The Cogals

Cogals (pronounce it correctly: kog-al) are meetings of like-minded misfits brought together by the promise of beer, preceded by a bike ride. Cogals are free, open to all, organized by our fellow Velominati and are always followed by consumption of post-ride recovery ales and merriment. These are gatherings of unbridled observance of Rule #4.

Cogals differ themselves from other group rides by the meeting the following criteria:

  • First, Cogals are free, organized and supported through Velominati, though not necessarily a Keeper. Anyone is welcome to join a Cogal. Legally speaking, however, we have no involvement, so if you crash or die, it’s your own problem. Please be careful to study the route previously and take precautionary measures to stay safe.
  • Second, a Cogal is a day-long undertaking that focuses 100% on the bike. The rides are categorized (Casually Deliberate,  Rule #5,  Rule #10, for example) but are long. This is what you’re doing today, nothing else; see  Rule #4. Rides can be any length, but a minimum distance of 130km should be expected.
  • Third, Cogals always include a session of Malted Recovery Beverage Consumption after the ride. Whenever possible, it should also include a pre-ride espresso.

Not all the events in The Cogals are actual Cogals. We also post rides and events that are of interest to the community, as well as Keepers Tours, which are Velominati-hosted, paid cycling Tours tailored to the tastes of a velominatus.

Any member of the community is welcomed to organize a Cogal. If interested, either post your interest below or email us with the following information:

  • Date of Cogal
  • Starting Address (ideally somewhere neutral, like a café or park)
  • Route (MapMyRide, Bikely, or Strava)
  • Ride Classification (Casually Deliberate, Rule V, Rule VV, or suggest another)
  • A paragraph describing the Cogal

Upcoming Cogals

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Submit Your Own Cogal:

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View Comments

  • @strathlubnaig

    @Chris

    @JohnB

    @ChrisO It's Scotland in summer. You may need your scuba gear on the ride if as @the-farmer says....

    or the return of @ChrisO's granny tights. the horror, the horror.

    I'd love to do this, it has the potential to be an epic weekend but the dates don't look good. I'm likely to be in France the for the last two weeks in August and the first weekend will most likely be spent panicking trying to sort out the camping gear and clear the decks for two weeks off work.

    How about a more Rule #9 compliant version in October? We could all ride very slowly, look very serious and sell the film to Rapha for a small fortune.

    How about we just all do it again in the Fall then ?

    Yes. Apart from being on holiday for the August edition, @Mrs Chris has given Approval in Principle.*

    *Possibly not what you might term explicit approval but inferred from the fact that she didn't say no at any point in the conversation.

  • @the Engine

    I may have mentioned this before but the Kinlochewe hotel was the setting for my mum and dad's first date post a "chance" meeting on their bikes by Loch Maree.

    Karma huh?

    Maybe you could write a poem about it ?

  • @JohnB

    @frank Full and formal Cogal details inc route will be emailed this week. @campbellrae1. You've got the Saturday route spot on. Sunday recovery route can be flexible.

    Thats handy, Applecross Inn at the halfway point !

  • @frank

    Chuck something over to the cogals email laddy and we'll get this on formally.

    Emailed over last night. Keep further posts on Caledonian Cogal V for when it's up in the calendar. In the meantime check out this months Cyclist mag. 9 pages on The Big One -  yep, The Bealach.

  • RIGHT!!!  I am crashing at Roger's place near Boston the last weekend in April for a conference and we have decided to have a Cogal that Saturday.  The Cogal will take place in Lexington, MA on Saturday the 26th of April starting at Roger's cycling shop (Ride Studio Cafe--not actually "his" but he works there so close enough--1720 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA 02420) at V after 0900.

    It is a gravel/dirt Cogal.  Route attached.  This route was used last September for another ride and is supposedly AWESOME!!!

    You will need 28mm at a minimum, maybe 32 mm tires on gravel/CX bikes per the description.

    Here's a link to the route/description/etc from the September ride but this one is by us, not the cycling shop, but all are welcome of course!  The write up mentions registering/meals/etc.  None of that applies to us.  Details on pre-ride espresso/pre-night drinking in Boston/post ride recovery drinking is forthcoming.

    http://velocb.blogspot.com/2013/09/honey-one-hundred.html?m=1

    This is just what we call a WARNO in the Army to put it on your radars!

    See you then and we owe you the rest of the details ASAP!  I will be riding my steel 2006 LeMan poprad (weighs around 26 pounds) so I will NOT be fast.  It will be a Casually Deliberate ride so leave the ego's at home but bring the fun!

  • IF (IF) i'm not completely broke (I'll need to hotel it) from all the other gravel rides going on, I might be able to make it down. The weekend before is the Rasputitsa.

  • @Weldertron indeed it is. you're more than welcome to just come down after that weekend with me to boston!

    and dont worry about hotel man...we'll sort you out

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