For those in the Bay Area of Nor Cal: Is Mt. Diablo unique in its danger to cyclists, how are Mt. Tam and Mt. Hamilton? It seems every other day I’m reading a report about a cyclist that was hit by a car on Mt. Diablo. I went up there a few weeks back and literally 5 minutes into the climb, a car passed us on a blind turn at speed and nearly hit a cyclist descending from the mountain. I remember when I started cycling a couple years ago, seeing full on tour buses trying to negotiate the hairpin turns. Does this happen at the other Bay Area mountains?
I ride Hamilton regularly(not always to the top).
I feel like it’s really safe and if you are out in the morning, it’s really low traffic car wise. Plus, because it’s such a regular bike route, cars are pretty nice passing wise.
The road is also all repaved and perfect. It’s basically perfect all the way up.
Calaveras(which is right next to it) is also fantastic if you want some rollers.
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Never had an issue with Diablo to be honest. Which approach?
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Tam is busy is you take the main road up (panoramic highway). If you go up Marion from Mill Valley, it’ll be much more enjoyable. Like anywhere else, weekends and late mornings / early afternoons are much busier so try to get out early.
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^^^^^ This ^^^^^
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Yes the approach makes a difference, I’m coming up from the South Gate.
I haven’t climbed Mt Diablo in a while but I am around the bay area. There’s a rule for cars not to pass a cyclist on a hairpin. I usually climb north gate which isn’t as busy as south gate. The weekends is when it gets tricky.
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North gate at dawn.
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I grew up in the area and have rode Diablo for decades. I never found it particularly unsafe but sure, pick your times. A Saturday or Sunday, mid-morning will suck and mostly it will suck when you get caught behind traffic on the way down.
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Coming down Tam I expect cars to cross the centerline on tight turns coming up (cars coming up) plus swing wide passing cyclist coming up so I stay over to the right, even if it means I have to descend more slowly / cautiously. Fair or not, cyclists always lose, so better slower than the alternative
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I’m the same way. Better safe than sorry. There’s a lot of blind spots and sometimes you’ll see a car when you don’t expect it. A full head on collision at high speeds is pretty scary.
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+1 on the descending speeds point. Just because you have the skills to go a certain speed doesn’t mean that you should or that it’s safe. Too much is out of your control. For example, drivers may look up the road for cyclists and even notice you, but not expect you to be moving 40 mph and misjudge your speed
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