TeamBlue
Wednesday, November 02, 2005:
The Voo Doo train last weekend. 
doug // 12:08
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Friday, October 14, 2005:
The view from the top of the course at the Brian Head, UT norba national where I raced the XC and Short Track. I also took a bunch of photos.
Super D start, Mammoth nationals, 2005
XC, Short Track and Super D, where I got lost
These are the alta lakes, outside Telluride, CO, on the pencil line trail. THE BEST TRAIL IN THE UNIVERSE! X marks the spot.
Skinner Hut lies on top of this mass of rock and snow. There are no turns to be had a skinner. early the next morning this entire hillslide slid. There weren't any turns there when we went there last year either, but there sure was a whole lotta 'staches.
doug // 11:04
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Deer creek trail, crested butte, co, June 2005
more crested buttte photos here
doug // 10:36
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The view on my street, spring 2005
doug // 10:35
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Cheyenne canyon from the south,september 2004
doug // 10:35
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I dont really write so much any more, but this seems like a good format for all my photos. There's gunna be alot of 'em. Let me know what you think. Email me if you want copies.
doug // 09:59
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Friday, June 18, 2004:
Had several conversations lateley about how people liked my style of blogging and (this could be an overstatement) missed the teamblue blog, so i dun figgured i'd give 'er another go. I'll skip the summary of the time between blogs, but if you'd really like details get in touch. my email is six-letter abbeviation for douglas c ryden ass f#cking slow @yahoo.com
met the boys at the usual thursday night bat time and bat station for a little canyon action. the previous couplea days' rain had made the trails tackier than a plad tie, polka-dotted shirt, striped pants and a rinestone belt with ostrich skin boots. We rode 50% of the trails in cheyenne canyon based on number, over 60% based on distance. The rains changed columbine from a predomintantly gravely trail to a hardpacked wonder with periods of super wheel sucking sand sarnacs. The pace was back to its old hit-the-gas-unil-everyone-blows, and damn was that fun. Saucy passes and sneaky bastard lines were in full effect. The descents proved to be equally fulfilling, going downhill so fast I couldnt ride without glass, but the light was so dim I couldnt ride with my amber lenses. A glorious quandry of squints and fast blinking with librarian-esque protective lenses.
hopefully I'll be able to update this a little more often than i did in the last year.
doug // 10:51
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Thursday, July 10, 2003:
cracker
did the firecracker 50 last weekend. had a good first lap but stomach cramps,couldnt eat and dring as much as i wanted as it made the cramps worse. second lap brought the shits and bonks. it made for VERY slow going. i had stuff come out of every large orifice on my body! second lap was an hour and a quarter slower than the first. i got heckeld by philippe merehagge (sp?) on the first climb for encouraging everyone to not ride into oncoming traffic on the left side of the road on the open-to-the-public course. results.
doug // 12:53
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Monday, June 30, 2003:
VICTORY
Saturday at the Wildflower Rush in Crested Butte, marked my first win as a semipro. It came extactly one year after upgrading. Crested Butte was the last race I won as an expert. The course was better this year, they made it a little longer, and added more singletrack. The wildflowers were in full effect, the single track was fast, bumpy and dusty, but fun as hell, and there was some luck involved. The race started with a fast pace on the first climb. I was sitting comfortably at the back of the leading pack of six, with a few seconds on the following group (most of the pack). We caught the first pro 7 minutes in to the climb. By the top of the first climb i was in 5th, about 20 seconds behind the lead, but he and his (trek) teamate were pulling away. The first part of the first single track descent was straight and bumpy as all get out. Fingers off the levers, loose grip on the handlebars, point her straight, weight back and pedal like hell. 44x11 spun out. Hard braking and into the trees. Could it be, i made up time on the descent, and the two leaders are on factory Trek Fuel's. Misfortune strikes a friend. JJ is on the side of the trail. Thats too bad, words of encouragement, but now I'm in 4th, and I dont see anyone charging up from behind. This is good, as what felt like a comfortable pace on the first climb, may have been a little overzealous. It turns out LT HR drops as elevation rises. Crested Butte starts above 9000 ft, and climbs from there. As long as I'm on sweet singletrack, and not feeling that bad I may as well keep the pace, I'll blow when I blow. Toward the top of the second climb, I see Mitch coming up. Maybe I can race with him for a while. He catches me right as we crest for the big descent down the front of the mountain. I stay with him for a while, but gaps open on the little rises on the way down. Another fast straight section, and the adrenaline starts to flow like it does on the best of days. I start to reel in him(4th) and third place. Correction the second of the two leading trek riders flats, we're now 2-3-4.
