http://app.strava.com/activities/24602648#achievements

Damn! I wish you’d posted this a week or so earlier. I’m driving down to NY that day, but the trip and travel are both pretty locked in at this point that I can’t leave earlier or make the diversion. I’m not sure I’m in any shape to do it, but good on you for taking on another killer ride””enjoy!

If any of you fine gents can join me, feel free.  Plenty of Awesome to go around!

So did anyone get video?

I am way way way behind in putting my thoughts together on this amazing ride. I’m still having a difficult time explaining to myself that I went to VT, stayed at the Overlook B&B, and rode an entire day with a bunch of “friends from the Internet” that I don’t know and are in most cases certifiable velozealots. I hope to piece something together soon, and I have some additional photos and video footage to share as well… Stay tuned.

So did anyone get video?

Already setting up my training plan, compliments Joe Friel’s training book, with this ride being an “A” event for next year, meaning I will peak for this beast if all goes to plan.

…it was one of the more memorable days of my life!

There’s a few reasons why this is a testament to the character of this site.

1.  Rob has got to be approaching his 80s.  He’s done a lot.  Some of it as a brazen youth, and much of it on a professional cycling level. Perhaps not TdF pro, but pro enough for me.

2.  We did nothing all day but ride bicycles.  Who would even want to remember a day like that?

3.  We were all strangers.  Who’s the last stranger you can remember?

And Rob, there wouldn’t be any “roger report” if it wasnt for you guys and the drivers. I didn’t do much more than pick a few places to lodge, and even that I didnt do too well!

Another memory from the day.  While chugging along with Brian, Buck, and Tim, there was a car on the side of the road with giant vinyl decals that read “CARBONE”.  Quick google search says that it’s a car dealership.  Car or no car, it was damn cool to see.

Escaping unscathed was surely a high point.  Worst case scenario, we would be riding 2 abreast when THIS GUY is behind us.

Yes Buck I too will post up for sag next year and any ride east/west north/south you sign up for!

Steamy your too funny and am sorry to miss you in NYC, but another time it will happen.

Zyzax, get your butt back up to my neighborhood (with the juene fis and petit Zyzaxes), the hills are calling.

To the rest and especially Roger I hope we over lap wheels in the good sense soon!

To all the rest it is something to try someday. There is no need to fear it, preparation is key but if that is done at all right it really was a cool thing to knock off the bucket list (which I do not have and do not believe in, just live your life and no list needed).

My fear had been when I reached that territory after 250 km where I had never been it would become a death march but  even Tim and Buck with knees that belong in nursing homes were awesome at that point and by comparison my little aches and twinges were minor and soon forgotten.

Thanks again to Frank for his blind genius, Roger for his skills at organization, Tim, Matt, Marty for being rocks and all who rode it was one of the more memorable days of my life!

@keepers- hopefully you are taking pride in this event occurring, without this site it wouldn’t have happened. A gathering of such fine folk is a testament to the community you have created. And I mean community in every sense of the word.

Yes. This.

And un grand chapeau to all you madmen. Scary and inspiring, in equal measure. Fantastic effort.

@Buck Rogers

So what happened to ur knees in the end?

they were pretty fucked up for about two weeks.  They actually never had recovered from Paris Roubaix which I had ridden 17 days prior to this ride.  Just had bad swelling bilaterally for about two weeks post PR and then again post 200on100.  Then some gentle riding and now more riding and they are almost back to normal.  I still have pain after a ride, but not too bad and no real edema.  Actually, it is weird, but I have recently been doing some jogging (I know, hill repeats tomorrow for penance) and they feel better after jogging than after riding.  I think it is a retropatellar pain/overuse syndrome.  Just nursing it along and it is much, much better.  It was pretty bad for the first two weeks after the 200, though.  Even my kids could see that my knees were all swollen.  Should be good as long as I do not push it too much for a few months.

So what happened to ur knees in the end?

My point, rather than to regale you about my “long ” ride, is that i still, after the video, after riding 2/3 the distance, after reading the buildup and accounts, cant fucken imagine spending that long on a bike in a day. I just can’t, dunno if i even would be willing to try.

So, my hat is off to you gentlemen- riders and those who supported you – sag drivers, maple syrup and jerky purveyors, and your families/friends that put up with all your shit. That was an impressive endeavor. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers

And not to be too high school girly here but I did not get the impression that you were fat in the least.  Now make sure that you wear your Witte Kit tomorrow b/c I am going to wear mine and then we can match!

On a somewhat related topic, anyone have experience with the Sci-con Aerotech case?  Hawaii Cogal being rumored and I’d like the bicycle to get there in one piece.

@ten B

Aiming to make it an annual affair. Atleast I’m dumb enough to

Yeah but next time around you are not paying for a THING!  Roger footed the bill for almost everything.  Guy is a Saint.  Talk about the eternal optimist who was always smiling and making sure everyone was doing okay.  I said it before and I will say to again, Roger was the HEART and SOUL of this ride.  What an amazing community we have here.

