Categories: Cogals

Bringing the Mountain to Muhammad: Seattle Cogal

@Cyclops has taken it upon himself to organize North America’s first official Cogal right in the backyard of where it all started: Seattle, Wa. @Scaler911 and @McSqueak have confirmed that they will be driving up from Portland, OR to attend and we hereby invite any and all Velominati to attend.

We’ll be doing a no-drop ride on Whidbey Island, following a route that is not terribly hilly and easily accommodates varying distances, though I myself will be planning on a 100k or more. We’ll leave the Coffeehouse Bookstore in Langley at V minutes past 10 to give everyone plenty of time to find their way up to the island and into Langley. Route details will be published in the posts below when it is confirmed. (I have to do some research as I’ve not done the ride in it’s entirety myself.) Hope to see you there.

UPDATE: The route has been posted on MapMyRide. It is a 160km ride with the option to cut section off for those who are getting tired.

UPDATE: Those who are interested are invited to dinner Friday Evening at Quinn’s Pub on Capital Hill in Seattle. Please arrive as close to 6:30 as possible; late-comers will not be guaranteed a seat at the table if the place is full.

Yours in Cycling,

Frank

—

Though there are two 2011 U.S. National Champions about 30 minutes down the interstate from me – southeast Idaho isn’t exactly a road bike Mecca. And I wear the V-Shirt whenever I’m traveling in the area to races (whether to participate or spectate) but I’ve only had one person recognize the Sign of the “V”. So the chances of running into or riding with a fellow Velominati are pretty slim. Let alone the demented brainchild of all this nonsense – Darth Strack. What’s a boy to do? Take the bull by the horns and make it happen my own self, that’s what. I figure that anywhere that I can drive to in a day is not too far to go for a ride so I’m off to Seattle to see whether this “Frank” character is indeed worthy to be praised or if he’s just some guy behind a curtain pulling levers and turning dials.

The plan is for a meet and greet (and eat and drink) Friday night Oct. 14 and a ride on Saturday the 15th. A few blokes from Portland way are planning on coming up as well so it looks like it is going to turn into a little Gran Fronkdo. Anyone that can make it is invited. We haven’t sorted out the details of the route or meeting place or time or anything important like that but we should have all that set in cobbles by early this week, so stay tuned.

Cyclops

I really like riding road bikes as fast as possible. I live in Lexington, KY so here is a standing offer to anybody coming my way: Need a place to crash, need a steak grilled to perfection, need a beer you can't see through, need your wheels trued, need theological insight? I'll hook you up. Just get a hold of me.

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View Comments

Steampunk says:

Oct 20 2011 at 5:25 am

@Jeff in PetroMetro
I can fly out of Buffalo for $250. Delta charges for bikes, though, right?
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Oct 20 2011 at 6:37 am

Hmmmm. I'm cog-itating. What size bike do you ride?
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Oct 20 2011 at 6:38 am

@Steampunk
It would help if I hit the reply button. So. Trying again. What size bike?
Steampunk says:

Oct 20 2011 at 7:29 am

@Jeff in PetroMetro
I ride a 56, but I suspect I'd be equally comfortable on something a bit smaller"”54, 55"”depending on the set up. Still have to make sure the dates even work at this end...
Dr C says:

Oct 20 2011 at 8:53 am

Okay, last time...

HELP US - we need your metres....

http://app.strava.com/komchallenge/club/velominati-1086/results/october
Buck Rogers says:

Oct 20 2011 at 9:02 am

@Steampunk

@Jeff in PetroMetroI ride a 56, but I suspect I'd be equally comfortable on something a bit smaller"”54, 55"”depending on the set up. Still have to make sure the dates even work at this end...

My new (old) Merckx should be here by then so I will have two Merckx's sitting around, both 56cm. I would be willing, for someone like you, to loan one out for the ride, esp if you come all the way down here just for the Cogal!
xyxax says:

Oct 20 2011 at 9:33 am

I'm secretly hoping that @Steampunk decides to drive, needs a nature break in NYC, where I hop in the glove compartment. Then we stack your two Merckseses one atop the other and off we ride into a Texas sandstorm.

Stranger things have happened. Mostly on the internet.
Steampunk says:

Oct 20 2011 at 10:00 am

@Buck Rogers @Jeff in PetroMetro
Thanks, both. Rule 11 moment: just remembered that Mrs. Steampunk's birthday is that weekend, so this won't fly. Do I fall afoul of Rule 11 for backing out on these grounds, or do I get Rule 11 points for spending a decent amount of time in checking into flights and accommodation before realizing there were Rule 11 considerations involved?

@xyxax
Steampunk's sense of direction is such that"”even if he were foolish enough to drive to Texas"”going through NYC wouldn't likely be on the cards (you would, of course, be very welcome to the passenger seat). Having said that, if you could get yourself to Buffalo in March, I am seriously contemplating driving to Madison so that I can bring the bike along (and maybe break up the trip with a ride). End of March.

Also not quite sure what I think of your tandem idea. On principle or in practice.
Buck Rogers says:

Oct 20 2011 at 11:09 am

@xyxax

I'm secretly hoping that @Steampunk decides to drive, needs a nature break in NYC, where I hop in the glove compartment. Then we stack your two Merckseses one atop the other and off we ride into a Texas sandstorm.
Stranger things have happened. Mostly on the internet.

Yeah, but you'd have to find the hidden GPS chip that is on the bikes or I"d hunt you down and we'd have a real Texas showdown!
xyxax says:

Oct 20 2011 at 11:19 am

@Buck Rogers
No, no! Everyone together, cogal-like. I know better than to piss of a Special Forces eye surgeon.
Any surgeon for that matter.