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.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
Instead of the traditional chocolate milk, I've been drinking Bolthouse's Mocha Cappuccino. High in protein and carbs. And tasty after a ride. The mild caffeine pick-me-up isn't bad either.
@CanuckChuck
Protein FRS taste good yes, but when pouring into glass w/ ice, add some orange juice. Protein bottles stay in cooler on ice, at finish it is the best first thing to grab.
@Steampunk
Bolthouse's Mocha Cappuccino in a bottle sounds like a good thing. Will try it on A+ group (my return) in June.
@Steampunk
I haven't washed my hands since I was last in Haiti.
Here, shake.
Just rode 157kms @ 26.5kph, pretty much in the wind for 95% of the time. Felt great, especially the feet (unlike the last century) so that is boding well for VT (aftermarket insoles = good). I even feel I could have gone faster (27 to 27.5 average?), but didn't want to leave my buddy behind as he was suffering something fierce in the traditional Eastern Shore head wind. I was dreading VT after my last century two weeks ago but now I'm psyched! (I hope won't regret those words).
@CanuckChuck
Nice one! I'm not able to get out for more than 3-4 hours at a time. I'm feeling stronger, but I worry about tripling the amount of time on the bike (again: more worried about the amount of time than I am the distance or the power). This Sunday: Ontario's Cogal has been trimmed a bit, down to 183km; hoping to get through that in one piece, along with a couple of 100k rides during the week. If I can survive ~400k next week, I'll have a better sense of where I'm really at. Then try to average 250k/week through June.
Riding more and more, despite some lingering discomfort in my right knee (it doesn't hurt when I ride).
30km - 50km - 80km this week, and +100km on monday, hopefully I'll be able to keep raising those numbers consistently. I do need to climb more though.
@2000dB
You and me both. A memorable bike shop quote, "Once you can climb, then you'll ride anywhere."
@CanuckChuck
Bloody well done!!! I'll be drafting off of you come the 28th!
@versio
You and you and me three!!! I have been logging some miles but the other day when I put in 122 k's, there was only a little over 500 meters climbing. Man, south Texas is FLAT!