Wednesday, November 29, 2006

2007 Old Pueblo

the plan is 24 hours in the desert riding a big circle with 1 teammate...aka "Open duo", hope it happens - either way its time to stop being a slacker

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Yes!

back to racing..........finally!


13.5 hours, 2 races...one gear and big wheels

Saturday night was the "Darkness at 909" race. TT starting at 7pm, we got there early and I was assigned the #1 plate, and entered in the SS catagory. I was the only SS and only 29er. My goal was to do the 8 or so mile course in under an hour, not get passed and then compare my times to the sport & expert fields. I suffered on several climbs but did my goal, no one passed me and finished in 54:17. Obviously I won the SS class, what was cool was I had the 3rd fastest time! The sole semi pro and the winner of the expert class (he got me by 15 seconds) was #1 & #2 overall.

So 13.5 hours later (8:30am) I lined up for the All Holows race, 2 hour, most laps win. I and 15 others entered Male open, again I was the only SS and only 29er. I had a great start and was on the wheel of the 3rd place guy. The course is short, and I was doing 12-13 minute laps, and at one point moved into 3rd. I couldnt hold it but just kept pushing and I was super happy coming in 4th with 11 laps. I beat a couple people that have always beat me in the past. Oh, the 1st & 2nd place dudes are both pros, and 3rd place is a real strong expert.

This was my 1st time racing 29, 1st time racing SS, and 1st time racing rigid. At both races I got a bunch of comments about my ride ....'07 Monocog 29er (stock, except Hayes hydros)

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Doc: "No riding for 3 months"

Ugh, thats not something I was happy to hear.

But, I started riding 2 months early.
Road only.

#1: 16 miles - bike path
#2: 16 miles - bike path
#3: 28 miles, local roads - hilly

Yesterday was ride # 4, Gene's group ride. It was a Crazy fast 23 miles.
I expected some pain today, and there was but just a little.

life is good. rock on

Lacerated Liver

August 4th

Ouch..

Grafton group ride, freak fall, beely flopped on end of handlebar. Wind knocked out.

Pain.
Ambulance
Samaraton Hospital
Xray
catscan
Lacerated Liver
internal bleeding
Surgury?
ambulance # 2
Albany Med. hospital
nope on surgury
5 days later go home
Laura Tabs
Still pain
7 days no work

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Frustrated, HF#10 & DarkHorse

My bike keeps having issues, yeah some of them are being my mechanic sucks (thats me)..but the other half is stuff breaking or wearing out prematurely = UGH!

My legs didnt kick in until lap#2 of FH#10, dropped the 1 4 lapper that I was battling for not last, and held off two 3 lappers that managed to almost catch up.

My plan is to do the DarkHorse 40 this Sunday (Two laps, 20 miles each!)
http://www.darkhorsecycles.com/race_rumblings.htm

But do I do the Treesaw &Sq-Earl's epic ride on Saturday??

ps: I WANT A NEW BIKE!!!!!!

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

PetersBurg pass

Sunday, I skipped the MOTM race at Hunter but did a group ride w/the MHCC. Talk about climbing.......Petersburg pass (which has been on my to do list for a while) was the big climb, and easier than I anticipated but the hills never stopped coming..I'd say 6,000ft in the 67 miles. Some of the roads we biked were new to me, and definitely the stuff that should make it into Tequila Doug's Century (coming this fall!)

One dude at mile 48 or so hit a climb hard, I chased...we dropped the group (he wanted to go fast cause he was on his new bling bike!!). We decided to keep the break going........and we were sitting in the shade of a tree as the group rolled into the parking lot at the end of the ride. good stuff

http://webmhcc.org/profiles/petersburg.htm

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Monkey Fest @ Kingdom, HF# 9 & tired



Monkey Fest was awesome, 20 plus riders, stayed at a cool ass lodge, lots of riding on the best trails, great beer, great food & great people - cant get much better. oh, Sidewinder trail- what a freaking blast.






HF race #9, I didnt have much umph - I need a few days off the bike. Tired & worn out.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

HF#8 & Kingdom

This was my recovery ride form Pats Peak..course was a road climb for a mile, them mostly down on St, then the road back to the climb, damn water bottle fell off, picked up on the 2nd lap....I felt alright. Selwitz took me on the climb, if that boy ever got stong on the tech & DH's..watch out!

