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.
I’ve done these before, pretty good but they tend to get a little crumbly after being in pocket for a while.
http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/nutrition/The-Best-Energy-Bar-Ever.html
Peanut butter and speculoos on bread or bagel is champs, better yet speculoos straight out the jar.
Also, to those of you who like the Honey Stinger waffles but have issue with Pharmastrong or paying $1.50-$2.25 a waffle, you can go to your local grocery store and see if they have a european section, you should be able to find an 8 pack of stroopwafles for around $5.
@James
Yep, I normally squeeze half a cut lemon into a bidon of water and add a small pinch of salt. Do it to taste, you do’t want undrinkable salty water on a hot ride.
@Sauterelle
My problem with this: the cashews would be eaten before they made it into the bowl…
@xyxax
I received a honey stinger as part of a swag bag at some point. And wasn’t that impressed. It was too light and thin (if memory serves, half of it broke off and feel by the roadside as I tried to unpackage and eat it). There are better, more filling, stroopwafels out there, which I like very much.
@urbanwhitetrash
Stroopwafels! The only thing I miss about the Dutchbag…er…the Dutch ex-BF. :::sigh:::
@Sauterelle
I once had Stroopwafels but I saw a doctor and he fixed me right up…
@Steampunk
Yes, you’re right, they are better in theory than in execution. Can you recommend?
Just pulling your (food) chain about the gluten.
My jersey pockets will be loaded up with Cliff Blocks (Lemon and Strawberry), Cliff Gels (Lemon w/ Caffeine), FRS Chews. and Cliff Z-Bars (Cliff Bars for Kids). In the van, Cliff Mojo bars (for the salt fix) and PB&N sandwiches. In the biddons, strictly water, although I plan to buy some electrolyte drinks at one of our stops or have a few in the van.
I was debating bringing a camel back (oh the horror–although the prospect of getting dehydrated is a greater horror) or adding a double seat mounted bottle holder (from my dark days where rides were preceded by swims and followed by runs), but after re-reading 100-200.org, seems that there are plenty of stores along the way where on can refill. So no need to sacrifice aesthetics for practicality.
Oh, and two weeks from now, we will be enroute! Crazy!
I just spent a week on Northern VT and got to ride about 6 times while there… that is beautiful rolling country! 200/100 is going to be EPIC! As for the food- I go with Perpetuum in the bottles and ProBars and Endurolytes in the pockets, plus some Cliff Blocks or gels for a quick hit of energy. The ProBars are really good- organic, tasty, and something like 400 calories each.
@Steampunk
I learned a great stroopwafel tip when I was in NL. 5-10 seconds in the microwave, and it’s just like you got it fresh from the street vendor. Not much use on the bike though.
@ten B
Microwave… I despair.
The correct way is to place the stroopwafel over one’s mug of coffee for a minute or so, allowing the rising heat to gently soften the filling.
@ChrisO
YES!
Wow, I jump back to this thread to discover the conversation is on the proper warming of StroopVVafels. DAMN STRAIGHT. You lot are a truly civilized people.
@ten B
Fuck off. Really? You need to pick your Dutchmen better. That is clearly an impostor; microwaves kill anything thats good in life – why not also StroopVVafels? @ChrisO is onto it – the coffee mug is the “correct” way, though its not the best way. The best way to have them is at markt (the market), directly from the vedor. Barring that, I prefer to lay them across a toaster oven and run it for about 45 seconds. The dry heat doesn’t make the wafel as damp as does the steam from your cup, and it tastes more like it just came from the markt.
My grandma did used the cup method and she was as truly Dutch as Dutch can be so you’re in good company to do it that way. The toaster is the badassest way, though.
@frank
Me too. Or find a Belgian guy. :-D
I WILL BE PEAKING IN TWO WEEKS!!
@xyxax
Um, not off-hand””whatever I find at the local grocery store. Frank and his grandmother would no doubt blanch at their quality and authenticity, but they are thicker and more substantial than the Honey Stingers.
I’m not sure I have a gluten allergy of any kind, but found myself feeling a whole lot better last year when I cut out bread, rice, etc.
@Steampunk
Look at that, perfect timing!
@frank
It was a woman, actually. Even more amusing is that she’s a trained chef. And since she’s family, the choice thing gets a bit tricky. But fwiw, I always thought that the coffee cup method left it too soggy. I’ll have to give the toaster method a go, since the ol’ magnetron can give uneven results.
Too bad I can’t use my drop technique – leave it in my pocket and forget it’s there for a few days. Lint-covered drop I can tolerate. Lint-covered stroopwafel, not so much.
Huh, Trader Joe’s has stroopwafels for $2.79 a bag. I’ve never had them before, will look for them the next time I’m grocery shopping!
@mcsqueak
Trader Joes does NOT carry fucking StroopVVafels. Trade Joes carries some SHIT rotten fuck-all pieces of coalesced dog shit that pretends to be fucking StroopVVafels.
These are fucking tiny and fucking shitty. If you buy them, I’m rescinding your status as a Velominatus. That goes for anyone else.
These are pretty good.
http://www.thedutchstore.com/WEBSTORE/productinfo.aspx?itemno=09249&&TOPSEQ=2&KEY=stroopwafel
You and @Scaler911 will be treated to real ones on Saturday morning before the Cogal. Stroopvvafels should only ever be made of full-on butter. You can’t go with a “healthy” version.
