200 on 100
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.
@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.
@Buck Rogers
I’m really sorry about your knee. You’re doing the right thing in the end.
You will be missed.
@Buck Rogers
Gutted for you. Get well soon.
@xyxax
I’m very visually oriented. Oprah on a hybrid is not an image my brain registers with any degree of pleasure.
@Buck Rogers There will be many other days to ride. You only have two knees. Rest up and seek some pro advice on what’s going on. Get well soon.
@xyxax
+1
I’m bummed that I won’t be riding with you, although I would have probably been disappointed that you actually didn’t look like a young Paul Sherwin.
@Buck Rogers
Sorry to hear this Buck. Doing this ride with two perfect knees would be tough enough, you can’t do it on less.
Your f’ing ears will be burning on Thursday when riders start to ask the obvious question, “whose damn fool idea was this anyway?” I may have first posted the movie clip about the ride but I was never crazy enough to think it was a good idea to actually do it.
@Gianni
This. I had a frame pump with Buck’s name on it all primed for km 250. Just on principle. Very sorry, Buck. Heal well and quickly.
@Buck Rogers
Buck, seeing as we were responsible for getting the ball rolling, then ending up unable to participate, we will just have to take the ceremonial first pulls of shame next year. I am focusing my entire schedule for next year around peaking in late July, and I expect you to do the same.
For all those riding things are looking more like 70s and a little less humid compared to when I did my first call, it may turn out even more comfortable. Final Call forecast to come.
I feel absolutely shit about this, esp the return ride part. What are you planning on doing for a return ride, Steamy? I am still trying to find another car that I can use. If you can get to our camp on Thursday night I can get you to the border on Friday afternoon after the kids soccer camp finishes at noon.
Shit piss fuck Buck! That Sucks! I look forward to meeting you on another great adventure no matter what it is. You wanna go rock climbing while you knee heals??? I’ll be in N Conway N.h. From July 13-20 lemme know if you are interested ! Fear is very healing. Hang in there man. Deep breath and positive head space.
@Buck Rogers
At first I was hoping this was some devious psyops ploy to set everyone up for an epic shelling.
I hope it’s just a bit of V shrapnel from P-R slowly being reabsorbed by your system.
@Steampunk
Not well. Mommy issues. AGAIN.
@wiscot
Wiscot, I feel your pain. Let me make it go away:
@xyxax
He he that funny!
@xyxax
man, you are on a roll. but please, email me once the page has turned and I wont have to scroll past the O word
@Buck Rogers
buck i’ll toss a few down in your honour. you made the smart decision. a shame would be you came, rode, and did a number on the knee permanently. see you either at a later cogal this year or at 2013 2muchon100
@Tim
i hate to do the +1 thing. but +1. it makes a huge difference. at least for minions like myself
@King Clydesdale
whatever kind of magic you’re working over there in PA, keep it up! push this system out of here so we can have fair skies and 35kph tailwinds. i’ve rigged a sail from the the stem to the seatpost so i’m counting on you. see you for 2013 as well!
@CanuckChuck and @Steampunk
i shot ya emails but in case you read it here first. i can theoretically drive to burlington thursday after we celebrate. i picked the 750 miles allotment for the van but whats 300 extra miles? chump change when it comes to helping out. plus with MJ doing such an amazing favor, I’ve got to pay it forward and this would be a start.
@ALL
We’ve lost two of the founding fathers of this cogal. That said, as far as joining the FBI is concerned, let me put it this way; I failed a test to get in a book club. But seriously, next year will be grand. We will again ride bicycles, conquer mountains, rip through valleys, and party the night away to Marvin Gaye’s “Aint no mountain high enough”
@roger
For next year I will bring a couple bottles of Chimay for the finish if someone reminds me.
@Buck Rogers
Rest up, mate. Next year, we’re not wasting our time with a little state like Vermont. Next year: Too Much Messing with Texas.
@xyxax
Ok, in what parallel universe does the Big O look skinnier than Pharmy? Methinkjs there’s some photoshopping going on there – strange variations of focus going on. Or was it during the five minutes when O was too fat to climb?
Anyway, I see Oprah and her pal (sorry, talented, qualified journalist) Gayle as being recumbent riders. Or maybe a tandem so they can fucking blather a load of shite to each other all day.
@Buck Rogers Sorry that it did not work out, was looking forward to riding/meeting but you have made the right choice for the long term. I think we will be neighbors in the fall (?) and the Hudson Valley offers euro style rides so I hope that we get together then. Any chance, Vermont being so narrow, you might drive over the Green Mountains and meet us at the half way point (while we still look pro and are bully with confidence and hubris)?
@all – there but for the grace of g-d go I… Had my first ride in 8 days last night between rain storms that are ripping through the upper Hudson Valley and I imagine Vermont as I am only 100 km from the lower end. It was quite beautiful at sunset with huge cumuli raising into the heavens and light both shadowed and vibrant paying as far as the eye could see.
