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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@Rob
That's a good idea. I am family-free June and July, while they're off visiting the kinfolk, so a final pre-200/100 tune-up or a July death-by-humidity sprint to Oniontown.
As for logistics on the day, anyone know of Rent-a-SAG?
@xyxax
Any motivation for better prep for the "2 much on the 100" is welcome.
Gentlemen! I have been in Honduras with the Army for the last few weeks and have a little over a week more to go before heading home to Texas. Internet spotty at best. Have been loving the local futbol scene (playing every other day with the locals) but no riding for me.
No updates on logistics from my side of the house and my "form" (if that is what you can call it) is slipping pretty badly.
Still like the idea of being in North Troy the night before but as for logistics after the ride, that is still up in the air with myself.
Hopefully will getback into riding shape as we are less than three months from needing to peak!
@Buck Rogers
Honduras and futbol this time of year normally would sound really good! But you will have your work cut out for you when you hit the hills of T. I have faith that because of your youthful age and military disapline you will snap into shape for this with weeks to go. I on the other hand will be slogging away wondering until the last day if I should have called Carmichael Training and gotten professional help...
My guess is as we get closer and start to have a feel for how many will show the logistics will work out. Troy Vt. the night before and cars north and south and the only question is how to get back to your car and when - 9:00pm the night we finish is not going to be condusive to driving back up? I have a friend not far from the finish we could crash at and a friend in Burlington so there are various possibilities. One might be for me to go a few days early and leave my car in MA and ride to Burlington a day or 2 before and then the short ride to Troy. This might have the added benefit of making it like a tour where I'd be riding into my fitness?
@Rob
Foul play! No touring. Riding into fitness? That sounds like well-conceived preparation. I really don't know what to think about that.
@Rob
I think that needs to be the tagline on the V-pints.
Seatpost: step 1 in the 2012 sexification of my ride. Step 2 involves new wheels
Indeed it seems like logistics is the black hole to this cogal, to which i question those attending:
What is the destination town?
Are we partaking in amber nectars immediately after?
Would staying overnight in destination town be ideal?
Finish ride, get to burlington, and commence in our accomplishments there?
Reason i ask is because a dear friend of mine can offer charter bus service but needs thorough advance notice. My initial plan was have a few friends drive but if we can get the whole mess of us back up north in 1 shot, that would save a ton of doubling back for everyone.
@Rob
God Lord, man, you are not serious about riding back up to North Troy are you? Who do you think you are? Hinault in January/February?!?!?
Yeah, I will have lost a full month without a single pedal turn by the time I get riding again. Not the best training plan but if there is one thing that I have learned over the years about undertaking an epic adventure it is that you had better have all of your excuses lined up for the failure before you start. At least I have that part of the "2much on 100" set up (By the way "chapeau" to whoever came up with that phrase!)
@roger
Well Roger, the destination is the Vermont/Mass Border, which is in the middle of nowhere. The nearest town is Readsboro just to the north.
After ride refreshments are in the works, either near Bennington, Wilmington, or Brattleboro, depending on what works the best. I'm advocating this place.
Where are you from? I'm getting my brother to give me a ride back from wherever post ride refreshment occurs, my parents live within 45 minutes of the finish.
The problem with going back to Burlington is a number of us live closer to the end of the ride then the start. Anyone coming from the mid-Atlantic or southern New England would most likely rather not have to make the drive.
At some point I think the best thing to do is start a signup list on google docs or something and gather an idea about who is driving from where and set up the carpooling.
I'm confident that over the next month people will start poking their heads in telling us they are still in or not. With the winter we had there shouldn't be to many excuses.
@Buck Rogers
Problem? I see @Rob's ride from south to north in advance of the Cogal and raise him riding in from Hamilton, ON to Hamilton, NY and then on Troy, VT. Two-day ride, arriving a couple of hours before the Cogal's departure...
@Steampunk</a
If that's the way the wind is blowing then Im riding all night from my house...
@roger
Seriously if you can get a coach - wow! How cool would that be liquid recovery as we ride back over the route to the same motel we started from - and then more liquid recovery, a dream finish to the day!!