2018 SMR 25

Before I start, I want to tell you about this photo site that I found by a Diablo hiker/photographer and it's just photos and they are amazing in quality and composition, and they're all about Diablo.  Please go check him out - here's a couple examples:

ExploreDiablo.com

OK, now for today's ride.  Well, first (or second?) about last night... there was a pretty big fire on Lime Ridge and a lot of home owners up there had to evacuate and it was pretty scary, so I was ready for any emergency situation that might arise.  Everything was fine though, and people are a little jumpy but everyone's being careful.  NEWSFLASH - another fire closes Ygnacio Valley Road about noon today, hooboy!

As me and JB got started, we discussed the severe winds from last week (that cut our ride short at Juniper) and he said the wind was bad at The Summit today too.  It was really nice on NGR though and we had an enjoyable trip to Junction.

Then I check the Mount Diablo App and sure enough - Summit has 35 mph winds with gusts to 45 mph.  I said (just like last week), "I reserve the right to re-evaluate at Juniper" but he said "How about a Bump de Bump?"  That sounded like a fine idea - I don't even remember the last time I rode up SGR.  EDIT - October 2016!

One of these guys said "Nice Klein" as I passed... then I slowed down to let him have a good look.

A bunch of MTBers were not being very careful entering the roadway from Rock City.

That reminds me, garbage day is on The Fourth of July. 

Nancy!  Probably her last training ride before the Death Ride... nah, probably not.

This guy had an electric-assist hand cycle... way cool.

You know, South Gate Road is so easy, it barely qualifies as a bike ride.  Check out how I can even stay with this semi-pro racer guy:

2018 SMR 24

Forecast was for very hot, but not until 11am, so I figured quickie Summit and home before it gets oppressive.  But I didn't figure on the wind... holy hell it was bad... strong and dry.  Weeds and grasses were blowing across the road all the way up - it was easy to see how a fire might get started and spread quickly.  Also heard some of the trees groaning and imagined what it would be like to have a 1,000 pound branch fall on me.

At Diablo Ranch, there was a sign announcing a wedding event.  I bet that couple never thought they'd have miserable weather conditions when they made the reservation.

At Junction I joked "I reserve the right to re-evaluate my Summit decision when we get to Juniper... and when we got there JB said he had had enough but I stayed to ... evaluate.  Just when I decided to go up, I got hit with a huge gust of wind and decided to change my mind.

Roadkill Report:  baby rattler below Diablo Ranch.  I ran right over the top of him before I noticed... good thing he was already dead.

For as windy as it was, it was also crowded - lots and lots of riders, lots of them training for the Death Ride.

Here, JB is down in an aero tuck to slice through the punishing headwind.

Saturday Morning Regular Kasters... AKA Sandal Guy

Cal Jersey Autoblog

There were a bunch of these riders with green cat jerseys today... obviously connected some way but no club identification.

2018 SMR 23

Started off a little windy, then got very pleasant.

Wildlife Encounter:  young deer below Diablo Ranch

I felt good, but low energy for some reason.  JB says he thinks it's because I'm getting old now... I didn't think anyone was noticing.

Not as many Death Ride folks training today - but there were a lot of cars.

I didn't notice right away that my camera mount had slipped,
giving me this great shot of my shifter cables and front tire!

2018 WNR 08

Well I did NOT do well in the heat this afternoon.  I was actually looking forward to my first hot WNR, but I just felt drained the whole way up - like it was everything I could do just to keep the pedals going around.  I concluded that I ate too much lunch and didn't drink enough water.

No one showed up at The Church, so I was alone too. 

Roadkill Report: a vulture eating a squirrel or something.  The road was so hot the squirrel was barbecued.

Passed'em-Passed'me ratio:  0-4  not a lot of folks riding in this heat.

32°C at Junction... seemed hotter than that though.

These were the first two to pass me - they were smooth.

These were the second two to pass me - Cal Jersey Autoblog

Turns out the first two and the second two were part of the same group.  The tall guy in the orange jersey was Dutch, and I impressed him with a half-dozen Dutch phrases from my repertoire.  They were talking about work, which sounded like a refinery.

At The Junction JB rode up - I wasn't expecting him.  He said Charlie was coming too, so I waited a bit and then we exchanged stories about heat before going down.

2018 SMR 22

Today's weather - thick wet fog, but not too cold.

This guy was hiking to The Summit but didn't want to use the trails because SNAKES!  He asked if we were familiar with The Mountain, and if we knew where Camel Rock was - I was surprised I never heard of it and wondered if he were on the right mountain.  Checked at home and didn't find any photos, but apparently it's somewhere on the Burma trail.

Proud Gobbler

Fog doesn't keep the Death Ride trainers off The Mountain -  I had more than 90 Strava Fly-Bys.

OK, cool story time.  For no particular reason, I decided to wear my Sriracha socks today, and then fortuitously we catch up with this guy who's wearing a Sriracha jersey!  We bro-bonded over our mutual love of the rooster.

2018 WNR 07

OMFG WINDY!

Me, Kevin, Justin, and Donna today.

I forgot my water bottle and had to turn around.

Everyone attacked me from THE CHURCH... AYFKM?

 I chased them all down one by one, but didn't have a good result because WIND!

2018 SMR 21

The wind today had me in my Summit Wall gear for most of Summit Road.

Lots of riders, including an apparent organized event of some kind.  Also, welcome to Cycle Folsom - a club of friendly folks, and good riders.

Roadkill Report:  two big snakes.

This guy was uber serious - passed me kind of close on the way up.

Then uber serious guy passed me even closer on the way down.  Almost caught his Pactimo's on my brake lever.

Here is his Strava ride:     STRAVA




.