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.
Sooooooooooo tempting. I could get a ticket for less than $450 and borrow a bike.
I’m up for 100k+. By the Way, how much does the ferry cost to get over there?
Sounds awesome. We got any other folks in Arizona?
@Marko
How tall are you? I got a 54cm Cannondale I could bring.
Pics or it didn’t happen… have fun, wish I could make it.
oooh tempting – Whidbey has much fun roller action! Will think about it – I have a cyclocross race at some ungodley hour on Sunday morning…
Ohhhhh yeah. I’m getting stoked for this! 100km shouldn’t be a problem. I haven’t had as much time to ride recently, but I’m doing a century tomorrow so we’ll see where my fitness is at.
I’m probably going to wind up spending Friday night at a friends folk’s place in Olympia so I don’t have such a long drive on Saturday morning. I’ll try to make it up to Seattle for the Friday meet-n-greet, but we’ll see what time I make it up there after work on Friday.
@mcsqueak
I haven’t been riding much lately either so I’m hoping the “I’m really well rested” plan works out.
You should really try to make it for drinks and dinner on Friday night. I’m leaving southeast Idaho Thursday night so I should be rolling into Seattle sometime in the early afternoon. I’ll be getting a hotel so if you or anybody else wants to share a room I’d be up for that.
@Cyclops
Here is the fare chart. Something like $10 for a car + passenger.
@Gerard
We’ll definitely get you home in time for your ‘cross race, unless ‘clops get weird. Planning on rehydrating somewhere on-island before rolling back to Seattle.
@Marko
Doooooeeeeeeiiiiiitttt.
You can borrow any of my bikes and I’m sure we can pull out a bike for you to use from somewhere if they are all too big for you.
@sgt
agreed, some video clips as well would be nice. I want to see you guys on turbo trainers, hooked up to the ferry and powering it over to the island also, just for warm up of course.
@mcsqueak
Correct. You can also drive up and around via deception pass if ferry’s aren’t your thing.
@frank
Third option is parking in the little town that the ferry takes off from, and just riding across as a passenger + bike, which is cheaper and less likely to not have tickets available. It’s only about 8 km from the landing at Clinton to the coffee shop.
Damnnnnn, wish I was closer! Have fun lads, sounds awesome!
@McSqueak – Harvest Century?
@Gerard
Yes sir. I don’t do a lot of organized rides but I want to push myself to do a lengthy ride at least once this year, and knowing I will have food/water every 30 kms will make it a bit easier (most of my rides are usually solo 40-80 km affairs, so I don’t generally carry more than a bar and some water).
Are you going to be there? I have a black Felt bike, say hi if you’re out there and see me.
Am planning on attending the events.
The link to the starting Island Coffee Shop is broken, so not sure where the start point is. The Mukiteo/Clinton ferry should provide transport, but heed: the WA state ferry system is notoriously unreliable, in that the state is broke, and the ferry service simply has no money for operations. Boats are scheduled, but that schedule is often interrupted when boats need repair. Which is often, since they have no preventative maintenance. Lines on weekends can be long, and a boat may be full if you are trying to take a car. Walk on with a bike is much cheaper and reliable. No cleats on the passenger deck, so bring some of those rediculous slippers @Frank had on.
That said, the experience of being out on the waters of the Sound on a nice NW day to experience a bike ride is unrivaled. Unultegraed. And Unrecorded. Ark.
I wish I could make it but since Iowa is a bit more than a days drive for me I simply can’t make it. It would be great to meet some of you hot rods and see if I could at least keep you in my site.
Frank I do have favor to ask of you if I may? I would be more than happy to pay for your time and trouble. A goodwill store in Seattle has what appears to be a nice Cannondale MTB that is on Ebay cheap right now. Only problem is they require local pickup only. I would like to drop some cash in your Pay Pal account to pay for your gas and time to go look at the bike and tell me if it something worth buying. If I could win the auction I would like to throw more cash at you to box up the bike and ship it to me. Please however if this is something you have no desire to do don’t hesitate to say no and I’ll just mark that one off my list.