Leaving Friday early for 3 days at the KINGDOM trails! woot!!

Monday, July 17, 2006

12 hours of Pats Peak

6/12/24 hours of Pats Peak

What a great venue! 2 lodges (w/AC, a pub and a deck). Plenty of camping, toliets, bike washes, showers, and potable water.

The course: 4.7 miles, 870 feet of climbing, mix of singletrrack, ski slope crossings, and couple short sections of fire roads. Way over average ran equaled some muddy sections, but the new ST downhill section was virtually mud free. It was one of the sweetest, flowiest, smooth, long sections of downhills I ever had the pleasure of riding!!

The Folks at Pats Peak and S&W sports try super hard to put on a great, fun & challanging event and want feedback from us racers to make it bigger & better every year. This year they even had a band playing on the deck and a DH & kids race

I signed up for the 12 hour 2 person male cat. w/my buddy Wiley.
A friend and former teammate (Splat) was also in the same catagory.
Our plan was to do doubles. Wiley went 1st & threw down a fast lap and was the 1st back to the transition tent, and no one caught him on his 2nd lap. My turn to do two laps and no one caught me either. Actually we were doing really well for 10 laps (no one passed either of us).
So we had the overall lead of all 3 races/all divisions, and that was damn cool.

BUT on lap 11 things went down hill fast being we both started bonking. Well whats more than bonking? My last lap was torture, it took me forever to complete, I got sick 3 or 4 times.....and I even went to the EMT's after. Wiley was also totally bonked but still got in 2 more (slow) laps.
He stopped at our pit to wait to cross the finish being neither us had any interest in doing another lap, while waiting he got sick too.

We actually thought we still won but somehow the team in 5th went crazy and jumped into 1st place!

I'm proud of our 2nd place, I definitely left everything I had out on the course.

And thanks Splat, pony tail girl and the other riders that stopped to see if I was ok/needed help during my last lap (I felt so crappy at one point I was off the bike laying down), and the EMT guy that made sure I survived!

ps: This was my first ever race that I(we) won cash!! woot!

pics:
Wiley w/the run win, and you can see Splat in the RM jersey
http://www.douglas1.com/images/P1000383s.jpg

yup, it was warm
http://www.douglas1.com/images/P1000396s.jpg

1st lap
http://www.douglas1.com/images/P1000392s.jpg

Splat
http://www.douglas1.com/images/P1000399s.jpg

me
http://www.douglas1.com/images/patspeak/doug.jpg

band
http://www.douglas1.com/images/patspeak/band.jpg

course
http://www.douglas1.com/images/patspeak/course.jpg

me collpsed
http://www.douglas1.com/images/patspeak/collapsed.jpg

finish
http://www.douglas1.com/images/patspeak/finish.jpg

Thursday, July 13, 2006

HF#7

They cancelled it after I left work, ended up 6 of us showed up..so we headed out to ride Sundays Norba Course.......eventually dwindled down to 2 to fully complete it (me & some dude that came to do the race as a preride)

Tonight will be spent getting the Hollowpoint ready, and seeing if I can build the Kona back up to use as a spare

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Pats Peak this weekend

Wiley & me, 12 hour duo

Its suppose to be crazy hot & humid, I can almost feel the pain already...PAIN!!

http://www.patspeak.com/s_bike.htm

Friday, July 07, 2006

Group Ride

MHCC - Coeymans quick ride, this should be renamed racer boy ride, 30 or so, almost all in NAV or CBRC kit's. Todd, Dr. Rob, Graber, Terry, Bryna....smoking fast riders. Lots of "oh crap" faces when the cue sheet came out, route was bike to rhe nasty climb, go up it & come back. great! Thatcher to beaver damn to Pinacle, 4 miles and lots of vertical..I did alright. Was in the tail of the (big) front group, and reeled in and passed maybe 6 of the 20. The way back was crazy fast, 4 of us were together doing 27-29 on a flat section, I was struggling, then Todd comes by pulling maybe 8 or so, and I got dropped like a hot potatoe!

