I geared up, got the bike ready to go, and hydrated. During the drive to Mt. Diablo I was second guessing myself, I was worried that I would fail miserably and collapse under the heat.
I started in Blackhawk to get some mileage on my legs before the real work would begin. As soon as I turned onto Blackhawk Rd. off of Camino Tassajara I was met with a 1/2mi. ascent which made me even more doubtful. At mile 5, I reached Mt. Diablo Scenic Rd. which is the South Gate entrance. South Gate appears to be higher in gradient than the North Gate and shaded!!! What a relief.
The South side of Mt. Diablo is very green compared to the North side. Going up Mt. Diablo was a strenuous effort, the climbing was unrelenting and their were few areas where you could sit back and easy pedal. While I was struggling up the mountain @ 8mph I was being passed by cyclists descending in full aero tuck. There were many moments where I felt I was running out of energy and possibly headed toward crashing, I slowed the pace and sat in the saddle often instead of dancing on the pedals. I had become resolute to make it to the top regardless of speed and effort.
Reaching the junction point between N. Gate and S. Gate I had begun to worry about "the wall." After every bend I would ask myself, is this it? Is it around this hairpin? I had heard about the last 200 meters to the summit, they would involve an 14-16% which would challenge me to my limit. I was steadfast not to downshift into my triple, I was doing good the whole way up and it looked promising. I was climbing behind another cyclist on the 200 meter wall. I noticed that he was struggling up the wall and I did not want to pass him, was it being respectful? Or fear of passing him only to bonk ahead and look like a retard. I was trailing closer and I begun to move to the left to make the pass. Just then he unclipped and leaned to the left, doh! This forced me to do a power stand on my pedals on a 16% grade, not good!
I dropped into the triple in order to get around but I felt guilty. Like it was taint on a perfect climb, but nevertheless I made it to the summit without stopping. Mt. Diablo is now my mountain.
The ride was a very great experience and views were worth every gritty challenged mile. The descent down the mountain was scary-fun! That is the best way to describe it, I had got behind a vehicle traveling down from the summit and kept on its bumper the entire time until we exited the North Gate. On the way down I felt like I had been tested and my mettle proven by fire!
