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 I live the idea of this cogal getting Rick rolled.
@xyxax
Talk about polar opposite images... I wonder where we fit in on the spectrum?
@Buck Rogers - we need you and I'd be willing to bet you need this... In all seriousness do what's right for the knee - if it looks possible you can start and bail if it blows up, no judgement. If it is wrecked don't do it, rest and recover - there is always next year and you will need to get strong for the Hudson Highlands and Bear mountain in the fall!
@roger
Seriously grateful, but I think I might just ride back north...
@Buck Rogers
Hope your knee clears up -- fighting some tendenitis myself and it's pissing me off to no end.
@Tim
That sounds delicious. I have attempted to make these a few weeks back, but ran into issues, mainly I can hardly boil water, let alone make the rice properly. Keep them far away from me else you risk not having a single bar.
@Buck Rogers
Listen to @Rob, none of us are paid to cycle. It'd be incredibly short-sighted to risk more adverse damage to your knee, when all you might need is old fashion R and R. PR is not like jumping on our local MUT trails. Respect her for what she demands of you, both on the saddle and afterwards. Having said that I hope everything pans out and your magnificent stroke makes an appearance. @xyxax spoke very kindly of you and I'm wondering if he wasn't blowing smoke up my arse!
Partly cloudy 0% precip. High 73 thurs.
@Rob
On current form, I'd have you entering le Stade Velodrome, covered in cobble dust, coughing up a lung.
Me: Dr. Phil on a recumbent.
@xyxax
How's that working out for you?
@Buck Rogers
Buck, at this point, I had planned on spending the night in North Adams and having my VMH pick me up on Friday.
If I had the opportunity to get a ride back to Burlington on Thursday night, I'd seriously consider it, but if there is no room for 3 in whatever vehicle you secure, that is not a problem.
Internet sucking big time here! On my ride yesterday my knee was killing me for the first ten minutes. 8/10 pain right ehind the right kneecap. Felt like someone had a hammer and was just hitting me there every stroke. Almost quit after 500 meters. Then it calmed down a bit and only had a deep ache, 3/10, at around the thirty minute mark. Rode a total of 43 k in 1:30 with a bunch of climbing. Finished with a bit of bilateral knee pain and when I got off the bike my right knee completely locked up and almost dropped me to the ground.
Totally crazy, especially as I have been one of the more vocal guys for this trip, but I have come to the painful conclusion that this ride is just not in the cards for me this year.
The P-R ride was a life goal of mine and it was just too close for my body to the 2much on 100 ride to handle. I will be riding it next year, but this year unfortunately is out for me.
Still no vehicle here, either. Trying to figure out a way to get to North Adams on Thursday night at least to get Steamy back home. No luck yet as I only have one vehicle in VT and my VMH is using that daily or the kiddos soccer (football) camp which is everyday ths week.
Sorry all. Weather sounds great and I am sure it will be a blast. Sorry to let everyone down, but I need to ease back onto the bike and this puppy ould end up ending my whole season.