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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@roger
Oh boy. You're in trouble now!
I had my stroopwafel virginity taken by Frank this weekend. They certainly are tasty! I'll have to seek some out around here...
@Rob
Hey, I am a notorious late-starter (puberty at 30, kids at 47); it's the early finishing that I've got to work on. But fresh air, glorious countryside, and strong partners, not to mention the capsules of Stronglegs slipped to me like latter-day Quaaludes were the real motivation. A memorable weekend of riding in good company.
If one needs any proof that Rob and Tim will be at the front in Vermont, I offer this photographic evidence:(note: any rule violations apparent below were viciously photoshopped in by me and do not, in fact, exist.):
oops, ID-10T error..
@mcsqueak
May I recommend that in future, you refrain from using any phrase or sentence that contains the words, "...virginity taken by Frank this weekend."
It's just not becoming.
Put in a pretty good preparation ride today, I'd say. 180km solo in blazing 34ËšC heat. Hit up some good hills, but nothing like we'll encounter, so still a bit nervous about that. Tested a bunch of different food options as well, so I think I've got that settled.
10 days!
New saddle today! Can't wait for a fast 50 mi tomorrow then just easy spinning all the way to the top of Vermont . I can't wait to meet you all and roll out at 5 am watching the sun rise to our left. It's going to be a great day!!!
@Jamie
Thanks for catching that one!
@Tim
Nice! New gloves; trying to work out what constitutes breaking them in while keeping them new. Shooting for 100k tomorrow morning before rolling smooth into next week. I got socked in by allergies and inflamed sinuses this weekend; still feel a bit under the weather, but am trying to persuade myself that it's better it happened this week rather than next.
I don't how much stock to put in long-range forecasts, but right now we're looking at cool and wet"”North Troy, Burlington, and North Adams...
@xyxax
I just can't decide what's so wrong about that image.... maybe that were both grabbing our crotches?? But it was a great day and ride!