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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Hey everyone! Hows training going for those planning on participating? Any new takers? Anyone with updates to logistics they want to share. I'm still super excited for this and I'm hoping I'll be in good enough shape by June!
K.C. This winter here in the NE was made for getting ready for for the 200 on 100. Right now it is 65 degrees at 6:30 am and I am talking March 22 near the junction of the MA-CT-NY border. Of course we will have a spring storm before May but it will melt fast and only be a small hiccup that brings out the hardman rules for a few days.
All this does not really address my readiness - even though I am in the best spring shape in 15 years and my weight will, by June be low enough to be peaking for the ride am I ready? Will I ever be ready? It seems that in the end it does not matter - I am doing it anyway and on the day it's going to be 2/3 fitness and 1/3 mental no matter how fit.
The logistics are a concern and as best I can figure by drafting some mates fron my area we can convoy to MA, leave a car and car pool up to the boarder. Then after the ride drive back to get the second car. This may mean spending the night after with a friend in Burlington as I am sure we will be to shaged to drive home after. This makes me think that it may be wiser to stay with a friend in MA that night and drive back the next day... And possibly spend the next night in Burlington... Cause I don't think I will feel like driving 300 miles?
I most likely can get floor space for others with the fiends so maybe this could help for others.
How's your prep going?
@King Clydesdale
@Rob
Being in @Rob's vicinity (geography-wise, not cycling-wise), I can further attest to the season having been made to get ready for 2much on 100. But the road to hell is paved with good intentions AND good weather. Only recently been increasing the weekend distance, 170km over last weekend, which is half the distance over twice the time. Yikes.
I was thinking of springing for a Retul-type bike fit, because as @Ron suggests, it's the mental that will get one to the finish.
Short of that, since cogal distance=2 X route number, I'm thinking an equally effective training plan would be to repeatedly do 18 miles on 9W.
@Rob: since I have no car, I was going to rent one and offer to swing by on my way north. Even more better if you have a bike rack. Are you expecting others from your neck of the peleton?
I totally agree with the weather comment. My bike wasn't cooperating with me however this winter, I had a stretch of mechanical issues that finally warranted a new bike. Luckily now I have a real bike that fits me like a glove, so that problem is solved.
I'm personally not worried about fitness by the date, as I am about endurance. I feel if something goes wrong for me, it will be that the first 100 miles go perfect only for me to run out of steam on Mt. Snow and get dropped by the group. I think the answer will be riding to work for some extra miles every day.
@Rob I grew up pretty close to you, seeing as I live close to the NY-MA-VT border.
As far as logistics I'm planning on recruiting the brother to drive me up the night before and getting a room somewhere close to Troy, a B&B or something, then getting picked up by another family member at the end of the ride.
@xyxax
I am not sure if I will have guys from here yet. They are still fairly new to the idea so no firm plans yet. I do not have a rack (never had one but am good at getting bikes stowed). The logistics are going to be the hard part of this ride because its point to point and my tiny brain is struggling with it. Any suggestions would be welcome!
Love your training plan - I am going to up you and do 44 miles repeatedly on Rte 22! But my main goal now is to practice looking deliberately casual whilst climbing.
Come up for some riding around here, take the train to Wassaic and I will meet you and show you the lay of the land.
@King Clydesdale We live in a great part of the world for riding. I am curious why a room in Troy?
Yikes"”will have to "up" the training. Not a lot of distance logged yet, but weight and power are good. Just put the finishing touches on a performance/style upgrade on the bike, but likely won't have time to put all the pieces together for another month. After which, I'll be riding a lot more to dial in fit, fitness, etc.
Am in serious talks with a grad student who moonlights as a grad student. He and his filming team might well come down to capture our suffering on camera. If that's the case, we might have a sag wagon on the road. It won't be available for rides to or from either border, but folks likely would be able to bring extra wheels, kit, etc.
@Rob
I'm good, thanks.
@xyxax
Fixed your post.
@Rob
Troy: morning departure point at V past V in the morning. Has anyone looked into that yet? @Buck? It would be neat if we could find a place together for those spending the night there. Motel, even?
@Rob
Sorry, North Troy, as in Vermont!
@Rob
You should hammer out repeats on Greylock and Petersburg pass, you'll be in excellent shape! Thats what I'd be doing if I were home!
Once I get my fitness up a bit more I'll be doing repeats on the ridges here in central PA. 4.3 km with an average of 6.4 percent.
@Steampunk
WTF has buck been?
@King Clydesdale
I am too far from Greylock but will be tackling Bashbish/Mt Everett and Overlook in the next few weeks. Last September did a ride to Greylock from Grt. Barrington - 200k - a great day out as they say and really the reason I even considered signing up for this lark.
Thanks on the Troy clarification... Had forgot and yes if someone finds a motel that gives a group rate... We have a group 4's a group right?? Where is Buck?
@Steampunk
SteamP saw your upgrade and am very, I repeat, very jealous. Not sure that you will have to worry about fitness with that rig - you be flying up the hills. The grad student/film director sounds golden but careful what you wish for cause the thought of my pain going viral is just so humiliating...