35 miles, 18.2 avg

Thursday, July 06, 2006

HF#6

Did the NORBA XC course set up for the July 16th race, the trail is nice, a lot like the '04 24 hour course. My issue was my pedal broke at mile 0.5, see there was a reason to do good circles with my right foot at spin class. haha.
I hung in there, even beat Todd, Mr. NAV himself! I am so looking forward to next week, when we do that same course again....and see how I do with (hopefully) no mechanicals.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

racing...

Tonight is Holiday Farms
This w/e is The 6 hours of power, but I dont think I'm going to do the 5 1/2 hour drive. But there also is the Darkhorse race in Newburgh
Or maybe I'll just skip both and just do some rides, Friday is Chris Roe's Grafton ride, Saturday theres a MHCC metric century in Saratoga.
Decisions!

AND Pat's Peak, I am bummed - my '05 team just fell apart for this year with less than 2 weks until the race. So my plan is to give the 6 hour solo race a try.

links to races:
http://www.douglas1.com/2006.htm

Monday, July 03, 2006

sweat n summer century

Started w/maybe 25 riders, in the rain with thunder & lightening in the distance.
It cleared up maybe 20 miles in.
I was hanging with the racer boys, after stopping to help w/2 flats I ended up at the back of the field, and riding alone. Then somehow I turned up the Desoltaion Hill climb, instead of route 19....7 extra miles!! I pushed hard to catch up and burned myself out/over heated.It definitely became a tough century, I couldnt eat but i was drinking tons.
It was so super humid out. I figured I did 70 miles on my own.


105 miles
6:11
17.1 avg

but i did get a Jesrey being i was the only one that went up Lake D....

so in 7.5 days, I got in 310 miles & 19:20 saddle time = today is a REST DAY!!

Friday, June 30, 2006

so cool & a road ride

just check it!
http://www.twinsix.com/team/bios_dso.htm


30 something mile road ride w/Jenn "Veggie Girl" - she is back on the bike / broke her leg riding, well crashing :) - We did the MHCC group B out of Defrestive parknride

She is SO HAPPY to be back out riding!

Thursday, June 29, 2006

HF# 5 & Ovrall standings

Another race in Dalton. Not a big turn out so they did a Mass start (instead of 2 min seperating catagories). I pushed hard for the 1st lap, was keeping up with 2 other 4 lap'rs, then lost contact. Start of #4, Samantha yelled out "Go for it Doug, they're not that far ahead". I couldnt see anone, but ok..lets go. I hit the open road/field section, and yup theres 2 riders maybe 2-3 minuites ahead, I pushed hard on the dirt road and field and caught up a lot before we went back into the ST. I didnt see them again to the climb, Kellogg was running his bike, I slowly caught the other dudes wheel, and we both caught Kellog, but I didnt have enough to pass on the short flat section, and the DH was too fast/hairy to try a pass, so I finished on their wheels..made me wish we were doing 5 laps!

And Selwitz (3 laps 18-44), and myself (4 laps open) have both moved into 1st overall!! But here's the issue, this year they are dropping 4 races, which could take me from 1st to off the podium....yeah, so big surprise that I dont like the new "drop 4 rule"

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Team Twin Six

I finally ( I can be such a procastinator) sent my info in to join up with Team Twin Six. These guys are damn cool, and make some bad ass jerseys, clothes & accessories. Check their stuff out! www.twinsix.com
So very soon, look for me in this super cool jersey!

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

No moon century

So my crazy friend (Heather) came up with this idea..Hell week, back to back days of pretty tough rides/runs with the goal of each event to stay together as a group. (note: there's 9 days in Hell week) Day one was the No moon century, no moon? so what you say? Well the ride started at 7:30........thats 7:30 PM and there would be no moon to help us see. She said the pace would be slowish (15-16 avg) so I figured I could hang, and said I'm in!
We deciced on a the sweat series century route being it was familiar and should be low traffic roads, however the one concern was there would be no open anything from mile 30 to 88, so at 30 you better stock up on fluids!
We had almost 1 1/2 hours of light which put us at our 1st stop at a stewarts at mile 30.
The night was awesome, clear skies, no wind (humid but no biggie), everyone riding was super cool, and we worked well together, the course was challanging and fun, my legs were cooperating, everything just clicked to create a super enjoyable road ride.
I think we freaked a few people out with our lights (red flashing, blue flashing and white bar/helmet light) - had to look pretty weird coming down a totally unlit road
I was really happy to be able to finish pretty strong (I'm usually on the verge of bonking the last 30/40 miles)
oh, and not sure what happened to the planned 16 mph avg...I guess we were having too much fun pushing things a little bit

the #'s (a new PB for me!!)
102.1 miles
4650 ft climbed
5:37 (saddle time)
18.25 avgride
end time: [B]1:55am[/B]

it was a tough choice between denny's and a bar after, but the hunger pains won so we picked Dennys




