2022 Diablo Day 67 - Wednesday Junction

 Charlie suggested 1230 start time - weather was in the forecast but we risked it. Once we got going, I was thinking we were going to get dumped on, but it never got worse than a light drizzle - turned out to be great riding weather.  Some guys coming down shouted to us that the rain was heavy up ahead... it wasn't.

The pavement was wet though and I am seriously spooked about slippery stuff these days -- there were only a couple places where I needed to hold back.

Before The Bump, I made an effort because my knee felt kinda good - then I had a big gap and held it for a long time. At The Washout I was out of the saddle, not pushing too hard, and suddenly I ghost-shifted and my left foot went straight down and my chain skidded across the top of whatever gear it was supposed to be in and I panicked just a little but my bike handling skills kicked into automatic and everything was fine. 

Last week I bonked at Junction minus two, so I figured my objective today was to bonk less and later. I definitely got tired, but not wasted.  Charlie caught me at Clavicle Cracker and JB passed me after Chainbuster... but we all finished in about a 2-minute window.

Descending was chilly and a little wetter and even windy - I enjoyed it - a little of that old Flahute toughness started to flow in my veins again.

Half the sky was dark - and the road was pointed that way.

I told this guy to tell Charlie that I was WAY FAR AHEAD and he'd never catch me. Charlie told me later what he said and it was embellished into a righteous taunting.

Charlie Passed Fast

2022 Diablo Day 66

A fine brisk morning for the last Saturday ride before Daylight Wasting Time begins. I'm getting my second eyeball un-cataracted next Friday.  Hopefully I can work in the Wednesday ride in a couple days, and then be out for a week or so.

Felt good, didn't go very fast. Just me and JB - we talked about football and politics and Halloween.

2022 Diablo Day 65 - Wednesday Junction

Charlie and JB agreed to a late start so I could do some work stuff. 2PM and the weather was nice... just a bit chilly. And the winter bike has been returned to service so that was fun too. Charlie talked about his recent cycling shoe purchase... he wears a size 50! so not a lot of stores had a lot of selection for him. Another criteria was he wanted replaceable heel pads and he did get a pretty nice but not flashy pair of Fizik shoes with two BOA buttons.

I felt good enough to try to keep up with Charlie, but those last two miles found your humble blogger in the red zone. Then JB caught me and passed me by the Ranger House. Just a HINT of that calf cramp from Saturday was hanging around.

SGR had been closed for a couple days for road work, but they were done now and Charlie could make the loop back to home.

2022 Diablo Day 64 - Saturday Juniper

 JB texted while I was getting ready and said he wasn't coming. So I thought about it and decided I would drive to The Church and then try to do a Juniper. Worked out perfect.

There was a trail running event called The Diablo Stomp going on, so it was kind of crowed on The Mountain. 

Only a couple miles in and I started to get this weird cramp below my right calf - it made me need to move my foot around; it hurt in the neutral position, so I tried pointing my toes down... that was worse so I tried pointing my toes up... that was even worser, so I just big my lip and rode and hoped that the cramp wouldn't explode on me. I even stopped below The Bump to give myself a little massage. Then I remembered that last night I had exactly this same cramp and it woke me up and hurt and never went away, but I stopped it from going nuclear.

At Junction there was a guy who restored old bikes and he was talking to everybody - he knew a little about Kleins. There was a rider there who had a custom Bianchi steel bike that was pretty cool.

So then, I figured I could keep my cramp at bay long enough to do Juniper... and just barely did.

Cal Jersey AutoBlog

The cramp massaging pull-out.

I was going to tell this guy his bike was too small for him... but I couldn't catch him.

2022 Diablo Day 63 - Wednesday Junction

The blood bank called a few weeks ago and talked me into making a deposit yesterday. It's been a long time since I donated... ever since they closed the Blood Centers of the Pacific location in Shadelands. So I was a little concerned about the performance hit of being a pint low. They said "wait 24 hours before vigorous exersize". I figured that was for other people, and I'd be good after only 19 hours.  I was winded and weak from the time I rolled out the door.  Charlie and JB celebrated my handicap by riding away easily. I even had to stop at the Upper Ranch for a breather. Did I talk you into donating yourself?  Sign up HERE.

For no particular reason, I wore my Seattle to Portland jersey... wow, 2009 seems like not that long ago and forever at the same time. Anyway, at The Washout I passed a rider who said she had that same jersey from that same ride, so we talked for a while. She had done like five STPs in a row, but never the one-day version. 

Then at the Ranger House, I got passed by my neighbor Mark. I told him I gave blood and that's why I was so slow and hideous... he pretended to sympathize on his way around. He's not a showy kind of guy - but he had on some really spiffy blue shoes that would get anyone's attention.

Fire House to Gate = 11 minutes.

Plotting their attack already.

Trusty STEED is getting a little gray around the temples.

These lane markers are not only painted on... they're kind of thick... like raised. You can feel the bumps when you ride over them.

STP rider.

Mark!