Categories: Cogals

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.

Buck Rogers

Started road racing in 1987 in VT. Raced through college at UVM and then fell away from the true path and started running. Came back to the fold in the mid-2000's. Currently riding a 2007 Eddy Merkcx Premium SL with 2009 Dura-Ace STI groupo, Mavic Premium SL wheelset, Selle San Marco saddle and Cinelli stem and handlebars, a dream of a bike for me. Recently acquired a 1992 Team Motorola Eddy Merckx with all circa 1992 componentry. She has quickly become Bike #2. Also have a Lemond Poprad CX for bike #3. Still looking for bike #4 (i.e. n+1).

Next Reverence: TRP R960 »

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View Comments

RedRanger says:

Jan 22 2012 at 5:41 pm

@frank

@Anjin-san

@Rob

@Anjin-san
What would Miyamoto Musashi do?

Musashi may have been the original Hardman. He would ride it on a fixie, with no food or water, and kick all of our asses. The Book of Five Rings... now that is an interesting read.

Book of V rings? This is a book I need to know more about!
This is going to be a tough one for me to make, but if there was ever a reason to go to the East Coast and not NYC, then this is it. Man-oh-man...gears turning.

As a New Yorker I agree 100%. The solution is to do both.
MJMoquin says:

Jan 22 2012 at 5:54 pm

@King Clydesdale

Perhaps (Should HTFU and move to the startlist):

MJ Moquin

I've been in since the first mention.

Now whether I survive or not will remain to be seen.
Anjin-san says:

Jan 22 2012 at 7:03 pm

@King Clydesdale

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.

Public humiliation is effective... I'll turn up my efforts with the VMH.
Rob says:

Jan 22 2012 at 7:08 pm

@frank
This is the cogal where the minions are going to need a fearless leader, we need you there to give it 1) class 2) wit and humor 3) true Dutch inspiration!

The book of V rings is the perfect warm up read, lots of strategy.

@King Clydesdale
Adding my name to the list (I am Rob - just Rob), I do not know this upstart Rob Sean...

Start List:
Buck Rodgers
King Clydesdale
Canuck Chuck
Steampunk
Rob Sean
Roger
Heinous
Spearfish
Godsight
Rob

Perhaps (Should HTFU and move to the startlist):
MJ Moquin
Anjin-San
King Clydesdale says:

Jan 22 2012 at 8:39 pm

@Rob

@frank
This is the cogal where the minions are going to need a fearless leader, we need you there to give it 1) class 2) wit and humor 3) true Dutch inspiration!
The book of V rings is the perfect warm up read, lots of strategy.
@King Clydesdale
Adding my name to the list (I am Rob - just Rob), I do not know this upstart Rob Sean...
Start List:
Buck Rodgers
King Clydesdale
Canuck Chuck
Steampunk
Rob Sean
Roger
Heinous
Spearfish
Godsight
Rob
Perhaps (Should HTFU and move to the startlist):
MJ Moquin
Anjin-San

Failure of the enter key....
G'rilla says:

Jan 22 2012 at 9:25 pm

Start training now, indeed.

Last Summer I trained hard to ride 240km/3,000m. I could easily do 150km and a similar amount of climbing. I had my nutrition figured out. With a month to go I rode a mountain pass with more climbing and felt fine.

But I still got to 200km and felt completely drained with 90 minutes of riding left. I ended up averaging about 27km/h and finished in under 9 hours (granted, it was mostly alone with only an occasional random paceline).

But to think that you'll have 100km and 3-4 hours left at that point! You definitely need to train such that you can ride 200 or 250 km with strength left. Chug protein powder. Climb, climb, climb.

Or plan to do it in two days instead of one? ;-)
Steampunk says:

Jan 23 2012 at 5:05 am

@G'rilla

But to think that you'll have 100km and 3-4 hours left at that point! You definitely need to train such that you can ride 200 or 250 km with strength left.

Yep. I'll be working on my thousand-mile stare...
King Clydesdale says:

Jan 23 2012 at 7:21 am

Part of my prep once I'm into my base period will be all day rides. Not going to focus to much on killing myself but instead just being in the saddle for 10 hours or more at a time. I'll do the killing oneself bit on the Thursday Night Race Pace Ride and keep up with the fast groups on Tuesday nights.

Right now however I'm on the rollers and in the weight room.
Steampunk says:

Jan 23 2012 at 9:05 am

I'm toying with the idea of just resting and carb-loading right up until the end of June. It could work...
QuattroCreep says:

Jan 23 2012 at 11:45 am

I have been reading Velominati for a while now, never felt the need to do more then read the posts/comments. This Cogal was my tipping point, I'm in.

Also June 28,2012 is a Thursday, did you mean June 23 or July 28?