Friday, June 23, 2006

2,000

Did an easy local road ride that put my '06 miles (including trainer miles) over 2,000 !!

Thursday, June 22, 2006

HF#4 & ouch

I raced yesteray at Dalton. Solstice meant longest course of the year, climbing & singletrack...nice. My ass was kicked again....but thats ok, more miles at race pace will definitely help me for the bigger races. Besides it was a gorgous evening and i was on my bike, hanging with a bunch of people doing the same... sweet!

Then did the long drive to Heathers BBQ/wine party..which is always fun - stayed way too late, bed time was after 2am!

So I'm in bed and not even 1/2 awake (its 4 something) and my lower leg is all cramped up, so I stretch it and it POPS into a super bad crazy pain - I instantly sit up and yell out ' OH F*#K! ', I was freaked being I so thought my Achilles ruptured (it hasn't stopped bothering me), but after a couple minutes the pain lessens and I was ok to walk to the bathroom Ouch! today its my calf that hurts, and I am slightly limping - this sucks, I really hope whatever is wrong heals up quick. I need to make myself take a rest day.

If the legs are ok I should be doing a super cool kind of crazy ride this w/e......

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Wednesday

last night was volleyball so no riding, man its tough to have a great team, then lose 3 good players (Leigh moved to PA, & Scott & Katrina do the softball thing) and take on 3 less talented not use to league playing players. Of the 3 Mark B puts the most effort in, hangs out after and is a fun guy

Tonight is Holiday Farms (race), my goal is to get my ass kicked a little less every week!
Then Heather is having a BBQ to celebrate the doc's ok to ride/run etc after her problems from the GA race - its after her road ride - I want to go and hang out with her, veggie girl & all the other cool bikers that should be there.

Oh, and veggie girl just got the docs ok to start walking/riding (she broke her leg on a group ride we did at the pine bush)



6 hours of power - anyone interested?

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Norba Nationals


I went to Mount Snow Saturday w/Selwitz. no race for me but I rode the XC & super D course (twice). They made the poor sports do 3 laps, Selwitz was out there for over 3 hours!

Then, we watched the pro XC race, man are those pro female xc'ers hot looking!!
It was pretty fun to watch this race, and I felt pretty good that the pros were walking the same sections that I walked in my preride. the mount snow course is no joke, 1000 ft of climbing per lap, the downhill ih technical and makes you wish you hit the weights harder over the winter (sore arms). One of the females, on her last lap went by saying in a soft voice "it hurts"

I also caught some of the dual slalom race.

oh, and a big thanks to the drummer - this dude and some of his friends were out there for HOURS providing the races with a cool rythmic beat, and some motivation to keep pedaling up the hill!

Friday, June 16, 2006

Coeymans Quick Ride...w/rain

I checked the MHCC site ( www.webmhcc.org ) and picked a quick road ride (17-18mph avg) - 35 miles. But when I showed all up it was 80% local racer boys (CBRC, NAV, etc kits). Oh crap, I'm gonna be so dropped.

The pace wasn't bad at the start, chatted w/this dude named Steve (one of the few others not wearing a team kit). Said hi Terry B. (he's super fast ), then we hit a climb, then another..I was doing my best, about 8 people in front pulling away, and the other 20 behind me..I look back and there gone! holy crap! Now we descending, 2 groups of 4, then me busting my ass to catch up.....I kept at it, but the gap was growing. 2 guys caught me, we ended up forming all own little pack. Did I mention it was raining? I couldn't see worth crap. One of the guys was Steve, and the other was a stronger rider than us but he would slow down a bit so we stayed together.

