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
A big yellow school bus full of awesome!
On Do No Evil maps, traveling mainly on I-91, it gives a distance of 221 miles, maybe 3 1/2 to 4 bus-hours of driving? Any thoughts on the Last Supper?
@cal
It’s possible that we can fit all 15 of us on my bike.
Big yellow bus full of awesome! Love it!
Someone had suggested food an drink at Tastings Food & Spirits. Pickin’s are pretty slim in North Troy, but that place actually looks quite tasty. Anyone find any other options nearby?
@Steampunk
Similarly, I can ride 25-26 comfortably for hours on end but unfortunately, I’m just starting to knock on the door of the range 27-30 while riding solo.
@CanuckChuck
Sounds good to me! We will definitely need to make reservations if we all agree to eat there on Wed night. Roger has the spread sheet and will know the number needed for the dinner reservations. I’m all for it.
@roger
Love it! My VMH will be lugging me to North Troy that Wednesday afternoon so I do not need a ride to the start. Still working on rides from the finish but I am pretty sure that I will have something lined up either going to North Ferrisberg, VT (mid-way up the West side of the state) or the Newbury, VT area (mid-way up the East side of the state).
@CanuckChuck
I think you’ll find that you will fit right in. It’s going to be relatively slow and easy for me, at least, b/c after 8 plus hours, it is really going to start to catch up with me. Still think we might need two groups but I am sure things will work out on the road.
@Buck Rogers
North Ferrisberg, VT is pretty much on the way back to Burlington so we should be able to give your a ride there if needed. I will have a spare bike carrier on the car.
@Buck Rogers
That will be the key: make sure we keep our excitement and testosterone in check at the start and take off at a reasonable pace so that we can keep the man with the hammer at bay as long as possible.
@CanuckChuck
I respectfully agree. Discipline will be key; we will all certainly get run over by the DoA regardless of pace. Let’s ensure that we’re not DOA.
7 weeks to go!
Just got the guns ship shape for the first time in 30 years. Feels great and now I don’t have to “dish out plenty of hurt” because I looked like a hippy douche so you all can relax now it is going to be a mellow ride!
@Rob
Thanks for taking one for the team Rob!
First ride over 100k yesterday. Legs aren’t where I hoped they’d be. Shock therapy (lots more riding) begins next week.
@CanuckChuck
Quick check, and it’s okay if you cannot, but can you accomadate two of us? Myself and another rider are returning to my place in North Ferrisburgh, right off of Rt 7, after the ride and the first possible return ride plan for us has fallen through. I still have other options but curious as to how much room you have. Thanks!
@Buck Rogers
If I put my bike in the trunk, I can take 3 bikes and 3 passengers (myself included). So that would work.
@CanuckChuck
Too cool! Looks like Steampunk and I will be crashing your car if you are okay with it. Are you headed back to Burlington? What route are you looking into taking back? We can get picked up in Burlington if you are going to do I-91 to I-89 into Burlington. THANKS a TON!!!
Booking the north adams rooms here as the innkeeper is back from vacation.
2 double suites should be sufficient? That makes 4 queen beds, and room for sleeping bags and so on. Sound good?
@Buck Rogers @Steampunk
No worries. Let me compare the routes and I can let you know if we prefer to offer door to door service of if you’ll need a pick in Burlington.
I thought Steampunk was coming down with a full entourage: sag wagon and driver, film crew, personal soigneur, podium girls, etc. Is that not the case? Or is he cutting them loose in North Adams?
@roger
Hell Brother, you’ve got the spreadsheet. Book ’em as you see fit. I will pay for one room, regardless of how many we stick in there! Just make sure that there is a fan so that we can have some white noise to drown out the snores!
@CanuckChuck
Word has it that his entourage/minions might not be able to make it. Nothing final yet but sounds like we will be needing a ride back. Are you staged in the Burlington area? If not, you can crash at my place on the lake that night if you need to. I should have room for another person now that Steamy’s numbers seem to be dropping.
Is that what im suppose to do with that long list? Here ive just been making prank calls in between intervals!
There are jacuzzis and a/c. I will likely pass out in jacuzzi so calling dibs on that
@Roger
A/C??? Isn’t that banned with cycling?
@Buck Rogers
Wait… are you planing on spending the night in North Adams, MA after the ride on the 28th? To be clear, my plan was to drive back (well, for my VMH to drive me back) to Burlington on the 28th, after a few post recovery beverages. If you and Steamy are looking for a ride on the morning of the 29th, I’m afraid I shan’t be able to help you.
@CanuckChuck
Hell no! I am heading back that night, at least that is the plan as long as I am not in Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital or whatever the closest ER is! I am not planning on spending the night in North Adams.
@CanuckChuck
@roger
Ahhhhh, FARK ME!!! The North Troy vs North Adams got me again. Sorry about that. I will NOT be staying in North Adams, I am heading back north the same night. Sorry for the confusion and thanks CanuckChuck for catching that!
@Roger
So it’s you who’s been calling and breathing heavily down the line? Dude: that’s not cool.
It turns out my film crew/sag drivers can’t make it. One of them is getting married or something equally trivial that weekend. Sorry to be a nuisance””I was rather pleased with the fact that I’d managed to supply a car for the road. Now I’ll need to rethink the second wheelset, etc.
So with 7 weeks to go:
– Route: check (95% there–will do a detailed review to ensure we get a good .tcx file for the Garmins).
