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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How many folks live in Japan, particularly within the Kanto Plain? We regularly ride up to 150kms in beautiful scenery in Japan.
For what ever reason, bringing together a bunch of like minded cycling nuts just seems to work. Whether you know the individual or group from previous rides, or whether they are complete strangers and the only interaction has been in the mysterious world of the inter portals, it doesnt matter.
The planets just seem to align on a Cogal and as evidenced by February's Fleurieu Peninsula heat fest, everyone bands together to get the group home in one peice to enjoy tales of the ride and amber fluid and fine food.
We are upping the anti this year in sunny and hopefully not too hot South Australia and aiming for TWO cogals to coincide with our own world tour event and a couple of little known cobble classics across the oceans.
So stay tuned folks for the following cogals
TDU Velominati Cogal : January 2015 @Mikael Liddy's project
Fleurieu Peninsula Sauna Cogal : April 2015 @Barracuda's project
Planning underway.
@Barracuda "Hey there's some people that wanna ride too!" "Pick'em up!"
@unversio Would make for some interesting post ride beverage talk. As long as the brews were in unopened bottles ala the policeman scene !
Thank you Frank, Gianni and Rapha Cycle Club NYC. Cogal and book signing was great to attend. Nice shop, nice people and Gianni, thanks for the post ride malted recovery beverage!
OK, who fancies a Yorkshire Cogal to mark this year's visit of 'Le Tour'.
We're going to be up there watching it over the weekend of 5th/6th July, so I was thinking of putting something together on Friday 4th. We're camping near the village of Hawes and so we'll base the ride from there.
I'll put a route together taking in as much of the actual tour route as possible.
Who's in?
@Frank
Can we get this up on the Cogal Calendar?
@936adl
Potentially though Friday could be an issue but I may be able to arrange to have some business in Leeds/Bradford on the Thurs if I am lucky which would sort things for me.
@936adl Potentially though Friday could be an issue but I may be able to arrange to have some business in Leeds/Bradford on the Thurs if I am lucky which would sort things for me.
@936adl
Would love to but I've managed to book my main target of the year for the same weekend in Italy. Doh!
@Bespoke
Here's the moveover start for the proposed 2014 Southern Ontario Cogal. I hope this moveover is by the Rules enough.