Holy Shnikes! Let's take a look at that Mountain one more time... on second thought, no. Once was enough.
So I'm up in the Bay Area visiting mom and dad and shooting the final scene (or "denuemont", which is French for "My film is better than yours") for "Boys of Summer" and I bring the bike to keep the training on and poppin'. It's a kick to be riding my bike around the old neighborhood as I used to when I was a kid. I know some of the old tough stuff -- like say cruising up Treat Blvd. -- and so I run at it. It's a good hill and gets my heart going for sure. I roll on into Clayton and out to the Concord (kiss my Chronicle butt) Pavillion and start up Kirker Pass. Now this hill is no joke, either, as I remember. But I don't know exactly where it lets out and there is a median divider (as it's a pretty rippin' speed limit for los automobiles -- 55 I think). So I turn it around and roll back down Ygnacio. Down Ygnacio is pretty intense as the hill is fairly long and I'm cruising at a high enough speed for a long enough time to begin to question how much skin I'd donate to the asphalt society of this hill if I made a goof. That starts an ugly downhill in my mind of it's own...
So I'm up in the Bay Area visiting mom and dad and shooting the final scene (or "denuemont", which is French for "My film is better than yours") for "Boys of Summer" and I bring the bike to keep the training on and poppin'. It's a kick to be riding my bike around the old neighborhood as I used to when I was a kid. I know some of the old tough stuff -- like say cruising up Treat Blvd. -- and so I run at it. It's a good hill and gets my heart going for sure. I roll on into Clayton and out to the Concord (kiss my Chronicle butt) Pavillion and start up Kirker Pass. Now this hill is no joke, either, as I remember. But I don't know exactly where it lets out and there is a median divider (as it's a pretty rippin' speed limit for los automobiles -- 55 I think). So I turn it around and roll back down Ygnacio. Down Ygnacio is pretty intense as the hill is fairly long and I'm cruising at a high enough speed for a long enough time to begin to question how much skin I'd donate to the asphalt society of this hill if I made a goof. That starts an ugly downhill in my mind of it's own...
So I get to the bottom of the hill and realize I've been riding for about an hour. Not bad, but I'd like to get at least 90 minutes in -- probably more like two hours. I head toward Northgate and Mount Diablo. For those who don't know Mt. Diablo, you are more than welcome to look it up here. I'll wait...
Now, I know Mt. Diablo quite well, having grown up in it's shadow. I've driven up it many a time and enjoyed hiking in Rock City. I've also seen those who I've deemed to be "suckers" actually trying to ride their bikes up this nasty hunk of rock.
So as I near the gate, nearly out of water, I ask the ranger if there is water available nearby. He says no, but there is some about six miles ahead. Six miles in the bike world isn't much -- figure 20 MPH so about 15-20 minutes.
There's just one problem here -- I'm not going to do 20MPH uphill for 7.5 miles. Of course, I'm not thinking that way when I begin. I'm just thinking -- I'll go for a bit. And after a bit I think, I'll just go for a bit more. And then later, well, I've gone this far. And then, where the F*&@ is this drinking fountain!!!
Over 2000 feet of elevation and the aforementioned 7.5 miles (not 6, thank you) later I reached the fountain and the junction where many riders take a break and decide which way to go. You actually can keep going up to the summit. Ummm...no.
Rock City is another option. This was the cool place I went to as a kid to go climbing. I started to go that way -- then realized I was cruising downhill. Not a problem except for the fact that if I go downhill now...and I have to come back...THIS IS ANOTHER HILL I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CLIMB!!!
No, thank you.
I turned around about a half-mile down, rolled back up to the junction and said, okay, time to hit the downhill... 
Downhill is fun -- don't get me wrong. However, when it winds the way it does down Mt. Diablo and at the decline it does...lets just say the brakes got a good workout. A good enough workout, in fact, to where I began to wonder if I wasn't riding them too hard.
Downhill is fun -- don't get me wrong. However, when it winds the way it does down Mt. Diablo and at the decline it does...lets just say the brakes got a good workout. A good enough workout, in fact, to where I began to wonder if I wasn't riding them too hard.
What if they heat up? 
What if they get soft? 
WHAT IF I CAN'T STOP AND HAVE TO CRASH INTO A COW?
Poor cow... 
Suffice to say, I made it. I'm here (and the cow is there -- still mooin'). Woo hoo.
It was a great ride. I don't know the overall distance, but I was "in the saddle" for about three hours. I may have earned the day off tomorrow. We'll see.
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