Wednesday, August 30, 2017

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.

Saturday, August 26, 2017

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.



Wednesday, August 23, 2017

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.

Saturday, August 19, 2017

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.








Wednesday, August 16, 2017

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.


Saturday, August 12, 2017

2017 SMR 25

Cold and windy to start out this morning - I wore my jacket, which was a little too much.
Wildlife Encounter:  a coyote at Little Pine Creek, and a bunny near The Pines picnic area



These Tieni Duro guys are always descending -
don't think I've ever seen them going up.


This driver ...  argh.








Had to be a little sneaky to get a shot of this guy with his...
HELMET ON BACKWARDS!!!








Wednesday, August 09, 2017

2017 WNR 10

Much cooler than last week.  Almost needed arm warmers or something.
Special guest riders:  Dan and Steve.
Tarantulla Tally: ZERO.  That makes exactly ZERO for the season.




Dan unleashes his furious attack at The Gate.



Justin did a triathlon last weekend.



Charlie did his second best time of the year.






Took a big pot hole hit coming down... no damage.



Saturday, August 05, 2017

2017 SMR 24

Still feeling a little sore from Wednesday night's ride in the HEAT.
Plus my knee was aching a little.
And the air quality was bad thanks to Berkeley Hills fire.
So I quit at Juniper.

JB showed up with a soft tire.  Watch the how-to video.

This guy had no business passing us... turned around after about 1 mile.


Dudley.  Passed him.



This female rider had a super low gear - cranks looked like windmills.



Neighbor Mark, ignoring the speed limit.


Vintage guy Ted made some small talk with us.


Yup, that's smoke.


Hey, is that Colin?


Passing at the zig-zag... newb move.


Wednesday, August 02, 2017

2017 WNR 09

Hottest WNR of the year so far.  Only a dozen or so riders on The Mountain.

Tarantula Tally:  zero



Wildlife Encounter:  deer at the Upper Ranch

Colin blew his front tire at Mile 1 and had to go home.



Passed by... Fast guy



My new Camelbak.  It was nice having really cold iced tea,
but it didn't make the ride in the heat any easier.