Summit

JB's been sick and told me yesterday he wouldnt' be coming, so I got a real early start to see more of the Devil Mountain Double riders.

These route arrows are for the Diablo Century tomorrow... only the second year for that one, hope they get a good turnout.

By 7:30, the best riders were long gone, but anybody who can do this ride is absolutely awesome. Two hundred of the hardest miles in NorCal... some won't finish until 11pm. They had good weather today though.

Wildlife Encounter: big group of turkeys... must be rutting season because these guys were strutting around and posing for the females. Not too bright doing it in the road though.

So all that DMD awesomeness rubbed off a little bit and I went on to the Summit... I wouldn't have made the first time cut though if I were on the real ride.

SPY CAM BLUE OAK:

Rick and I have decided to watch the Tour of California come over Bonny Doon this year. Should be lots of TV cameras in there; it's the fourth KoM of the stage, and only about 20 miles from the finish so we're hoping for some good aggressive riding. We're going up from the back side though... pretty steep.

Gate - Blackhawk

I thought I saw a Devil Mountain Double sign at the Church but I'm pretty sure that's next week.

One week post blood donation (double reds) and I felt fine on the way out but when I got to the Bump I went totally anaerobic and it took me a long time to recover. It was humbling to be panting like a dog as everybody and their grandpa passed me. Two weeks until Wine Country Century... I hope I'm recovered by then.



Great weather, first ride of the year without a jacket - base layer, jersey and arm warmers up top, tights on the bottom.


Some kind of pink walkathon in Walnut Creek so we took a different ride home.

Wednesday Night Rides should start this week!

Gate - Junction - Juniper - Gate

JB was a little late and I started up in a cold hazy morning.


OK, you don't actually have to get all the way into the other lane at the Upper Washout, but you shouldn't get too close to the edge either... there's some significant undercutting.

JB caught up near Son of Chainbuster. There was a huge platoon of Team in Training riders and support vehicles coming up from the South.

JB went back home, I went to Juniper first. I was feeling stiff after a night of leg cramps. I probably need to get serous about stretching more.

Treat Overpass Update - looks like they're going to fill the trays up with styrofoam under the concrete; I've seen them do that on freeways but not on bridges... interesting.

Gate - Junction - Juniper - Hole

There was a rock on the post but I think it was from last week. Waited around for JB but he didn't come.

Mark H called and said he'd be coming with Rhys and Derrick though so I told him to call me when they got to Junction and I'd come down to meet them.

Near Moss Landing they painted over the double yellow don't pass lines... can't imagine what prompted this.

Made it to Juniper before Mark called. Summit Road was really cold.

Found a Pearl Izumi beanie someone lost... needs a washing but will be nice in cold weather. I'll be happy to return it if someone knows who dropped it.

Derrick is Rhys's son, senior in HS. They said he dusted them before the Junction but he has no endurance so they wanted to teach him a lesson and we went down to Danville.

They were right - Derrick was dragging and whining by the time we got to Walnut Creek.

Here's a shot I took of my commute bike rack at work - One U-lock with a combo, one U-lock with a flat key, and a 9/16" cable closed by a mini U-lock with a cylinder key. I leave the locks in the garage since I do this almost every day.

And tomorrow is THE TOUR OF FLANDERS and merits a very special brew for viewing enjoyment (delayed TV coverage in the afternoon, not the 5am live internet version.)

Devil's Elbow

Celebrity Spotting on the Mountain from Diablo Scott on
Vimeo.

A very special guest graced us with his presence today.