Russ Loomis cruising through Burlington on his Vermont cross-state record attempt.

August 5^th was cool at the start of the Vermont N-S record attempt. After a few starting photos I was on my way to the southern Vermont/Massachusetts border. I was slightly chilled but I knew that I would soon warm up. I started a little after 6 a.m. and there was not much traffic. By the time I entered Burlington I was warm and the traffic was beginning to fill the streets. I took a side street on the top of the ridge over looking Lake Champlain and was treated to very nice views.

South of Burlington I was back on US Route 7. Somewhere on this stretch before Middlebury I came upon a rider and as we got closer I recognized that it was John Ceceri, the race director of the ADK540 and the Saratoga 12- and 24-hour. I shouted "John Ceceri" and kept riding. He stopped to visit with my crew as I continued.

Wayne Cernak, on Loomis' crew, and John Ceceri.

The traffic became very heavy in the small Vermont towns. It was a Saturday in the peak of summer and a sunny warm day. It was slow going though these towns with their many yard sales and I was starting to get hot. It reached 90F and I began asking the crew for more water.

The last 30 miles had steep climbs before Bennington and my pace began to slow. I also got two flats that I had to deal with. I switched bikes after the first rear flat and continued. After fixing the tire my crew caught up and I swapped bikes again. A few miles up down the road my rear tire blew again. I stopped and within minutes my crew came along and I swapped bikes again. I rode this bike to the finish.

Loomis enjoying Lake Champlain as he races across Vermont.

After getting through Bennington I was on the final stretch which rolls and climbs to the finish. I needed water and received a handoff. I drank a few sips and missed the cage dropping my bottle. I was still thirsty! As my crew car passed I reported what happened and they turned back to retrieve the bottle.

As I was climbing the last few miles they drove past to get to the end to record the attempt. I was hot and thirsty when I finished. It was a good ride. I did what I set out to do, set the Vermont n-s record! Thanks you to all who helped me accomplish this.

Loomis leaving Rutland Vermont on his record attempt.

Official Record:179.6 miles in 9 hours 42 minutes, average speed of 18.5 mph, Sandy Whittlesey, official
Start:US 7 at the VT/Canada border
Finish:US 7 at the MA/VT state line