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
I’m on track for peaking in 2 months. Should reach 1609.43km ridden/11887meters climbed so far this year this weekend. I’m not track… not sure for what though.
April is a crazy month, but I’m hoping to use the Ontario Cogal at the end of May as an important plank in my training (200km on hilly terrain). I may be able to provide a sag driver and a film crew to turn this into a documentary.
@CanuckChuck
That is my plan. I know I’ve personally missed events just because I did have an abundance of excuses. If we can collectively eliminate most of the big ones, the easier it will be to get more folks on board.
@roger
Unbelievable!!! Between you and King Clydesdale, the logistics are almost all set! You guys are sooo awesome! I am buying for you two when we finish this F$%KER (of course, you reserved the Master Suite for me, right?)!
And great news in my training, I actually rode a solid hour on the rollers tonight!!! Kept the HR ave at 156 and max at 181. First ride since being hit by the SUV one month ago minus a day and it felt sooo awesome. Man, it is a good thing I never tried any drugs (besides alcohol) b/c I dearly missed those endorphins and I am flying HIGH on them right now!!!
Cannot WAIT to nail this ride in JUNE!!!
@CanuckChuck
NICE!!!
@Steampunk
@MJ Moquin
The more SAGs the better as then we can have multiple groups being tracked. And the idea of a film crew makes me even more worried about crashing and dying on the ride!
@Buck Rogers
I’m about the same as @CanuckChuck on distance/vertical for the year, doing an increasingly longer solo ride every other weekend, up to 160 km so far. Slow as christmas, but I look good in tinsel.
@roger
You are MVP to date.
@xyxax
Hoo boy! I’ve got me some work to do…
@Buck Rogers
I actually feel like I’m making great progress ever since I was forced to get the new bike. I’ve made good use of it, and put in plenty of hard miles. It’s been windy the past week or so but I’ve been riding strong. I’ve been building up my one day distances as well, and I should be doing my first century by the end of the month.
A big accomplishment for me recently was my graduation to the fast group on our Tuesday night rides. This past Tuesday, despite the wind I jumped on to the fast group and found myself working hard, but still with enough energy to take a few short pulls. My fitness is definitely improved, and I’m making good work on the power to weight ratio. The thighs have gained 2 inches this month, and the waist has shrunk a couple inches. My weight itself hasn’t dropped a pound but as long as my fitness keeps improving I won’t get too upset about that.
@roger
Amazing work! Perfect location, we can pedal to the start in the morning (only 1.4 km to the customs building at the border), and for those who would like to get dinner the night before, with drinks, then we could all walk to this place downtown:
http://www.tastingsinvt.com/menu.html.
Thanks again Roger, and keep working everyone!
I do not wish to put the cart before the horse, but it does seem everyone is on the right path and preparing accordingly. @King Clydesdale, you seem to be off the front and never looking back! As unscientific as our methods may be, it sure does feel like a milestone when you jump from one group to another.
@Steampunk & @Buck Rogers, sent both you fellas an email with the doc link, seems I forgot to include it in the email.
Ok, let me see if I have this straight? 10 to 15 intense OCD strangers who have only met on the interweb are spending the night together on the Far Canadian border in a dormitory like Bed and Breakfast, where the “nice” couple running it won’t mind getting up at 0400 to feed us a huge meal of fried Moose and winter cured Beaver. Then we start at first light, on the longest day of the year, on a mind altering journey of unimaginable grim suffering that may or may not be enhanced by inclement weather… This has all the ingredients of a sequel to The Shinning – I can’t wait!
Roger and King, you guys are nailing this down, thank you for the genius and I am in on $’s for the sag/support.
@all Your training sounds on track so that we all will be able to pull this off. The only question is what will be the pace? Right now I’d guess I could do 25-27 kph but in June is 35 kph possible? With Rule #9 guiding us and a disciplined pace line (I can suck wheel all day so I was thinking a rotating double line if the road allows) I’d like to think that at least until the 300 k mark that is possible… But then I have not done over 160k faster than 30 kph in 30 years… Perhaps it is too early to have this conversation and the first hour of the ride is the place where it will sort its self out and we will see each others strengths and sizes – which tall guy will do monster pulls until sundown – Xyxax??
@Rob
Good thing nobody’s talking about rain dates, right Rob? I think I’m in the same boat as you: could happily do 25-27 pretty comfortably solo all day, and think we should be trying to shoot for something a little closer to 29-33kph–faster if fitness and coordination on the road allow. Keep in mind that the second half of the Too Much is hillier than the first. Finding a suitable rhythm for one or two groups on the road will be key.
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift plodding completion of their appointed rounds.
@Rob
Fucking hilarious. My wife, who I woke up this morning laughing at this. is less enthused. Wake TFU.
