction

First ride since COVID caught me a couple weeks ago.

Last ride of Daylight Saving Time.

First ride of November.

Not the first ride of the season on my winter bike with tights and jacket - but shorts weather is over.

I started having COVID symptoms on a Thursday, but it didn't seem bad enough and I refused to believe it was COVID until friends told me it probably was, and I tested positive on Friday and spent the next week mostly in bed or sucking down Nyquil. I only had a fever and chills and achiness for a few days, but the fatigue and brain fog lasted two weeks. Then I think I caught a regular cold right after that so I've been coughing and snotty ever since. But it was beautiful weather and I am sick of feeling like a sick slug, so I kitted up and rode.

Slower than usual, and I was tired-er than usual when I got to Junction - still operating on reduced lung capacity. I'm always glad that I rode even when I had a good excuse not to - but today I was extra glad when it was over.

Went on a group dog walk downtown later in the afternoon and had an Alison spotting.  And then I voted.

(Old photo)

OK, here are today's ride photos. Look at that sky!  It was kind of smoggy yesterday so the blue was nice to see.

2024 Diablo Day 29 - Saturday Morning Junction

Bright, calm, and mid-60's... just like me!

No wildlife to speak of - although there were a bunch of people hoping to see tarantellas. 

After the last couple weekends of high heat, it was really nice today. The Death Ride is over, the Diablo Challenge is over, Euro pro racing is over... only the Diablo hard-cores remain until next spring.

I thought this guy was going to hurl, but he was just stretching.

2024 Diablo Day 28 - Saturday Morning Junction

We're having a heat wave! Predictions were for 104F by 11am. I started out well-hydrated and packed two frozen bottles.

When I was just about to roll out the door, I noticed one of the adjuster knobs on my shoe was missing the fishing line thing that grabs the hook thing. I thought I could a) ride anyway b) switch to my winter bike with the different shoes c) quit.  I opted for (a)... my foot stayed in the shoe OK, but I figured just to be safe, I wouldn't release my mega-power sprint today. So I had two reasons to be slow today - the shoe and the heat. While I was riding along I was thinking to myself how I would repair the shoe. I didn't know if this was something the bike shop might do, or if I could just get a repair kit or something from Amazon or Shimano. Then when I got home I took a closer look and realized the line was still in there but all wrapped up underneath the button. I managed to extract it with a pliers, and save myself a service call.

The Diablo Challenge is tomorrow... it's gonna be even hotter. I'll be watching the results for people I know! There were some big groups riding up today, maybe practicing. One group even had their own SAG wagon.

The roof at the Ranger Shack is done, but they haven't moved back the benches or bike racks yet.

This didn't look very safe - an eMTB with a tow rope tied to his kid's bike. I withheld my constructive criticism and just waved.

This friendly rider attempted to engage me in conversation, but he was so fast by the time I could respond he was out of earshot. He was smooth too - totally pulled off the white-shoe look.

OK, lets have a look at those shoes:

Here's what I saw when I put on my left shoe - the string dealie was missing somehow, so I just rode with the flap flapping.

Yup, it's gone... or wait...


There it is - pulled it out, wrapped it around the dealie -grabber and good as knew.

2024 Diablo Day 27 - Saturday Morning Junction

Fall is setting in. We've been getting hot days mixed with cold days and windy days are bringing the changes.

Personal note: 45 years ago today was my first day at Boot Camp.

Wildlife Encounter:  A peloton of poultry in the residential area, and one deer at Junction

JB said he saw three tarantulas. The roof at the Junction shack is apparently done, but they're still touching up paint and stuff so everything is still fenced off; the rangers are a little less strict about where you stand around though.

Oh goodie - more houses for entitled rich people to block the views.

Half the turkey troop decided to run in front of me, and the other half decided to wait.

This guy passed me in the easy section, so I was able to stay with him for a few minutes.

2024 Diablo Day 26 - Saturday Morning Junction

Last day of summer!

The Diablo Bike-Cam was FUBAR this AM, so today you get a plain old phone-selfie.

I started to wonder if the Bike-Cam was ready to be replaced and contemplated on the way up what I would do. I planned to trouble-shoot it when I got home, and it looks like I just buggered up my battery charging or something. I expect my next post will be back to normal.

Wildlife Encounter: a whole pack of deers in the residential area.

Roadkill Report: two snakes and a squirrel.