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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@Ron
Had a similar tire fitting experience recently. Blisters on thumbs healed now!
Here's a tip that may work for you. Mount the tire on a narrower rim, if you have one. Pump the tire to just over it's max pressure and some and leave it for at least 1/2 hour. More time , the better. Deflate, remove tire from narrow rim and mount on desired rim. Hopefully the tire stretched out a bit allowing for easier mounting.
@Sean
Absolutely!!! Misery loves company and all that! :)
@rob
And Miyamoto Musashi would be riding a bike that he hand built on his way to the ride as well! Have you ever read Yoshikawa's Musashi? I read that book about five times straight through during my first few years training taewkondo. It is an AWESOME read for anyone. Truly a lot of bushido in the V.
@Anjin-san
LOVE Jefferson. I am thinking of living there when I end my time in the military. Used to Ice Climb on Elephants Head all winter long and norcdic ski Jericho as well. Such an amazing area with the LT right there and the Notch to ride through in the spring/summer/fall. Perfect place to live!
BTW, Fronk edited my final line on the post: It's supposed to be:
" Let's drive this fucking dump truck like Mel Gibson leaving the compound in a post-apocalyptic world, baby!"
Has a better and more appropiate ring to it in my opinion but I suppose if it is a thread header, it should not have too much bad language, eh? (kinder, gentler site and all)
@rob
Yes, was the duel with Kojiro when he showed up with a long wooden sword and still won? I'll see if the VMH will let me join... My focus race for the year is two weeks later so I won't have exactly trained for the distance, but I can probably suck up the distance.
@Buck Rogers
Thank you for your service. Our men and women in uniform are the protectors of the freedoms that we take for granted every day. Which branch? I spent about 9.5 years as an Infantry Officer. Jeffersonville is great, but I don't know if I could live here all winter long. Wow, that is cold!
@Anjin-san
Yeah, supposedly he carved that wooden sword from an old oar on his way to the island. Talk about your casually deliberate.
My main focus is two weeks prior (Riding the full Paris-Roubaix Cyclosport in France) but will hopefully be recovered in time to leave it all on Route 100!
Awesome, 11A, backbone of the Army. I am in the Army, a surgeon. Spent 5 years and three deployments with Special Forces. Love those dudes!
@Ron
Warming the tire up (sun or heated room, or the dryer on low) and soaping the bead up may help too. Tight tires really piss me off, as it seems to be to be a simple manufacturing tolerance issue. Stay at it, you'll beat the fucker eventually.
Oh yes. Definitely in on this pain fest. Any idea on logistics, or did I miss that post?