@Steampunk
I’ve seen graphic (literally) evidence of how you are able to ramp up. I just hope you get your knees and fit sorted so that you can do it injury-free.
All thinking that breaking the ride up in 100k segments with food stops would be wise. Not too long, since it will only extend the day, and not designed to bring the group back together necessarily, but it might make the ride more manageable; non bars and gels are always more palatable…
“All” = “Also”
@roger
I’ve got 1770 k’s in this year to date and am rebounding nicely from my almost month of injury/travel time. I should be able to hold a wheel for at leats a while! Also will be doing a bunch more the next 7 weeks and then 210 K on the Paris Roubaix cyclo on June 10th. then a major taper and I should be good. That is unless I get hit by another SUV!
@Steampunk
Sounds VERY sensible. Might want to make it 110K segments as it is more like 330 K’s for the full distance (yeah, my OCD-ness is showing. And is it just me or does even typing 330 k seem frick’in crazy!)
@Rob
Okay, this killed me this morning. Post of the day for me!
HEEEEERE’S Johnny!!!
How do we ensure that V-Pint for this Cogal is in the works? It’s currently not available at http://www.velominati.com/cogals/
@Buck Rogers
Need to start logging some k’s. I’m the slacker so far. Form is good, but I’m at the low end of the kinds of numbers being posted. Will try to fit in some more time for riding in the coming weeks. By May, I’d like to be riding 300km/week on a regular basis, mainly just to have the distance in my legs…
@Steampunk
Yeah, but I live in south Texas which is as flat as a pancake and I do not have to worry about riding in snow! You’ll be fine, esp as you have hills and if you start hitting 300k/week, you’ll rock. I will never be doing more than 200k/week with my work and family committments.
@CanuckChuck
Woops. It’s there now. Thanks. So is Shropshire and Ontario.
@frank
Thanks Frank!
@Buck Rogers
This has been a pretty special year for me. I go back to teaching in September, and I fear that might eat into my riding time. Still, I’ve learned that if I can finagle my teaching schedule, I can leave a long morning or two open for riding.
Bike now primed for this, too. Just upgraded all components, new bars and tape, and the new wheels look sweet. If I were a weight weenie, I’d be boasting about how I shaved roughly 1kg off the bike, but I’m not so I won’t. Just need to make sure the engine is set for the longer effort.
this is looking more and more enticing, but the idea of doing TEN 30kph hours makes my hands sweat a bit. That is a lot of fucking riding!
@Anjin-san
It is that! I hate to be a naysayer but I have been wondering about this ride for a good while now. I don’t know if people know what they are biting off here. I think it would have been smarter to do a hundred each days over two days. And that’s still some riding.
Good luck though chaps I hope my fears prove to be groundless.
@Anjin-san
Just think of all the time your descending.
@RedRanger
…and then climbing again.
@paolo
Thinking about the consequences? No way. Rule #5 will get us to the finish! (Or the SAG wagon, we thought ahead)
@Anjin-san
I don’t know about 10 hours. I’m thinking it might end up more like 12, and I think everyone will be ok with that. We have the daylight, we might as well use it.
@paolo
Ah, but what would be the fun in that? If I knew this would be easy, what would be the point in driving all that way to do it? No: it’s the challenge, the suffering, and the camaraderie built on the road that I’m looking forward to.
@Steampunk
I’m bringing two sets of kit. 1 to change into after I shit myself after being told there’s still another 160km to go
@Anjin-san
If you watch the video of Ted King and company, they actually do 335+ k’s. The ride, even without getting lost, is over 200 miles (330 k’s). More like 11 hours of 30 kph, but I do not think that I, for one, will be able to hold that ave at all for that long. Sure, I can for 4 to 6 hours on flat roads riding solo, but with the amount of climbing, even with a draft, it is going to be one loooonnnnggg BRUTAL day. I bet we go 12 to 14 hours on this puppy.
@Buck Rogers
It’ll be a looooong day for sure. But I’m really excited about it – I’m not sure my VMH comprehends the pre-200/100 training requirement (i.e. a bunch of longer rides). Still, I’m sure this is doable if we can manage to work together and not have any “Shining moments”. (Thankfully, S. King will be one state over.)
@lesburg
At least your VMH understand training. All I got was: “you’re going to fucking die.” More derisive in tone than with any sense of concern.
@lesburg
Yeah, had “the talk” with my VMH again this morning about this ride and surprising (not sure why “surprising, she truly is so lovely) she is on board with it and even a bit excited about it. I had spoken to her about it back in December but she had “forgotten” about it.
As for Ted King, hopefully he’ll be in France getting ready for Le Tour and not home in NH!!!