– North Troy lodging: check (Thanks Roger!)
– North Troy pre-ride dinner: check. Reservation still required but location determined.
– Yellow bus of awesomeness for ride the start line: check.
– North Adams lodging: check.
So looks like the biggest open item would be SAG support and perhaps even more importantly, determining a worthy location to consume our recovery beverages in North Adams.
Anything else?
@CanuckChuck
There must be photos or it didn’t happen, as the kids say. Anyone have one of those contraptions that takes moving pictures?
@Steampunk
Damn, and I just memorized all my lines.
“I come not to praise Caesar, but to bury him on the next climb”.
Vini Vidi Vici!
I was going to go with “I feel like I’ve been run over by a dumptruck full of awesome.” as an homage to Ryan. Except I’d probably be uttering it at mile 100.
And of course, “Oh, chocolate milk!”
Question for all comers: What gearing are you using on this ride?
I usually run 53/39 and 12-25, which is sufficient for most climbs out there. I did actually purchase an 11-28 but I am not sure that I will use it. What are you guys doing?
@Buck Rogers
I’m currently running 39×27, ostensibly for the Ontario Cogal and its massive grades (I have yet to actually use the 27). I have the parts to switch to a 25 at the top of the cassette, but may just stick with the 27. I’m not sure there’s that much difference between 21-23-25 and 21-24-27 at the top end.
Better ride today. 3.5 hours in very warm weather (22 and sunny) and some good climbs. Felt stronger than last week, but I seem to have lost my stroke. If anyone’s seen it, could they mail it back to me? It’s hardly magnificent, but it has sentimental value and I’m lost without it.
@Steampunk
Yeah, I am JUST beginnning to feel like I am getting my rhythm back on the bike after my trip to Central America for three weeks and then being hurt after that for a total of one month off the bike.
It has taken me five weeks to start to feel at all normal again and I still do not have the fitness that I did before going to Hondo.
Still vacillating on whether to throw the 28 gear on or just stick with the 25.
@Buck Rogers
I’m sticking with what’s on the bike now: 34×25. Yeah, it’s a compact crankset, but at least it’s an 11-25 cassette. When I hit some bigger hills last weekend, I only rarely bottomed out gearwise.
Otherwise, training for the inevitable is going well. Got in a longer ride last weekend, and looking forward to a few more centuries (and perhaps two century+ rides) before The Big Day. I trust everyone else is progressing nicely?
@cal
Yeah: I don’t see myself “needing” the lowest gears for this ride. I’m actually toying with the idea of going with a 12-23 cassette, the idea being that while I won’t need a very low gear for getting over the hills, I want to be as comfortable as possible for long periods of time and having a straight run of 12-13-14-15-16-17 might be more desirable. I can see myself wanting to live on the 16, and if it’s not there, shifting endless between 15 and 17. I just don’t know…
For my climbing rides, I’ve been running 50/39 with an 12-28 on the back. But that is for climbs that include 16-20% grades. Last week, I did a climbing ride with a 12-25 on the back without any problems. The climbs I rode were similar to what we’d be riding in Vermont in grade (5% ish), but definitely not in length (shorter). So I’m currently on the fence: be a little cocky and run the 12-25? Or err on the side of caution and go with the 12-28, just in case? I think the 12-28 will win (especially when I look at where Mt. Snow comes in the ride).
Consider 13/26 to 52/42. Ranging 13-14-15-16-17-18-19-21-23-26.@Steampunk
Note: 13/26 can be repurposed to renew an 11/21 cassette.
@CanuckChuck
Oups, make that 50/34.
@versio
Yes: endless possibilities (13-26 sounds very plausible). 12-23/12-25 was working primarily with what I already have in the garage. Persuading Mrs. Steampunk to let me go on this jaunt was enough of a task without also trying to justify the purchase of more stuff for “that damn bike.”
@Steampunk
Ha! I hear you there!
I’m probably going to stick with the 39/25 low end gearing, then at least I will have some sort of lame excuse when you all spin away from me on the climbs!
@Steampunk
Cool. We have the same model. Mine’s the 2009 edition of “that damn bike”.
Understood. Ordered Pedalare! Pedalare! thanx@Steampunk
@Buck Rogers
I’m really having trouble imagining when I might need a 27 in Vermont.
@cal
Hey! Me too! 2009: And I’m still not hearing the end of it…
@versio
Happy reading.
@Steampunk
Yea, you guys a probably right. If I go with my 12-28, it will turn into a 12-24 (12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-24) with a 28, just in case.
@CanuckChuck
I must admit: I’m less concerned about needing to turn a smaller gear toward the end of this thing than I am about being able to turn any gear at all…
Anyone leaving Burlington on the day of the 27th? I would love to grab a ride if I can. If not, no big deal, my VMH and 5 kiddos will bring me to the start, just trying to save some “family fun time” in the minivan! Thanks!
Buck, want the saggin wagon to pick you up on the way?
@roger
The Yellow piss-and-puke wagon? Abso-fuck’in-lutely, BABY!!! What time and where??? Man, the party is going to start early for this puppy!!!
Let me call and get the schedule the driver can do. Where in burlington will you be? Near uvm or more towards the lake?
@roger
Wherever you need me to be. No hurry on the schedule, I can be wherever you need me to be whenever on the 27th in Burlington. THANKS!