Damn, starting to feel all grouphuggish, guess I had better go for a ride or punch myself in the face or something.

Awesome write up from an event that I’m pretty sure most of us lived vicariously through with a tinge of jealousy about not being there & a truckload of relief about not being able to be there!

Looking through the photos, the lack of violation picking before setting out seems a little obvious once we get to pic #44. Some serious demerit points for the Rule #36 & Rule #37 disobeyance.

ahhh, busted.  But I will say that those sunglasses are the only prescription ones that I own and I did not have any contacts with me.  As for the arms being in the wrong place, Man, I was so fucking toasted I am surprised that they are not on upside down!  Not sure why I am wearing them that way, I almost always (thought that I always did) wear them “correctly”.

What is cool to note s all resalt on the jerseys.  Man, Rob is a cycling saltlick in that following photo!

@Steampunk

@Mikael Liddy

Buck is such a badass, he’s already transcended the Rules. The rest of us need to catch up…

Ha!  Man, I look forward to driving SAG for you next year, it’s going to rock!

Them’s kind words.

@Gianni

Keep those young super-fit kids away from me

Right?  it used to be you shouldn’t trust anyone over 30.  Now, you shouldn’t trust riding with anyone under 30 ‘lest one be revealed as the superannuated slogger one is.

Aiming to make it an annual affair. Atleast I’m dumb enough to

Buck is such a badass, he’s already transcended the Rules. The rest of us need to catch up…

Looking through the photos, the lack of violation picking before setting out seems a little obvious once we get to pic #44. Some serious demerit points for the Rule #36 & Rule #37 disobeyance.

@keepers- hopefully you are taking pride in this event occurring, without this site it wouldn’t have happened. A gathering of such fine folk is a testament to the community you have created. And I mean community in every sense of the word.

It strikes me everytime I look at a cogal report and see all these people I don’t know in Velominati kits. And they might not know each other yet they are excited enough to show up on a day and ride. It was like that completely at the Keepers Tour. A group of maniacs got themselves to Belgium all because the Dutch Monkey Frank’s crazy brain.

One thing, amongst the many, is that these rides….er, these Cogals are starting to bring together all types, but ALL Followers. Lads who participate, lads who Obey, guys who ride VLVV but don’t come around much, lads who are just awesome. Some dudes are too busy riding to be busying on the ‘net.

This Cogal seems to have united a broad range, both Canadian and American, of Velominati for a ride of sterling class level. That’s boss!

AND, this description has me eager to see if I could hold a wheel or two of a certain Follower…NICE!

I dont know any of you  – but I know that I love you. truly.

Fond memories of the ride.  I often revisit via google street view the exact spot where I completely blew up at the top mount snow.

By all accounts, this really is an intimidating ride. And yet, it holds out the possibility of accomplishing something truly special. I admit to being equally scared and excited. But I definitely plan to attempt it next year.

Sounds like a fantastic day. Really… like an actual fantasy.

A ride of epic proportiions and a group full of givers. Genuinely Inspirational.

Thanks. Made my day.

PS Very much agree with the notion that this exact type of experience occurring twice in a life time is slim to none- but if it can the Velominati are the ones to give it the best shot.

@keepers- hopefully you are taking pride in this event occurring, without this site it wouldn’t have happened. A gathering of such fine folk is a testament to the community you have created. And I mean community in every sense of the word.

“Sparky and Vincent, les jeunes assassins Quebecois” I love that phrase. Keep those young super-fit kids away from me. Chapeau to you all. As I have stated before, I was lucky to live far enough away to not consider this ride. My body would have been seen floating down the Deerfield River, all bloated and stinkin’ of gel shots.

To think many Velominati rose to the Cogal call, especially this one, is very impressive. And Chapeau to sag drivers, driving that far that slowly is no fun. Good on you all.

And Roger, le Patron, was at his best when explaining to Norman Bates’s mother at the N. Troy B&B why 9 expected riders had morphed into 15 or so.  “We ain’t got enough showers for Normie to kill all y’all,” she protested in a completely incongruous southern accent.

Simply awesome! That’s almost exactly the way it went down. All y’all might be interested to know that I had to apologize profusely again the next day (when I got back to collect my car””thanks again for the ride north, Roger!) for all the kerfuffle about the numbers. Her complaining about the numbers and how she couldn’t accommodate all of us because of the laws and because she was wildly uncomfortable with the changes in the original book were so passive aggressive it even made this Canadian blush. Followed by her insisting that we all stay there again…

Such an awesomely, painful but would-not-have-missed-it-for-the -world ride. I think Rob nailed it for me, I will not ride that one again, it just cannot improve. But, I will hopefully be driving SAG next year and there is always the “other” 200 not on 100 that the trio did a week ago going from Burlington to Maine. Now THAT is something that I could sink my teeth into!