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?