Knackered on Diablo - Training Day 3

knack-ered [nak-erd]

adjective British Slang. exhausted; very tired: He is really knackered after riding Diablo today.

Can’t be certain of this but when the name Mount Diablo, originally Monte del Diablo - Thicket of the Devil, was bestowed upon the subject of today’s training ride I doubt it was considered that someday people would voluntarily subject themselves to climbing to the 3,849 foot summit on bicycles but it happens daily as this is one of the more popular rides in Northern California.

So popular in fact that it was just announced this week that the 7^th stage of the Tour of California will end at the summit.  Very cool!  Those riders are concerned about beating their competitors and their overall time.  When I ride Diablo I’m only concerned about getting home in time for dinner.

It’s a fantastic ride and climbing 3,500 feet in 11 miles presents its challenges but today was made easier because I was joined by my riding buddy who encouraged me a year and a half ago to start riding.  He is pictured here to the right of the Junction Ranger Station. The Junction is where the road from the South, our route, and the road from the North meet to form one road to the summit.  It was great riding with him (as usual) although this time, as we struggled up the mountain, he would shout out encouraging? words like, “There’s still time to cancel your flight to Burundi!”.  My laughter made me forget about my burning thighs.

We made it past the Junction, about 7 miles into the 11, and continued to the top.  About a mile from the summit is a hairpin turn called Devil’s Elbow.  More like the Devil’s elbow jabbed into my thighs.  It marks the end of 3 miles of pretty intense climbing where it is best to keep one’s eyes focused on the pavement about two feet out in front and not look up to the road ahead.

If that weren’t enough, the last 300 feet, not elevation, but distance, is a 17% grade that I have never been able to ride up.  It’s a humbling walk to the top but that’s the key phrase, isn’t it?  To the Top!!  This sign is a welcome sight and it’s literally all downhill from there as we rested a few minutes and enjoyed 11 miles of coasting to the valley floor!

Here’s the elevation profile to give you some perspective of the climb.

It was a great day!!

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