@Steampunk
Yeah but unless you step away from the stroopwaffels you’ll be too fat to climb. Merckx those things are addictive.
@frank
Not stroopwafels, but I bet they’re still tastier than honey stingers…
May i recomend: Meli honingwafels
@frank
Do they come in a mayonnaise version?
@Sauterelle
Never trust a Belgian, unless the subject matter involves cobblestones, beer, or frittes. They are also the authority on the combination of any of the three.
But on nothing else.
@Belgian Cobblestones
Sorry, mate. That means you too.
@frank
in all fairness mayonaise should be inclouded in that list
A client brings roomboter stroopwafels back from Rijswijk. Good stuff.
Thank Merckx that we seem to have beaten that horse to death because I for one am taking nothing with the words stroop or waffle on the sacred 100… No matter how authentically D. monkey made.
Just finished a weekend of matinence riding with @xyxax and have to report that the man has an awesome motor that kicked In after 80 k. Understandable with a top tube that is longer than my leg, he needed the time to get blood to all the extremities and then it was an awesome ride in his wake.
So, many thanks Xyxax for making me get out there on such a great day!
Now it’s rest and more rest, the hard work is done, weight is in range of being perfect for climbing at the 225 k mark on the day and my only concern is to spend the next 10 days in a zen like state of calm because this is going to be a fantastic day for all and I feel like a little kid in the week before the birthday!
So, there I was. Pedaling along in my V-kit, eating my Trader Joes SHIT rotten fuck-all pieces of coalesced dog shit that pretends to be fucking StroopVVafels. Talk about delicious.
@roger
Oh boy. You’re in trouble now!
I had my stroopwafel virginity taken by Frank this weekend. They certainly are tasty! I’ll have to seek some out around here…
@Rob
Hey, I am a notorious late-starter (puberty at 30, kids at 47); it’s the early finishing that I’ve got to work on. But fresh air, glorious countryside, and strong partners, not to mention the capsules of Stronglegs slipped to me like latter-day Quaaludes were the real motivation. A memorable weekend of riding in good company.
If one needs any proof that Rob and Tim will be at the front in Vermont, I offer this photographic evidence:(note: any rule violations apparent below were viciously photoshopped in by me and do not, in fact, exist.):
oops, ID-10T error..
@mcsqueak
May I recommend that in future, you refrain from using any phrase or sentence that contains the words, “…virginity taken by Frank this weekend.”
It’s just not becoming.
Put in a pretty good preparation ride today, I’d say. 180km solo in blazing 34ËšC heat. Hit up some good hills, but nothing like we’ll encounter, so still a bit nervous about that. Tested a bunch of different food options as well, so I think I’ve got that settled.
10 days!
New saddle today! Can’t wait for a fast 50 mi tomorrow then just easy spinning all the way to the top of Vermont . I can’t wait to meet you all and roll out at 5 am watching the sun rise to our left. It’s going to be a great day!!!
@Jamie
Thanks for catching that one!
@Tim
Nice! New gloves; trying to work out what constitutes breaking them in while keeping them new. Shooting for 100k tomorrow morning before rolling smooth into next week. I got socked in by allergies and inflamed sinuses this weekend; still feel a bit under the weather, but am trying to persuade myself that it’s better it happened this week rather than next.
I don’t how much stock to put in long-range forecasts, but right now we’re looking at cool and wet””North Troy, Burlington, and North Adams…
@xyxax
I just can’t decide what’s so wrong about that image…. maybe that were both grabbing our crotches?? But it was a great day and ride!
@2000dB
Solid work and in terms of nerves I think we all have the same thoughts except maybe Brian and a few others I do not know yet. But I am confident we will get through this, it may get ugly but it will be EPIC!
@Rob
Those expressions are priceless. That area looks like a perfect man resort. Gravel, pile of firewood, log cabin, subbie, bicycles and good friends. Fantastic.
I can’t believe that none of the fuelling suggestions have included what kept the lads going on the ride that inspired this…the Fluffernutter sandwich!
http://www.marshmallowfluff.com/pages/fluffernutter.html
@Mikael Liddy
New Hampshire’s sole contribution to world cuisine.
@roger Not to mention said “log cabin” was built by Tim and includes an indoor climbing wall. It goes without saying that we took our mid-ride nourishment from the land: berries, tree bark, hand-caught fish.
@Tim
The lavender Fizik is no more?! I am agape.
@Rob
In times of hard labor, we seek any comfort.
90k this morning in under three hours. Humidex was at 41 when I got home. This at 75% sinus capacity. Ask me if I’m ready for Vermont. Dare ya!
@Steampunk
You look ready to beat the tar out of Vermont!
Seriously, I’ve very much enjoyed following this thread as you guys have all prepped for this ride. I can’t wait to read how it goes.
@Steampunk
That picture screams for a caption:
You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? Then who the hell else are you talking… you talking to me? Well I’m the only one here. Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to? Oh yeah? OK.
@Steampunk
This will be the image burned into my retinas dare I even think of not being able to get up the last hill.
Motivational poster needs to be done.
@Steampunk
Don’t Fuck With This Canuck.
I had no idea an academic could look so fierce.