I get within a bike length at the beginning of the second lap, and Mitch attacks for second. I decide its better to hold a steady pace and hold my place rather than risk blowing up while trying to go for the win. It sure was painful though, to watch Mitch and Aaron ride up the road without me. I held a steady pace, though, and kept Aaron at a constant distance, but Mitch was gone. On the second climb of the second lap I start seeing someone new coming back to me. And he's wearing the same kit as the semi pro leader. I finally catch him on the descent, and sure enough it was the same trek rider i had watched ride away on the first lap. It was clear he had blown. I rode his wheel until he swore and flatted. I offer words of encouragement and motor on my way. His descending style was bothersome and now I occupy 3rd place. The day just keeps getting better and better. I can see Aaron around a bend in the single track.
The third lap. I WILL catch second place. Ok so not right away, the dust and dehydration have combined to give me the strong gag reflex. So strong in fact that I end up getting rid of some of my stomach contents. Not a full-on puke, but good enough for government work. Once I get that overwith though, its back to the task at hand. On a little descent on the first climb, I get going so fast over the waterbars, my bottle explodes when I land. There goes my water for the lap. I still have some gatorade though. I drink as much of the water as possible and pour the rest on my back. I normally dont litter during races, but what good is an empty bottle with no top? Thats what the post race sweep is for isnt it? Second place is mine on the straightaway after the aspen grove. Jam the flat singletrack. As the descent begins, can it be? Is that Mitch? It must be a pro who's blowing up, but no! The lead will soon be mine. As I catch Mitch, I notice he's going awfully slow. I encourage him to speed up so we can put a bigger gap on Aaron, he declines and lets me by. There should be something more dramatic at this point. The race lead should not be given up, even if we are all friends out there. I orderd Mitch to stay on my wheel, but his day was over. Every bit of my glycogen stores is used to maintain the gaps to second and third. But not so concentrated as to not have fun on the final descent and sprint for the finnish.
doug // 11:22
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Tuesday, June 24, 2003:
CAUTION!
on the bike path approach to our single track prey fresh cable had been lain. i needed a "caution, underground cable, stay off" flag for my camelbak. it kept me safe. there were two casualties on the day, one laceration to the upper arm while performing a perfect, impromptu summersault from a seated (on bicycle) positon (Damon), and the other a crack to the nutters from the stem while bunnyhopping a log (g-froze). nothing too serious.
once the real trail began we all knew it would be an epic day. the previous three day's rain had packed the trail, and the morning's sun had dried any mud. the forces of nature WANTED us to do this ride. the fire center trails were an appetizer of what was to come: tight single track with no one on it. a little more road climbing before the true trail was reached. the trail drops quickly. i got so cattywampered at times i have no idea how i remained upright, it must have been all the forward momentum i was carrying. i could tell i was really sideways at times from the laughter coming from behind. once the trail mellowed out a little the resident flora whacked us about the shins, knees, and nuckles. there was also a great fresh smell the length of the trail.
we continued climbing and descendig from valley to valley on lonely singletrack until the wrecked airplane had been reached, turned around and screamed back out. 60+ miles of dirt, 1/3 single track, wildflowers, streamcrossings, hairy descents, anally-penetrating climbs packed into 6 hours.
doug // 13:44
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Monday, June 23, 2003:
gravel+rain=fast trails
starting with last thursday. met the boys for a social ride of the heitzer after work. ominous clouds on the horizon dropped a gentle rain as we started out. the rain capes only lasted a few minutes. a sheet of plastic will keep the rain out, but it sure does insulate well too. the water kept the rail road ties nice and wet. the rain blew over and held for most of the climb. being as skinny as i am i was able to ride between the drops that fell intermittently on the way up. i think the storm was just welling up in the clouds so we would have perfect conditions for the descent. at the no name creek/barr trail juncture the call was made to skip the heitzer and just ride longs ranch and upt. best damn decision i made all day. all available clothing was administered as the clouds were heard unzipping. by the time the waterbars had begun to launch us skyward the rain was falling steady and cold, making longs ranch road as fast and smooth as an alpine slide. UPT was even better than ususal. the loamy soil hadnt reached its saturation point and was holding up well. constant whipping about the arms, head and torso. the vegitation is fulfilling its manifest destiny, overgrowing all possible trails. everyone was soaked from the falling rain and collected moisture on the trees. a great end to the work day.
doug // 12:30
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