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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@Steampunk
While i am going to be there with my 42-53 and 13-19 cassette.
@Steampunk
Also completely agree with this as well. I cannot emphasize enough that this will NOT be a casually deliberate ride. This is a pure Rule 5 ride, not because we are going to be killing the pace or trying to drop anyone but purely b/c if you are not in really great shape for this, you will fuckin' die on this route.
It took the pro's in the video over 10 hours to do this. If you are not able to roll 200 k solo at 28+ kph a month before this ride, you had better think twice about it.
I am 40 yars old, and no Cat 2 racer, but I am seriously training for this ride starting a month ago b/c it is going to be so hard and we have to maintain a pretty decent pace for the whole ride to finish before dark. I imagine that we will break into sub groups as the day progresses, and I also imagine that I will not be in the first group, but we cannot expect to do that distance all together.
Like I said earlier, I have no intention of it being a ride where we kill the pace or try to drop riders, but in order to finish, you have to be ready for this, myself included. Total Rule V ride as it can be no other way.
@Godsight
Team Canada bringing the V!
They way I was thinking about the pace of that ride is first 50km no drop pace so everyone can get going nicely while we try to get the pace up to 30kph +. Once we settle for a 30+ kph pace, we keep it for all the way until the last 30-20km which will be free for all cause i dont think 40kph+ would be a pace we could keep up for 250km
@godsight
Fixed your post. We're starting at V past V, after all.
Well all, Buck has been doing a lot of work prepping for this thing but being one of the original instigators, I feel I should be helping. Here's the current start list based on initial responses:
Start List:
Buck Rodgers
King Clydesdale
Canuck Chuck
Steampunk
Rob Sean
Roger
Heinous
Spearfish
Godsight
Perhaps (Should HTFU and move to the startlist):
MJ Moquin
Anjin-San
While the more the merrier its also a logistics thing to keep track of everyone. I think it would be really great to see over a dozen of us out there. Plus remember, the more riders the less time in the wind, the faster the paceline (if we get one going) etc. If everyone worked hard to get in shape, then working together we could at least tear ass during the first half of the day, then split up by abilities at the base of Killington or Terrible, depending on how much discrepancy there is in ability levels. I would hope the group could stick together, but there's always complications.
I also noted that none of the Keepers have announced they would be making the trip. I was hoping one or two could make it.
@godsight
Great thought on the first 50 k's. Love it!
Definitely will be good to try to get a decent warm up pace for the first 50 k or so as a full group. Maybe 25 to 30 kph as a group and it will also let us see who has good legs and who might be opting for a 165 k trip as opposed to the whole thing (and it could be me calling it a day mid-way). I do not see myself hitting any consistent 40+kph over much of this ride at all. I might very well be the one off the back if that is the main pace!
I REALLY think that we will find that we have multiple abilities and for a ride this length, I do not think that we will all stick together. Even might be solo people at times. We will all need to be a bit self sufficient going into this in case we can't hack it and have to drop out at km 133 or 187 or 278 or whatever. That is why everyone must have their own set up on transportation. The main group will NOT be waiting for everyone if they are not on pace to finish, including me or anyone else. This is a Rule V Cogal.
I think that we will all be okay and will find our own pace with a few others and will regroup here and there. I just do not want us chained together and thinking that I have to kill it to try to stay on or that I have to go way slow to keep someone on. I imagine it will take us (or at least me) well over 12 hours and there will be plenty of time to chat in groups as we regroup and fall back or spin ahead.
@King Clydesdale
Dude, you are as much into setting this puppy up as me! We're co-conspirators on this one in my opinion! :)
I am NOT the Lord High Comannder of this thing, just a guy trying to set up realistic expectations and make it work out the best for everyone involved! But make no mistake, this is going to be a BITCH of a ride!
I must say that tearing ass for the first half would probably leave most of us dead in the water at about 200 k's, though! Steady and on the slower end of our ability will be what allows us to finish which is why we will all have to be in the best shape possible so that our slow and steady pace is pushing close to 28 kph for 330 k's.
@Buck Rogers
Nice Buck.Far away from me though.Will read your stories I bet.
@King Clydesdale
Rumours of Rob and xyxax attending in earlier discussions. Also, possibly, Mikel Pearce adding to the Canadian contingent.