2016 SMR 43

#Should'veWornBooties

Missed THREE Saturdays in a row.  One for being out of town and two for weather.  Barely made today because of a bad chest cold that's been keeping me from doing lots of stuff.  Not sure where JB is today, so I rocked the post and rode.

Rear tire started to go soft after The Gate.  I pretended it would be OK until I got to Dumpster Gate and then topped it off with my frame pump.  I was prepared with a spare sew-up, but I glue my tires on REALLY well so I didn't want to change it on the road if I could make it work.  Lasted about 20 minutes and I had to top off again on The Bump.  Then again at The Upper Ranch, and while I was there, JB caught up to me.  We rode to Junction together but I told him I was going to turn around and he didn't want to stop and get cold.

Didn't see my first other rider until The Retaining Wall...  he was too cold to wave.

I'm happy to report that they replaced the floor pump at the eagle scout box with one that really works - I pumped my rear up to 130 psig hoping to make it all the way home without another stop.  Didn't work but I made it all the way off The Mountain at least.

2016 Diablo Data:

NGR:  72 times
SGR:   01 time
Summit Road:  31 times

Passed-me #1

2016 SMR 42

Cold and dry this morning.  Clear blue sky.

Wildlife Encounter:  Pack of deer at Little Pine Creek.  Full gallop, very impressive.

I think this guy in the shorts is Flemish.

I started to get that knee cap pain at the Ranger House... it comes on fast and when it does it only hurts on the downstroke when I'm putting pressure on it, but that makes climbing pretty difficult.  Never lasts too long, but I turned around at Junction.

I think it's this:

Patellofemoral pain is the medical term used when pain occurs at the front of the knee, around the kneecap (patella), without signs of any damage or other problems in the knee joint. It is also called patellofemoral pain syndrome, patellofemoral syndrome or anterior knee pain.

Berkeley guy admires my bike... auto blog photo.

JB's gone next week, and I'm gone the week after that.

Wildlife Encounter:  Coyote at Moss Landing.  

He was really cute and curious.

2016 SMR 41

Rain. Two Saturdays in a row... can't believe my good fortune.


Other cyclists: 0,   cars: 1,  deer: 5,   turkeys: 10+

Kind of a light rain the whole way up - just how I like it.  Not cold or windy.

There's a palpable sense of renewal on The Mountain... rejuvenation feels wet.

Hey look - they patched up Wounded Knee!

2016 SMR 40

Every Saturday morning I walk my dog Isaac 🐕 about 6:30 and evaluate the weather conditions to determine what I should wear on my Saturday Morning Ride... or even if I have to cancel it.  The report today was for rain all morning and the skies were pretty dark, but it wasn't raining yet and there was kind of a blue patch over in the southeast so I figured tights and a regular jacket, not the rain jacket.

Got to the Gate and waited for JB but he didn't show.  Only saw a few other riders go up.  We all gave each other the nod of acknowledgment - people who like cycling in the rain belong to an exclusive club... that you can join by cycling in the rain and liking it.

I was totally prepared to turn around at Junction.  Got real windy up around the ranches.

This guy came up SGR and got to JNXN the same time as me.

Yup, turn around.

I love these dramatic weather photos.

Doyle always recognizes me and waves.  I think I only met him once though.

2016 SMR 39

Dressed too warm today - there was a little rain overnight but this morning it was bright and clear. Pavement was a little damp is all.  I was cooking in tights and a windbreaker.

Roadkill Report:  a mouse... flat and dry.  There were a lot of vultures in the sky though.

This guy was eyeing my beautiful vintage Eddy Merckx with the Vittoria Pave sewups and San Marco Rolls saddle with RINO hide... good eyes.

Thought I had my brakes figured out after last week's ride, but brought a 4mm allen just in case.  Right here is where I realized I needed another adjustment.

Finally after the fifth adjustment, I had it good enough

Oh look, the cloud of doom (in the shape of Trump's hair) is hanging over Contra Costa County.

2016 SMR 38

JB's still on a trip so just me today - took the opportunity to be ~15 minutes late on the last ride of Daylight Saving Time.

No wildlife, no roadkill, good weather, great mountain.

I thought I had my brakes adjusted correctly after last week's descent... but turns out they were even worse... braking the rear made my whole bike vibrate with a high frequency buzz that transferred directly to my butt for a scintillating but embarrassing sensation; it was an interesting challenge to only brake when no one else was within earshot.

There was a foot race going on today too - at The Summit they had a mat that the runners were supposed to step on to show that they had "stomped on the devil".

2016 SMR 37

Ready for rain, but there wasn't much of it... just a little drizzle at The Summit.

Roadkill Report:  an opossum at The Approach

JB's on vaction, but new guy at work Justin came along.  He'd been to The Junction only once on our Wednesday Night Ride - today he was looking forward to a Summit.  Except at Junction he decided he was pooped.

This ranger was observing riders stopping at the new Juniper Stop Sign - or not stopping.  The guy behind me got a bull-horn admonishment.

Tarantula Tally:  one.

Al and I stopped to talk to the stop sign ranger on the way down, Jason I think his name was.  He had a good attitude and just wanted the riders to be safe and aware.

I put my sew-ups on last night but I didn't get the brakes adjusted right and they were squeaking like a goose all the way down.  THEN, at Moss Landing, I feel my spare tire fall out from under my saddle.  I stopped quickly to turn around but then I somehow tangled up my chain and couldn't get going right away.  This guy below, asked if I was OK, because I was off the bike and I said "Yes... and THAT'S MY TIRE UP THERE by the way."

I think this guy below was his riding buddy.

 THEN, the first guy stops to PICK UP MY TIRE!
(I didn't actually see this until I reviewed my video).

Just then, blog reader Mike happens by, and he helps me get my chain untangled, and look for the tire.

No luck... but he did find the piece of T-shirt that I had it wrapped up in.

Now I don't honestly know if the tire snatcher didn't HEAR me or understand me when I said my tire was up there... or if he planned on turning it in to lost and found, or if he's just a thief.  But I would sure like my spare tubular back.  If anyone recognizes him, please put us in touch - thanks.  It looks like this: