All of these pictures and images are copied from the internet or from Google Earth. The bottom picture was downloaded from a local cycling club site. If you zoom in on the picture you can see the section marked 18% grade - yeah ouch.
Like the title says - I managed my worst time up Mt. Diablo last Friday. (3,849' - And since my house sits at 36', I get to climb most of that.)
I was energized all day looking forward to my afternoon ride. My plan was to get home by 2:00, jump on my road bike, ride to, and then up the mountain, ride down, meet some friends, and then ride together toward home. I got a later than desired start in the afternoon, having spent more time in the office than I wanted. I left the house at around 3:00 and made it to the base of the mountain by 3:45. I noticed on the way there that the mountain was barely visible through the afternoon heat waves, but was so intent on my ride that I didn't give it the attention I should have. I started my climb with vigor. My desire was to get my best time up the mountain that afternoon, and then brag about it to my friends. I had eaten right all day, and hydrated well. My muscles were poised and ready. Unfortunately my lungs were not ready. Somewhere nearby a grass fire was sucking the oxygen out of the air, and filling the valley with smoke.
The first part of the climb is typically the hardest for me. Though not the steepest part of the climb, the first few miles ascend rather abruptly, and my muscles take a few minutes of that to settle into the grind. I climbed through the first 500 - 600 feet before I realized I had a problem. I began to be very distracted, and my skin began to tingle and feel like it was going to shed right off my body. I slowed my faster than usual pace and attempted a recovery from what I realized was a pending "blow up". I couldn't shake it. I rode some of the more miserable miles I've ever logged as I climbed slowly. At the 1000' marker I considered turning around and heading home. I couldn't bring myself to cut and run, however, so I proceeded very slowly all the way to the ranger station. I met another cyclist there, who had come down and was likewise frustrated at his fatigue. With out allowing myself to get off the bike, I rode circles as we talked, and then headed for the hardest part of the climb. At this point I actually began to feel better. Though the muscle fatigue was finally starting to represent itself in some low level pain, I think I broke through to some oxygen, and was finally able to shake off the tingling.
I have to believe my rapid fatigue was a result of the smoky air, and the upper 90 degree heat.
Neither of those factors are unusual for the Bay Area, and neither have kept me off my bike in the past. But, a combination of the 2, and likely a stroke from the humbling hand of God, made for an unpleasant hour and a half. I called my friends from the top, and told them to go on without me, as I was an hour late.
My time was a frustrating 1 hour and 27 minutes for the 11 miles of actual climbing.
My best time so far was 1 hour and 12 minutes.
I was shooting for under an hour.
When I got back down to the bottom of the mountain I had regained some vigor and drive, and rounded off the ride by taking the long way home including another short climb on Ygnacio Valley road.
Total miles for the day was just over 50.
3 days later (last Monday) I rode home from work again, and bettered my previous week's time by 3 minutes.
Tuesday morning I rode back in to work and bettered the previous week's time by 2 minutes.
I'm not sure why it has consistently taken me around 5 minutes longer to ride the same distance heading west, than it does the night before heading east. Though minor, the actual elevation change is in favor of riding toward the office, and I should be fresh from a good night's rest the night before. Hmm??
I may change up my route home tomorrow and ride over the 3 bears for a change of scenery.
