Crabby.
I'll do it again.
I biked up Mt. Diablo yesterday. The elevation gain is about 3,000+ feet and our trip's total mileage was 42. I made it within a few hundred feet of the summit, which is located at 3,800 feet. For nearly 100% of the ride, I was crabby. I should have eaten a very large breakfast. Our start was delayed, which put me well into my normal lunch time way too early on in the ride. For such a ride, we should depart no later than 09:00.
We were four and the only ones with panniers. This ride is not one that you can really enjoy the first time you do it. Also, it is one to do without extra weight until you know what to expect.
Fortunately, I took my "touring" bike, which can withstand the extra weight and is more robust a bike. However, it is slower and heavier. I would not have made it through this ride on my road bike unless I had no extra weight and replaced my tires with better ones over thorn tubes. That's today's project.
Clifbars do not contain enough salt. I was craving salt nearly the entire ride and the other riders I was riding with, all men, seemed to not have the same kinds of troubles that I was having.
Now for some positives. I am actually glad I did it, despite chatting, "Make it fucking stop." near the/my top. I now know what to expect on this ride and will not carry any extra weight the next time I do it. Most importantly, I learned how to straighten the curve on the way down. Also, I am tempted to bring an extra set of brake pads for descents like these.
When we took a wrong route back down, we landed 20 miles away from where we expected to end up. We collectively decided to bail on the camping idea and headed back to public transportation in time for dark. That was very smart safety-wise. We had no lights and at least I had no legs. Bonus points and a big "Thank you!" to all of the team for that move!
I also learned to ask better questions. For example, when do we plan to each lunch? Where are the meet-up points? What time do we sync up via phone for status reports about how we are doing? (This would have been helpful because the fastest rider carried all the food, which I needed.) During the next ride, the food should be distributed across all riders so even if we cannot cook it, we can at least eat the salt. I need to assert myself more and get the actual answers to very specific questions, rather than accepting "Let's just see how it goes." I appreciate such a care-free attitude on vacation, but for biking, I really need more information.
To summarize, I can offer the following tips to myself and others:
* Print out a map that is large enough to read while riding. Include stopping points and watering holes, as well as details, such as "falling rock area".
* Elevation gain for each segment.
* Organize resting points for a climb ride instead of a distance ride. They are very different! On a distance ride, I can lay down 40 miles without too much trouble. Not so with a climbing ride!
* Pack all layering clothes in the pannier closest to my body, or leave the panniers at home and have someone drive into a campsite with the gear!
* Use my lighter bike with new tires and thorn tubes.
* Know what to expect on the ride, not just on the way up, but also on the way down.
* There should be a ride leader or at one person who knows the ride to describe it to others.
* While checking your bike prior to riding, be sure to check your brake pads before riding. Carry an extra set of brake pads for such descents. What the hell, they are small and very useful little things.
If you have any suggestions to add, please email me.