After a bit the rain tapered, then on a climb we saw 2 riders up ahead, caught them, said hi, then dropped them. cool out all those racer boys only 6 ahead of us. I am told of a fast dh ahead, it was sweat...my cyclometer couldn't handle it, it read 00 mph, but the other guy said he was doing 56mph. nice. So that dude wqs giving me some pointers, we worked on doing 20/30 second pulls to finish up the ride. back at the parking lot, it was dry! Many times I was on the verge of switching to a take it easy ide, but I didn't..I was pretty happy about that & my avg speed was really good for me (especially on a hilly rainy loop)

the #'s
38.3 miles
1:59
19.3 mph

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Holiday Farms#3

I passed at #2 being that day was nothing but rain, then kicked myself for missing it (it stoped raining for the race)

Again, right to the back of the back at the start, a rider (some pro) flatted and I passed him. Interestingly, he fixed his bike and finished the race ahead of me....but never passed me. Hmm?
I slowly caught another 4 lapper, he made a crappy down shift at a hill, and I went by never to see him again. But I am listed as finishing last. Hmm?

A 3 lapper easily caught & passed me, another (J. wojniak who does solo 24's) passed and I stayed with him for a lap or so, and then 2 more...but I passed them back in the sketchy DH section, but right before the end of their race I slowed down, and let them by to battle it out for their finish. My last lap was lonely, only rider i saw was when I passed a 2 lapper female

pot luck after, talked to gary (he's 50 somehing)..1 of his HF season goal is to not let me catch him (he does 3 laps). Mine is to stop letting 3 lappers catch me. Oh, and he's doing the VT50!

A group (MHCC) road ride tonight. Been a while since I did one. I want it to be painful.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

expert class is no joke!

damn, the expert class is no joke! By the the top of the 1st little climb I was already in last, and I knew then it was going to be a long day! I caught up to a dude I know "Orm", he was rocking the 29'r hardtail. So the battle was on for last place, me on my 29lb 26 FS vs Orm on his 26 lb 29'r HT !

Course was mostly doubletrack, hilly but no big climb...and a super muddy hike a bike jeep road thrown in for fun. I pulled away from ORM on the first lap, pushing hard on the DH sections, but a mile or so into lap #2, I hear a bike nad then hear ORM saying its just me! oh yeah, great!
I dropped a chain shifting, he goes by..I slowly catch up and folow him for the rest of the lap.
End of lap two, I grab a new water bottle (my rig only holds one) and next time I go to grab it, its not there!

lap 3 was ORM following me, I didnt feel strong and was taking it easy, I know he was trying to find where I was slower and where I was faster. At the start of lap#4 while I,m trying to get somee cups of water, he hits the hill pretty hard, and I have nothing to match. I didnt see him again until after the race. Props to him for throwing down a strong 4th lap.

Somewhere along the way we passed someone in our group cause I ended up in 15th, with 16 finishers and 3 dnf's

I have my work cut out for me, I need to hit the hills, get some intensity in, and find some faster riders to make me suffer during the week.

Bryna, Mark G, & Terry B all podiumed in expert. Selwitz & Christan raced sport, Selwitz was 5th, and I dont think Christan made it into the top 10.

the #'s: 4 laps, 2:22, and about 19 miles

Friday, June 09, 2006

oh crap=MOTM # 1

My 1st expert level Norba race is Sunday..winterclove Inn/round top, NY

http://www.mastersofthemountains.com/schedule.htm

I won sport last year, I just want to survive and and not be last.
Selwitz, Samantha, Orm, and Graber are also racing.

I plan to go down early and do a preride before the beginners/sports start. Its going to be a mud fest being all its been doing is raining lately.

Selwitz, Dave & myself did a mud ride at the poop loop yesterday.......I got in almost 3 hours of saddle time. Those 3 hours made life better

cool.

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

wow

i should write some crap in here, dont ya think?

Thursday, January 05, 2006

ny eve

ny eve, Dennis, ken & myself did the "first night last run" 5K in downtown Albany, it was sorta drizzling/sorta snowing...fireworks just before the race to fill our lungs with smoke. 1000 racers and a hilly course, I almost caught Judy (my spin teacher/old gym owner). den=31:?? ken=27:?? me=25:27