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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My sag plans have fallen through. Can I hitch a ride back to North Troy (where I'll be leaving my car) with anyone? Room for what's left of one bike and what's left of one me. Thanks in advance.
@Steampunk
Dude! I already have you hooked up. CanuckChuck is bringing both of us back to North Ferrisburgh or Burlington (whichever is easier for him) the night of the ride and then my VMH is picking us up and you're crashing at my place. Then, the next day, I will run you up to North Troy.
Roger Murdock: Flight 2-0-9'er, you are cleared for take-off.
Captain Oveur: Roger!
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Tower voice: L.A. departure frequency, 123 point 9'er.
Captain Oveur: Roger!
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Victor Basta: Request vector, over.
Captain Oveur: What?
Tower voice: Flight 2-0-9'er cleared for vector 324.
Roger Murdock: We have clearance, Clarence.
Captain Oveur: Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?
Tower voice: Tower's radio clearance, over!
Captain Oveur: That's Clarence Oveur. Over.
Tower voice: Over.
Captain Oveur: Roger.
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Tower voice: Roger, over!
Roger Murdock: What?
Captain Oveur: Huh?
Victor Basta: Who?
@Buck Rogers
Thanks very much! I'm very grateful. When I saw your last, I felt uncomfortable imposing for an extra ride north the day after.
@roger
Touche'!
Just wait until the alcohol starts to flow, this is going to be one HELL of a Cogal!!!
@Steampunk
Seats have been reserved for you and Buck for a return trip up North. So no worries there. Route still TBD though.
@Roger @Buck Rogers
Let me know if the big yellow bus of awesomeness will make a stop in the Burlington area (and where). I wouldn't mind availing myself of that service as well to get the full 200 on 100 Cogal experience.
Rolled 122 K this morning in 4 hours 10 min. Not screaming fast by any means but I went out solo knowing i was going to do a long ride. Felt great! Also managed to get in just over 350 k in the last 7 days. Feel like I am building nicely. Only problem is that my bike #1 heads to VT Wednesday with the minivan not to be seen again until mid-June. #2 (CX bike) will be in use for the next two weeks and then it is off to France and limited riding until THE DAY on Rt 100.
Getting more excited day-by-day!!!
@Steampunk
Man, as long as you do not mind possibly having to drive a leg of the two hour trip up there as my legs might be a pair of cramped up pretzels, I'm all for it!
oh yeah, and the hangover might figure into it a bit as well!
@CanuckChuck
Thanks, Mate! I do feel badly about not providing sag support. I thought I had that all lined up.
@Buck Rogers
Alternatively, we could ride back to North Troy together and I could drive you home again. You know, just to get the legs right. Thanks again!
@Buck Rogers
Put in 90k @ 3hrs yesterday and almost 300k over the last week. Will put in a short ride tomorrow and then Tuesday I'm heading out to take on Rattlesnake Point, which will feature in the Ontario Cogal (tops out at 22%; 14-17% overall, depending where you look). Might tie that into a longer ride just to get the distance in my legs. Another 100k on Thursday, and then Sunday is the Ontario Cogal. The route got whittled down a bit, but we're still doing ~185k. No time to taper before riding more in preparation for Vermont.
Is anybody thinking about any dietary/nutritional preparation? Or supplements? I'm tempted to try beta-alinine again (now would be the time to start). And realizing that calcium, magnesium, and zinc tablets help with the fatigue in the guns after a long ride.