Note: You must pre-register to join this ride.
Distance: 38 mi.
Pace: B (moderate)
Terrain: 4 (some steep climbs with some relief)
Elevation gain: 3,900 ft.
To download GPS file, map, and cue sheet:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41529184
resolution, n.
1. The subsiding or termination of an abnormal condition, such as a fever or inflammation. 2. The act or process of separating or reducing something into its constituent parts. 3. The fineness of detail that can be distinguished in an image.
You know the routine: set aside sandbagging and excuses, dress warmly, ride up Mt. Diablo with your awesome fellow Spokers to start the new year correctly. This ride will let you see clearly who you are. Join Stephen at a moderate B-pace; this is winter, and you’re warmly bundled in holiday fat; this isn’t the time to be killing it on the bike (unless you want to). Did you know the average grade up the north side to the junction is less than 6%? (But of course you’ll be doing it for 12.3 miles.) You can do this!
We start at Pleasant Hill BART and take the Iron Horse and Contra Costa Canal Trails before taking backstreets to North Gate Road, where the ascent starts in earnest. We’ll head up and regather at the ranger station at the Junction. Then it’s four miles to the summit where we’ll regather, do the selfie and social media thing before doing a SAFE descent on South Gate to Danville for lunch. After lunch we’ll roll easily north on Danville Blvd. to Walnut Creek BART. If you don’t want to go to the summit, you can ride 12 miles and 2,100 feet of elevation gain to the junction with South Gate and then descend.
UPDATE: If you want to do the 'Half Resolution' ride and want company, we have one Spoker who will be going up only as far as the junction before heading down to Danville and then back to PH BART, so you'll have company (and he knows the route!) But please let us know if you're planning to do the short ride so we know how many of you there will be.
Dress according to the weather, ie. make sure you have enough layers and warm clothing for the descent.
Note: the descent is serious. You should be both confident in your ability to descend and prudently cautious amidst other cyclists and cars.
Rain/black ice cancels.
Meet at Pleasant Hill BART outside the fare gates.
Meet at 8:45 am, depart at 9:15 am SHARP.
If you are coming by BART, be sure to check the BART website for system delays and changes in the train schedule in order to arrive promptly. The train from SF to PH BART is scheduled to arrive at 8:34 and 9:04 AM. Don't miss one of them or else you'll be chasing the group. (Trains are running only every half-hour.)