@Buck Rogers
I saw the video- those guys were totally cooked when they finished. I think I have ridden something like 2,600kms year to date with about 41,000 meters of vert… I would have to significantly increase my training volume to feel comfortable attempting this one without fear of bonking and ruining the ride for the poor suckers who would have to take care of me (or leave me twitching on the side of the road if I have been a wheel sucker to that point in the ride). That said, very tempting… I’ll be in VT the first week of June and will do some scouting…
@Steampunk
Sounds like your VMH and my VMH have the same sense of humor. Although mine added “Are you fucking simple or something?” to the front of it. For the rest of conversation she talked to me like I was Forrest Gump and have an IQ right below that little dashed line on the chart… She will never understand, but she does accept that she doesn’t understand after she finishes telling me that I am “in-fucking-sane”. I love her.
@Steampunk
“Die” b/c she is going to kill you or b/c the ride will kill you?
@Buck Rogers
Too funny, I told mine I was roadtripping down to the SoCal Cogal. She was enthusiastic, then promptly forgot about it. When I reminded her again 2 weeks out she had no idea what I was talking about.
I have no illusions that I will see the sun rise and the sun set on this ride. I’m thinking 14.5 hours of riding, 16 hours total time. I’m going to get popped off the back quickly, which should give me more time to catch back up.
@Anjin-san
Ah, well Mrs. Steampunk is clearly more efficient. The withering glare pretty much says it all. No words necessary.
@Buck Rogers
“Die” because 330km is a ridiculous distance to try to cover in one day.
My VMH knows the ride as “That long one in Vermont you might not return from”.
While the thread seems active make sure you guys all email roger to get on the spreadsheet if you aren’t already. Getting down everyone’s plans will help with logistics, so please make us aware, give us the contact info we need, etc. People who just “show up” are welcome, but if you can’t get back to your car of need a place to stay, you’re on your own.
Rented a mountain bike today and kicked my own ass climbing. Lots of fun, but don’t get me wrong, I still love the road more. I will however be doing it at least once more before 200, its a great workout/bike handling lesson.
Keep training guys, this early spring may have been enough to get our sorry asses in shape in time!
Is there an official V-route that has been mapped out yet? Doing a bit of research on the interweb, there doesn’t appear to be a true official 200 on 100 route. Here are some options:
Option a) Ride the entire 100: 216 miles, 13,000ft of vertical. Definitely too much on 200.
Option b) The route from 200on100.org/bikely. Makes a left turn from 100 and takes a B line for the border on some VERY small roads. 206 miles, 12,300ft of vertical. Not sure I want to finish in the dark in the wilderness.
Option c) The route somewhat ridden by the dynamic trio in the film. 100 to 112 to 8A. 199 miles, 12,000ft of vertical. For some reason, they took a detour from 100 towards Newport at the start which added about 10 miles to their trip. Not being on 100, this has been removed from the route.
Option d) 100 to 112. 202 miles, 11,500ft of vertical. And the last 10 miles are all downhill. Not as direct as option b), but definitely gets you over the 200 miler mark. And did I mention the last 10 miles are downhill?
I’m a big fan of option d).
@CanuckChuck
I’m a fan of option a). If you’re going to do it, do it all the way, but I’ll defer to the popular vote on ths one.
@Buck Rogers
What’s all this miles and feet we’re talking about?
@CanuckChuck
You will definitely have me for company, as that is the time I am contemplating.
@xyxax
Myself as well. If T King, T Johnson and Ryan did it in, what was it, 10 or 11 hours, there is no way I will be in before 13 to 14 hours at the earliest. It’s going to be EPIC in the true sense of the word!
@Steampunk
Sorry about using the m and f words… Being originally from Steampunk land, I do love the metric system, but for some reason, I’ve embraced the mile as my cycling measuring unit and I can’t make the switch to kms. The average speed, the distances, the time/distance goals… it all works so well for me in old money. Humble apologies.
Chuck, I’m glad you brought this up.
I might be looking at this at a different angle.
Since this bus chartering us up to North Troy is about 95% in the books, I’m thinking of the destination in 2 parts: 1) where can we shower up and locate a pub w/o traversing the state and 2) those driving in can safely park their car overnight
North Adams, MA pop 13,000 – this would allow us to start and finish Rt 100 in it’s entirety. Has a handful of bars and hotels/motels.
Greenfield, MA pop 17,000 – from rt 100 we would catch 112 to 2, into Greenfield.
There are other towns (villages???) between the two, but google maps doesnt show much of anything that would be useful to us.
I’m pretty much game for either route. The messed up thought up doing 100 top to bottom does intrigue me.
@roger
I agree, I like the idea of doing 100 from start to finish, and I like North Adams more as a town. It’s a nicer place, and closer to I-87 and I-90 for those traveling west, north, or south.