2017 SMR 35

Over-dressed again today... started off cold but got real warm well before Junction.

Broken Gate is broken

One more Saturday Morning Ride before Daylight Wasting Time.

After last week's ride, I determined it was time for new tires.  The whole tread wasn't this bad, but when you can see casing threads anywhere, you don't have much safety factor.

I bought these really nice ones a couple years ago by mistake - thinking they were tubulars - but they're "open tubulars"... I hate that term.  I wasn't sure about putting 27mm width on the Klein but they fit fine and they ride real nice.  

Also, my favorite Vittoria Corsa 320tpi tires were discontinued this year, but I found a site that was selling some left-overs for half price - so I got four of them and I won't need to buy new tires for several years!

This youngster with a touring bike and panniers took a little too much pleasure in passing us on The Bump.  We mocked him after he was out of earshot.

I totally pooped out below Juniper so turned around there.

2017 SMR 34

The Mountain is open and it's a beautiful morning!

A little cool at 9°C... first ride of the season with tights and full-finger gloves.

Lots of deer today.

 Turkeys too.

Somebody smashed the locking exit gate at the North Gate Kiosk - ranger said they don't know when or why or how, but there was no motor oil or radiator fluid on the ground.  I think maybe it was when the Park was closed for fire danger and somebody got stuck inside?

Two more Saturday Morning Rides before Daylight Wasting Time begins.

Did I say how beautiful the sky was?

Captain Diablo - not so fast that I didn't get a good photo of him though.

Motor-assist hand-cycle guy rode The Mountain again today - didn't even have any trouble getting up The Wall

Mount Diablo State Park is Closed 2017 October 09

BlogReader MIKE reports the Gate is closed.

Photo from his STRAVA page.

2017 Mount Diablo Challenge - Volunteer

This is the 9th time in 11 years I've volunteered for this event.
Check out these blog post links:

1. 2007
2. 2008
3. 2009
4. 2010
5. 2013
6. 2014
7. 2015
8. 2016
9. 2017

Everybody results are HERE.

Diablo Daughter and her boyfriend came along to help.

Difference this year was that the apres-ride events were all back at at the bottom of The Mountain, so people weren't hanging around for hours at The Summit, and they didn't need comfortable shoes and sweatpants and stuff, so there was a lot less to carry up.

Also, there was a stiff wind, so no course records were set, but plenty of people had good results.

Totally click-worthy:


2017 Diablo Challege from Diablo Scott on Vimeo.

2017 SMR 33

Wasn't supposed to be this warm... light jacket was uncomfortable.  Still, it's not July at 6pm.

JB was only a little too warm in full tights.

Spent a lot of time looking down at the road because the sun was in my eyes.

Hey look, I screwed up the cropping on this photo!

Roadkill Report:  TWO raccoons, a squirrel, and a bird.

There were some Marines doing exercises on The Mountain this morning.  I didn't see them but heard them grunting.  Colonel Al said he had a discussion with someone driving cars for them about proper passing.