Might I suggest Hale’s Ales in Fremont for the Friday eats and Good Belgian Style Beer?
@eightzero
I was a bit worried about the same thing, i.e. getting to the ferry and having a long queue. I guess you can buy tickets online ahead of time, which may be smart.
Regarding no cleats on the deck, and idea of cleat covers will satisfy them, or are they so anal as to not believe those will protect the deck from damage?
@fasthair
My pleasure. I’ll contact you via email to arrange the particulars.
@eightzero
Or Brouwers?
Regarding the Coffee House – it’s been renamed to Coffeehouse Bookstore, I guess. Try this link (also updated article.)
http://southwhidbeycommons.org/mission/coffeehouse-bookstore/
@mcsqueak
yes I will be there, friend of mine wanted company – I did Cycle Oregon as my first organized ride which was interesting…. wil be on a black Cervelo R3, Kask helmet/ adidas white framed eyewear with orange lenses likley… and larger logo castelli bibs for my sins :O)
@eightzero, @mcsqueak
If we feel it might be too unreliable/stressful/costly to do the Ferry, we can also do a nice route out in Skaggit valley, which would eliminate the need for a Ferry ride but is a slightly farther drive. Probably the same amount of total time for transport.
There is also a good pub at the end of the Skaggit ride and a solid parking lot for parking.
@frank
Thanks a ton! You’re on my Christmas card list! I’m out of town with only my phone but I can get emails.
@frank
Eh, I think it’ll be fine, if you give yourself enough time.
Wow! I’m soooooo jealous. The first North American Cogal. To make it on time, I’d have to start driving tomorrow. Sucks. *kicks dirt, hands in pockets, pouts*
Y’all have fun. No, no, it’s okay. I’ll just ride around and around and around the Fruit Loop in Memorial Park. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Really. *sniffles*
Have always wanted to do the Whidbey ride, but your call – not trying to second guess or complain. I see the Mukelteo/Clinton run is on the hour and half hour. I think the 9am sailing from Mukelteo gets us there in time to ride to the Langley coffee shop (that I have now found on google maps) in time for pre-ride espressi. Best to ditch the car – why bring it over?
@mcsqueak I’ve never seen anyone given a hard time by WSDOT about cleats or covers, but Washingtonians are notoriously compliants about everything. I just take my shoes off.
Brouwers fuck yeah! What time?
Enjoy yourselves. On a little island myself right now – but mine is on the Coral Sea. Only ball bearings I will be hearing are those located in my fishing reel!
@mcsqueak
oh, one other thing – buying a ticket in advance isn’t an advantage. The only line issue is the car wait line. Always lots of room for bikes/walk ons. There is parking near the ferry terminal, but it is generally a pay lot, even on weekends.
@eightzero
I just had a quick look around the town of Mukilteo on Google Maps, and I imagine there is street parking within a 2-3 min bike ride of the terminal. The website does say that parking “near” the terminal is very limited and had a 4 hr time limit, but I’m guessing they are taking into account people who need to walk and don’t want to park 15-20 blocks away.
Also cyclists get to load first, as well.
@eightzero
Ha, yeah – as I read the Washington ferry site more I realized that buying a ticket ahead of time doesn’t actually reserve you a spot, it just makes it so you don’t have to worry about payment then and there.
@Marcus
Today I was at the barber shop and what came on their iPod music system? Fuckin’ Men at Work “land down under” or whatever that shit is called, which I was insulting you and your countrymen with some time back. I had a chuckle, because I was also reading this very site on my iPhone at the same time.
Love to join you guys, but due to my location in the east, and the fact i work weekends, there is no way I’m going to be able to make it. If anyone wants to organize an East Coast get together somewhere like scenic Lancaster, PA or in Mountainous Central Vermont, I could find a way to make either of those.