11 days ago, on Friday, I felt the first stirrings of a cold but had been healthy all year and the training had gone to plan with more centuries (imperials) completed this spring than in the last 10, no 20 years! @xyxax was coming up from NYC on Saturday to put the finishing polish on Too Much on 100 preparation. We rode 50 km late Saturday and 149 km on Sunday. The guns felt great and except for a little niggley feeling that I was getting a cold all was good.
Monday through Wednesday I felt shitty but worked normal days, the only consseion to the way I was feeling was to forgo the Tuesday night group ride, something I had been on the fence about as it was so close to Vermont and I was “tapering” – really resting.
On Thursday I did not bother to get out of bed… untill Sunday. I never had a high fever but the stuff that I was coughing up could have been out of a T.B. ward in Liverpool circa 1853… I since found out that the virus had been going around town for a few weeks and symptoms were the same for others.
By yesterday it had passed and I mostly feel fine, to the point of maybe I will do the Tuesday ride. All this to say that I feel lucky to have known my body to recognize that it was a virus and that my fitness was already in place so that the whole time I felt like shite there was the voice saying stay calm it will pass and you will be in Vermont by Wednesday night.
Even with doubts about recovering in time the guns were never in doubt as they had been “Locked AND Loaded”, the finishing tempering with the help of xyxax. So as I make final prep for our meeting tomorrow(!!!) I am thinking that we will not have Buck and King but we will have a great group and a great ride! See you all soon.
@wiscot
That’s a hoot. Has anyone ever seen a tandem recumbent?
@Rob
Glad you’re feeling better (coincidently, I am sitting in a TB clinic at this moment and now am a little afraid to see the next patient). I’m really looking forward to getting out on the road and having a great day with you guyss.
When I was in my youth and excitement filled the air, I’d pee my pants. Good to know 20 years later, some things haven’t changed.
Rob, glad you were able to get over the virus. I’d much rather have a flu or high temps, than try and remedy a cold.
off to get the van. if you guys need anything call me directly. i likely wont be checking email until late tonight.
that said those driving, please do so safely. won’t be long now…
@Steampunk
At least there won’t be any climbing!
@xyxax thanks, and yes I have seen and tried to ride for 3 minutes a 40 foot long (and I hardly exaggerate at all) tandem recumbent that weighed in at less than 40 lbs (and I do not exaggerate!).
It was given at abirthday party to the couple who had everything by the brother who rode and thought they might be turned on… Nobody could ride it and I had to try with my game VHM. We got it down the street and did a laborious 10 point turn because it was as long as a semi. That experience has scratched that itch, if I ever had it to begin with…
@roger Steady on there! We need you to stay calm as others will be sharing the driving …
Thanks for all you have done and are doing, see you tomorrow!
Next year you guys should do RAAM.
@mcsqueak
Squeeky, I don’t even know how to respond to this???
Have a great day out there tomorrow, lads, and watch out for the dumptrucks.
@xyxax
Saw a “push-me-pull-you” last year where the person in the rear faced backwards. Very strange, and that would drive me crazy not seeing the road before me.
@itburns
That wouldn’t work for the Big O – she wants everyone looking at her all the time. I wonder if the picture with COTHO was taken at a Conference of Big Fucking Egos?
Fuck it! I’m in. Went for a ride today and while climbing to the top of Mt Philo in a rainstorm I realized that there was no fuckin’ way I was missing this. I’ll probably last about 10 k’s but we need a bidon bitch anyways, right? See you in Burlington tomorrow afternoon!
@Buck Rogers
May the V be with you!
@itburns
Ah, the “subway” set up. Perfect for those not on speaking terms.
@Buck Rogers
Like a true soldier on his shield, we’ll carry you off the field of battle laid out on your HEDs.
@Buck Rogers
Wahoo!
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck yesssssssssss
Sorry, very stoked and vocabulary limited
12 giant things of water, 1 loaf wheat bread, 2 loaves white, snickers, 3 musketeers
fluff, honey, orange marmalade, nutella, strawberry jam
5 bunches bananas, giant jar of dill pickles, cranraisins
4 box figs, 6 bottle gatorade, and more random junk. NO ONE IS BONKING!!
@Buck Rogers That is great, it’s going to be great, your great! (sorry caught Rogers thang)…
@Buck Rogers @Rob
Good to hear that after all of your pissing and moaning that you two are actually riding. I was starting to think you were True Pussies. And by True Pussies I mean pussies that are so feline in nature that you can’t even hang shit on them about it. You know how you have “sort of fat” people you know who you can tease about being fat? But you dont tease your really fat friends about being fat because it is too true and too hurtful.
That is why I havent weighed in calling you two pussies. But now it looks like you have grasped the nettle and redeemed yourselves, I only wish you and everyone else, every success.
@Buck Rogers It’s like when Han Solo turned around and decided to help destroy the Death Star after all.
@Marcus You’re so eloquent!
Good luck gents. Adventure!
@Buck Rogers
Fuck yeah man! but please be careful.
@roger
I feel like I should chip in on this adventure seeing as how I am totally excited to see how it goes.
@all do us proud and dont forget to dream about Rule V.