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
@Anjin-san
Fitting that I move up to 1st Order Velominatus discussing Miyamoto Musashi.
@Anjin-san
So you have answered the question and we will see you at V past V which, by tradition, is the time of his duel with Kojiro and of course he was late...
And I am sure it is not a coincidence that you were moved up at the mention of the man!
I live in New England! Can anyone join in provided we follow the V?
@Buck Rogers
I live in New England! Can anyone join in provided we follow The V?
I put in 166kms the other week and that had me at my limit by the end. 200 on the 100 is daunting to me.
On another note, I've spent a total of four hours today trying to mount a new Hutchinson Bulldog tire on a Mavic Kysrium ES rim. I can't even get one side on. This is fucking insane. Broken tire lever, bleeding fingers, and not even close. Going to be tons of fun racing my final cx race of the year on just a bare rim. My only solace is that apparently I'm not the only one who absolutely cannot get the new carbon beaded Bulldogs to mount. I'm very tired, but now too angry to sleep. And it sucks to get up on race day and be mainly concerned with equipment problems. Fuck.
@Sean
Not speaking for Buck but the more the merrier. I plan to suck any wheel I can hang on to!
I've thought through it. Going to take it to my friend at the LBS. If he can't get it, remount the old one, use that for warm up laps, then borrow my friend's pit bike wheel once his race just before mine finishes.
Phew. Trying to mount difficult tires can be maddening - you chase it in a circle!
@Sean
Welcome Sean, yes, anyone can join in on the fun. No entry fee, no prizes.
@Gianni
No entry fee is correct, so feel free to join!
That cold brown ale at the post ride refreshment station will probably be the biggest prize of my cycling career however.
Looks like a great ride!
If I didn't live in 'old' England I'd be there....