Vermont is spelled with a capital “V”, surely no coincidence. With the loads of mountains and climbs available, it had to start with a “V”. I mean, if it was mountainous enough to draw a runaway “loose” nun who left the church for a sailor, it must be good, right? (Great nordic skiing there””Trapp Family Lodge, if you are there in the winter months as well).
Anyways, being a seventh generation “V”ermonter myself, who was raised on a family farm on Rogers’ Hill in West Newbury, VT (which was hand cleared and settled in 1763 by my G-G-G-G-G-Grandfather and still owned by my father) I have a deep love and feel for VT, liberal politics notwithstanding. So when I heard about the 200 on 100 “Dumptruck of Awesome” that was available, I just knew that I had to do it. And not only that, I knew that I had to share this beautiful “Ode to the V in Vermont” with all of my best cyber-cycling-soul mates. Okay, soul mates might be going a bit far there, but you get my meaning.
So, enough with the intro.
Break out the rollers, get on the trainers, find your winter gear; lay off the seconds, nurse that one glass of booze, hold the toasting to one drink, dodge Cupid’s chocolates and shoot the Easter Bunny because training for this bastard started yesterday and you’ll be paying for it on the 28th of June, 2012 in spades!
See you in the pre-dawn hours on the Canadian border with our eyes firmly fixed on the prize of the Massachusetts border. Let’s drive this dump truck like Mel Gibson leaving the compound in a post-apocalyptic world, baby!
Route and location details on the Cogal Event Page.
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@Buck Rogers
I'm on track for peaking in 2 months. Should reach 1609.43km ridden/11887meters climbed so far this year this weekend. I'm not track... not sure for what though.
April is a crazy month, but I'm hoping to use the Ontario Cogal at the end of May as an important plank in my training (200km on hilly terrain). I may be able to provide a sag driver and a film crew to turn this into a documentary.
@CanuckChuck
That is my plan. I know I've personally missed events just because I did have an abundance of excuses. If we can collectively eliminate most of the big ones, the easier it will be to get more folks on board.
@roger
Unbelievable!!! Between you and King Clydesdale, the logistics are almost all set! You guys are sooo awesome! I am buying for you two when we finish this F$%KER (of course, you reserved the Master Suite for me, right?)!
And great news in my training, I actually rode a solid hour on the rollers tonight!!! Kept the HR ave at 156 and max at 181. First ride since being hit by the SUV one month ago minus a day and it felt sooo awesome. Man, it is a good thing I never tried any drugs (besides alcohol) b/c I dearly missed those endorphins and I am flying HIGH on them right now!!!
Cannot WAIT to nail this ride in JUNE!!!
@CanuckChuck
NICE!!!
@Steampunk
@MJ Moquin
The more SAGs the better as then we can have multiple groups being tracked. And the idea of a film crew makes me even more worried about crashing and dying on the ride!
@Buck Rogers
I'm about the same as @CanuckChuck on distance/vertical for the year, doing an increasingly longer solo ride every other weekend, up to 160 km so far. Slow as christmas, but I look good in tinsel.
@roger
You are MVP to date.
@xyxax
Hoo boy! I've got me some work to do...
@Buck Rogers
I actually feel like I'm making great progress ever since I was forced to get the new bike. I've made good use of it, and put in plenty of hard miles. It's been windy the past week or so but I've been riding strong. I've been building up my one day distances as well, and I should be doing my first century by the end of the month.
A big accomplishment for me recently was my graduation to the fast group on our Tuesday night rides. This past Tuesday, despite the wind I jumped on to the fast group and found myself working hard, but still with enough energy to take a few short pulls. My fitness is definitely improved, and I'm making good work on the power to weight ratio. The thighs have gained 2 inches this month, and the waist has shrunk a couple inches. My weight itself hasn't dropped a pound but as long as my fitness keeps improving I won't get too upset about that.
@roger
Amazing work! Perfect location, we can pedal to the start in the morning (only 1.4 km to the customs building at the border), and for those who would like to get dinner the night before, with drinks, then we could all walk to this place downtown:
http://www.tastingsinvt.com/menu.html.
Thanks again Roger, and keep working everyone!
I do not wish to put the cart before the horse, but it does seem everyone is on the right path and preparing accordingly. @King Clydesdale, you seem to be off the front and never looking back! As unscientific as our methods may be, it sure does feel like a milestone when you jump from one group to another.
@Steampunk & @Buck Rogers, sent both you fellas an email with the doc link, seems I forgot to include it in the email.