2019 SMR 03

So many people on The Mountain today - mostly bike riders, but lots of hikers too, including one big group that looked like they do this a lot.

It was cold enough to not let you forget this is still January, but you could still unzip your jacket and take off your gloves after a while.

Lots of running water in the creeks, lots of green in the grasses and trees, clear blue sky; the kind of nature experience people write songs about.

I've been getting a little behind on my bike maintenance.  Noticed today that one of my water bottle cages is broken - still works but it'll snap soon.  Also need to do a derailleur tweak and put on some new tires before long.  

2019 SMR 02

Sloppy today, lots of mud and puddles; but it wasn't cold and it wasn't windy.  The creeks were also full of running water and green bits everywhere.  January may be my favorite time of year on The Mountain (but ask me again next month).

I think my tires are going to be worn out just about the time of L'Eroica.  That should work out perfectly... new tires for my epic ride.  Got them aging in my garage right now, and plenty of glue in the tool box.

2019 SMR 01

The news said today would be the good weather day in a string of bad weather days on either side.  That's pretty optimistic but it was totally true.  I was a little worried I should've brought warmer gloves but my fingers were only cold for the first half hour or so.

Got passed by a guy on an e-bike before Junction, he looked like e nheeded an e-bike, and it looked like he was really enjoying himself - I don't begrudge guys like that at all. 

Make-Up Junction

I was pretty bummed out missing the first Saturday Morning Ride of 2019 due to weather.  Today I took the opportunity to sneak in an afternoon ride to Junction... thoroughly enjoyable, will look for future opportunities to repeat.

Get on the BIKE MIKE!

Mike... who used to have a Colnago and two lungs.

2019 NYD Junction

It has been really windy the last few days.  MDSP has even posted high wind warnings on their Facebook page.  So I was pleasantly surprised to find it rather calm on my pre-ride dog walk.

My ambition of reaching the Summit by 0930 was quelled though when I got to The Gate and it was CLOSED!  Not sure what this meant, but I opted not to defy the sign.  JB came by and went right around, then another guy went around.  By 0815, I'd been waiting for almost 30 minutes, cars and bikes were getting impatient and somebody called the Ranger phone and was told it was just a mistake and the bikes could start up and someone would be there soon to open The Gate for the cars.

So it was a quiet ride but the wind was now vicious.  I had promised Diablo Wife I would be safe and I realized I couldn't keep that promise if I kept going.  So I resigned to quit at Junction.  I hung around for quite a while as riders trickled in, most of them having made the decision to quit there too.  Everyone was in a great mood and we all just enjoyed being around the kind of people who ride bikes on Diablo.

I got to meet the famous Joe Shami who is now at 550 consecutive weeks of riding to The Summit, and Linda Kwong, another Diablo celebrity.