0.0 Start at the Rudgear Road Park and Ride in Walnut Creek, just off of I-680. Go under the freeway and turn left onto Danville Blvd.
5.0 Turn left on Diablo Road.
6.2 Turn right at the stoplight, onto Diablo Road. Yes, that's the same name as the road you're already on!
8.3 Turn left onto Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd. Take a deep breath! After about .5 miles look for the park boundary gate as you pass the last houses. This is the "official" starting point of the Thursday evening "Mountain Ride". Start your timer, and stop it when you reach the junction. The top local bike racers will do this in about 22-24 minutes, with the record being under 21 minutes!
If you're really ambitious, start your timer as you pass the Athenian School at the start of Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd. and stop it when you reach the parking lot at the top of the mountain. The record for that ride is about 45 minutes, courtesy of John Hunt. That's right, we're talking mutant city here.
15.2 Turn left at the stop sign. You are at the high point of this ride. If you're feeling adventuresome, it's only 4 more miles to the top! The Elevation at the Junction is 2205 ft. There are bathrooms behind the ranger station.
Enjoy the descent, but be careful that you don't get surprised by some of the switchbacks.
22.8 Turn right onto Oak Grove Rd. and start looking for the bike trail on the right.
22.9 Turn right onto the bike trail.
25.1 Turn left and cross the Contra Costa Canal just after the short STEEP descent.
27.7 Turn left at the bike trail intersection. There is an easy to spot open space that is about 100 feet across and runs parallel to with the trail that you are going to turn onto.
29.0 Cross Ygnacio Blvd. Wish the construction workers who are building us a bicycle bridge well. It is scheduled for completion in the summer of 1998.
30.0 Cross Newell and either ride on Main St. or ride on the bike trail that parallels Main St. to the Rudgear Park and ride.
