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.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@Steampunk
Not only fatigue but just plain discomfort (arse, back, shoulders, feet, etc.) from having been on the bike for so long.
@CanuckChuck
Right: legs and lungs are about the only body parts in which I have some confidence at the moment. They'll be fine. The rest of me: not so much.
Without trying to sound dour about it, if we're not done in 15 hours I don't think we'll finish.
Yikes, that is a long day of cycling!
Best of luck, dudes.
I have to admit: all of this gloom and doom is really psyching me up for this thing. Yeah, I'm weird that way.
@cal
I am feeling the exact same way after reading all the recent posts.
I lost my job this monday and all I can think about is how much saddle time I'll be able to put in to get get ready for this. Too bad it's going to rain all week.
@2000dB
That is a fantastic way to view your circumstances. You will be in good company here in the states, and when you get back to Montreal, expect you'll have a clear head and doors opening for you left and right with offers.
@2000dB
Sorry to hear about the job loss, but be careful to not over do it in the saddle three weeks before the big event.
I'm at a bit of a panic here fellas, and while I could email the list, I'm hoping someone might be able to offer help that isn't penned for the 2much day.
I was hit today by a vehicle. I was heading straight through an intersection, and a vehicle in the oncoming lane was making a left failed to yield and smashed into me pretty solid.
My #1 is destroyed. Frame, fork, levers, HED wheels, all of it.
I do not carry auto insurance as I do not drive, and the only information I received from the police officer was the driver's name, license #, and plate.
How do I proceed from here?
I want what was mine, replaced. Not looking for wealth or riches.
If you have any advice please post here or contact me directly.
2muchon100@gmail.com
Thanks
@roger
I'm really sorry. First: are you okay? Bike can be replaced; health and well-being are much harder.
I'll refrain from offering advice, since different countries might treat this differently (here, I'd be dealing with a single, central auto insurance dealer), but I'd head straight to your LBS and have the bike appraised so you know what kind of value you're dealing with. Some kind of statement from them"”in the absence of original receipts"”might help the insurance companies. But expect glacial speed. I had a laptop stolen in Madison during our mini-cogal; that was the end of March, and I'm still waiting on the settlement...
Also puzzled that you don't have an insurance co. name with whom you could file your claim. I'm not sure how you're supposed to proceed, short of stalking the driver (which I don't recommend). Do you have the officer's name? That could be useful to have.
Also, might be worth checking to see if your ride is covered (even partially, may be better than nothing) under home and contents, which is how I've got my rides insured since I also don't drive. Usually above a set amount you have to declare the value of the bikes, but they might be covered up to X amount of dollars without being declared.
But you sound like you have a case for the driver's insurance to pay. In any case you're heading down the black hole of insurance dealings, o good luck. Sorry to hear about your accident, maybe some one a bit more local to you can give a bit more advice.