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

itburns says:

Oct 13 2011 at 1:32 pm

@Buck Rogers
I usually ride north of Houston up around Conroe/Montgomery for the "hills" but will go through old ride maps and ask around for recommendations. Corpus Christi is about 4 hours away for me but I know of some riders down that way.
Buck Rogers says:

Oct 13 2011 at 1:44 pm

@itburns
What about bewteen Houston and Christi along the coast? Any good riding there? I know that JiPM is located somewhere near (or in) Houston. I'd be more than happy to try to come closer to you guys, just need a nice coastal area to sell it correctly to the VMH and mini-Velominati's!
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Oct 13 2011 at 4:28 pm

@Buck Rogers

@itburns
What about a weekend at the Hyatt Lost Pines just outside of Austin? There's a TON of stuff kids can do. Moms, too. It's nice. And Buck, since you're in the military (I think), I'm pretty sure you can get a gubment discount. We can set up a Saturday and a Sunday ride through the Bastrop/Smithville/Austin areas. Bastrop State Park is closed due to the wildfires, but we can ride lots of other places. I can put routes together for both days, maybe about 100km or so for each day? Talk amongst ya'selves. I'm up for it.
frank says:

Oct 13 2011 at 6:40 pm

@Steampunk

@wiscot
Terrific! Let's talk closer to the time, but I'd be up for 100-160k followed by brewpub or some such.

As the time nears, one of you can publish a Cogal announcement; we'll make it official.

@Jeff in PetroMetro

@Buck Rogers
@itburns
What about a weekend at the Hyatt Lost Pines just outside of Austin? There's a TON of stuff kids can do. Moms, too. It's nice. And Buck, since you're in the military (I think), I'm pretty sure you can get a gubment discount. We can set up a Saturday and a Sunday ride through the Bastrop/Smithville/Austin areas. Bastrop State Park is closed due to the wildfires, but we can ride lots of other places. I can put routes together for both days, maybe about 100km or so for each day? Talk amongst ya'selves. I'm up for it.

Get something set up and we'll publish it. Let's get these Cogals rolling. Anyone is empowered to organize them in the Velominati name; assuming no one shows up on Whidbey with a gun, these are the manifestation of the community. Organize it, write an article, make it happen.
Buck Rogers says:

Oct 13 2011 at 7:53 pm

@Jeff in PetroMetro

@Buck Rogers
@itburns What about a weekend at the Hyatt Lost Pines just outside of Austin? There's a TON of stuff kids can do. Moms, too. It's nice. And Buck, since you're in the military (I think), I'm pretty sure you can get a gubment discount. We can set up a Saturday and a Sunday ride through the Bastrop/Smithville/Austin areas. Bastrop State Park is closed due to the wildfires, but we can ride lots of other places. I can put routes together for both days, maybe about 100km or so for each day? Talk amongst ya'selves. I'm up for it.

JiPM: Even with the military discount it's still over $250 bucks a night! The riding sounds great but the VMH isn't going for the price. But I bet we can find a cheaper place for ourselves in the area and meet up with you for rides, etc. Is your VMH and kiddos/kid (unsure how many you have) going along as well? I'm definitely not out, just trying to plan. Thanks for the effort so far!
nvvelominati says:

Oct 14 2011 at 11:58 am

To all the riders, 'Have a great ride.' I wish I wasn't working or I'd be making the short trip from North Vancouver. There is something about fall time riding that I just love. Leaves, the smells, the crisp air. Safe ride everyone. I hope to meet someday
itburns says:

Oct 14 2011 at 12:07 pm

@Buck Rogers,@JiPM
Austin area works for me.
frank says:

Oct 14 2011 at 12:42 pm

Marko here on Frank's iPad with Frank and Cyclops. We're on our way to Whidbey for some route marking and recon. Skies are clearing for tomorrow and we're stoked for the meet and greet tonight. Cyclops isn't that weird either in person and his LOOK is as sweet as you'd imagine. Cheers fuckers, wish you could all make it.
mcsqueak says:

Oct 14 2011 at 12:51 pm

@~~frank~~Marko

Sweet. Just purchased my ferry tickets online, and leaving my office in an hour to head North. Looking forward to the meet-up!
Nate says:

Oct 14 2011 at 12:58 pm

@Cogal-nati
Bonne Route gents.

@Tex-nati (JiPM et al)
I might encouter some cattle grates this weekend. Recommended approach to dealing with them?