@mcsqueak
Ya, OK fucker. I’m going to be a at frackin’ mostly forced ‘prog rock’ show on Friday night in Tacoma (Washington’s right armpit, Spokane being the Left). Bunch of 50 somethings reliving the glory days of arena rock. Merckx bless my neighbor, great guy, and the only reason I’m doing it. Sooooo, I’ll be hung over, and smelling of Ben-gay. Just take it easy on a fellow VM, yes?
Hey, all. Long time reader first time poster. Really love the site and the passion for the sport. The pictures and the knowledge have been a great way to pass some slow work days. Just wondering if you would welcome a Vancouver rider for the Cogal? I’ve been looking for a reason to ride in WA, and this seems like a great one. Cheers!
Whidbey Cogal V-Team – do yourselves a massive favor, and stop in at Mosquito Fleet Chili in Coupeville for some coffee and a piece of pie or a pecan roll…
These folks (husband & wife team) bring The V to their cooking and community.
Top Notch.
I cannot recommend more highly…!
Would love to join in the fun, but flying out from CO is not in the cards next weekend…
Your 100k will roll by like nothing.
And now for something completely different…
I want to be prepared for whatever weather might greet me for the Seattle cogal so I was at a huge store that shall remain nameless tonight in search of a long sleeve insulated Under Armour type shirt to wear under my jersey just in case it’s a bit nippy next weekend. So I was thinking of cycling and focused on getting to the other side of the store not really aware that I’m following a woman pushing a shopping cart. I’m just behind her off of her right quarter when all of a sudden she gives her right elbow a little flick. Seeing as I had cycling on the mind and was focused elsewhere – as opposed to walking down the aisle of a huge store – I immediately thought to myself “My turn to pull.” Then I realized where I was and began to chuckle to myself.
I love bikes.
If you’re not there you suck.
@Drew
My browser is acting weird. Like I said, “If you’re not there you suck.” Seriously dude. You definitely need to come.
I’ll be there!
I have an extra 56cm Cervelo available to lend.
Bon route, rascals. Be sure to apply ample, amber coloured refreshment both pre and post.
@all
any danger of you Cogalites sticking your iphones or Garmins which you would never violate your stems with, in your back pockets for the ride and give us a few more V-vert for our Velominati Team KOM Strava Competition? We are up to 41st overall…..
That looks like it’ll be an awesome day. Maybe a EuroCogal in the future?
@Dr C @snoov
Now there’s a thought, a Euro Cogal. Any takers? This looks like it could be oozing Rule #9. If there was sufficient interest, I could look into finding a food/drink/eat location for the Saturday night. We could then ride from said location to the start so as to round it up to a full century, unlike our cousins in the west.
If not that ride, any other thoughts?
444 for roun trip tix and rental car, uggggh. so tempting.
@Dr C
Ya, I’ll do it. I have Strava on my iPhone, and a Strava account, but have not used it yet. I’ll give ‘er a trial run today.
@Marko
Do it!
@Chris
i’m up for some uk based group rides, and early season miles are never a bad idea
@Chris
A UK based Cogal is +1 for me. Getting the miles in is always a good idea.
I would certainly try to arrange one of my visits back to London to time with an Anglo-Velominati trip.
The Hell of the Ashdown is a great ride but it might be best to plan something not based on an organised event, or at least not one that is so popular. It would make it difficult for people to join at anything less than a couple of month’s notice. Last year, according to Cyclosport, the 1000 places went within 36 hours of entries being opened in December.
There are lots of good sportive routes and club routes that we could ‘borrow’. Or do the same route but just do it another day. Ashdown forest is a great place to ride, as is the North Downs – the Ride of the Falling Leaves (Dulwich Paragon version, not the Giro di Lombardia) route is pretty good too and also takes in Toys Hill, Sundridge and some other pretty fearsome climbs.
It is a little known thing that the year the Tour started in London, the steepest climbs of the whole tour were on the London to Canterbury stage. SE UK has some very sharp climbs, they’re just not long… thank God.