2026 Diablo Day 04 - Saturday Morning Junction

Still no word from JB, solo ride to Junction, windy as all get-out. The worst wind was where there was a clear path from the west; so like around Curry Point and the helicopter pad where you can see Walnut Creek and Hwy 24 - I had to stop a couple times to avoid being blown into the ditch.

I had a nice clean chain though, because I did some bike maintenance earlier in the week - and my gear was in prime nick.

Signed up to donate blood next Sunday, so next Saturday I'll have to do some intervals to exploit that high hemoglobin count.

I've been seeing that sign about Diablo Multipurpose Trail improvements - so I finally checked out what they have planned: Danville Diablo Trail .  They even have the bid docs for guys like me:  Bid Docs  $6 million worth of improvements!  Seems like they just waited so long they have no more choice but to deal with the problems.

The work generally includes, but is not limited to, removal of trees, minor regrading, construction of a pedestrian/cycle trail, installation of hot mix asphalt, construction of drainage improvements including concrete vditches, drainage pipes, and inlets, installation of bioretention areas, traffic control, tree replacement planting, wildlife exclusion and cattle fencing, a drinking fountain and signs and other items that are required by the plans, standard specifications, or these Special Provisions.  

• Start Date & Duration: Work is scheduled to begin Monday, March 3, 2025, and is expected to last 1–3 weeks. We anticipate completion by March 7, 2025, with a firm end date no later than March 20, 2025.

 

The Windiest Bit

From here it's about 15 minutes to home...
so I start thinking about lunch.

I don't really use this kind of data for training purposes - but it's obvious that I'm not putting out the kind of numbers I used to.

2026 Diablo Day 03 - Saturday Morning Junction

Haven't heard from JB... not sure what's up with that.

Started off in thick fog - it was nice by 10 am though.

Saw a couple of big clubs riding up - all passing me of course.

I've been seeing headlines about some bureaucrat approving drilling for natural gas on The Mountain... sounds like one of those unbelievable things that you can't allow yourself to ignore.

2026 Diablo Day 02 - Saturday Morning Junction

It was a very cold morning. Frost on the roofs of the houses going by. But on The Mountain it started cold, then got warm, then got windy. Didn't require as much toughness as I packed.

Last week JB had a derailleur/shifter problem on his Della Santa and forgot to fix it so today he rode his Teesdale Hawkeye bike and realized he had a derailleur problem with that bike too - couldn't use the small chainring. So he was a little late to Junction. Then we talked about politics, weather, health, other bike riders.

Wildlife Encounter: turkey vulture munching on squirrel guts... I thought I got a good photo but it came out too dark.

Big club ride went by on Sycamore.

Ice on the roof!

The little trail involved in the big dispute.

The Hawkeye Bike

2026 Diablo Day 01 - NGR

Got rained out on New Year's Day - that makes two years in a row I didn't Summit on Day 1.

JB suggested a make-up ride today from his house up NGR so I drove to his place and we rode from there.  The clouds were approaching fast and we steeled ourselves for an aborted climb. Started out OK, but then it got really windy and we only made it to the Rock Baskets.

HEY!  What happened to the 1000 FT ELEVATION sign?

2025 Diablo Day 48 - Saturday Morning Junction

Christmas is over - time to ride The Mountain. Nice day considering the last few days have been stormy.  It was actually sunny up until about 1800 feet where I rode into the clouds and it got cold, windy, and wet.

At Junction there were a bunch of old guys talking about old bikes in the olden days... it was glorious.

Wildlife Encounter: turkeys near the Ranger Village.

Nice and blue at the bottom.

 

This guy was fast and smooth - it was like being passed by an owl.

There it is - the cloud boundary layer.

That one crossing the road had a real attitude.

2025 Diablo Day 47 - Saturday Morning Junction

 Thickest fog I've seen this year - cold too. I had my wet-weather gloves on which don't have as much insulation so my fingertips were stinging. But then about 1300' elevation I popped out of it and it was sunny and warm. I love this Mountain.

Wildlife Encounter:  something ran across the trail and under the fence next to the creek... probably a coyote, but I didn't get a good look.

Wildlife Encounter: a bunch of turkeys making a mess just below the Tire Poppers.

JB came today on his first Diablo Day since his throat surgery. He came through OK, but he's got some recovering to do. We discussed some ride modification ideas at Junction - like starting later so it's a little warmer.

You can see almost the last mile of NorthGate Road from here -
I always look for JB around Chainbuster.

Back into the soup.