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
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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.
@mcsqueak
Bainbridge is the home of the famous Chilly Hill ride:
http://shop.cascade.org/content/events/chilly-hilly
It can be ridden any time of course. Me and the VMH ride the loop the opposite direction in the summer.
@Frank: we have a final location/time decision on friday beer, booze and food? Never too early to plan the revelry.
@Eightzero
Ah, cool – yes I’ve heard of that ride, but didn’t know where it took place. I think a group ride is in order then, maybe the Chilly Hilly itself? It would be cool to get a large group all kitted-up for the event…
Yes, a location for the beer and food would be good. My hotel choice will probably be somewhat determined on where we go.
@mcsqueak
We had fucking snow on CH in 2011. Most defintiely a Rule #9 situation.
We need to have a V-Fondo.
@King Clydesdale
It is the moaning at the end of the clip as he starts to come around to deer shit on his head and possible multiple bone fractures that wins it for me. I am sure that deer saw him and thought I am taking that mofo down, american football styleee.
@Dr C
I could not omit the classic quote of Sean Eadie from the Velominati archives so I am reposting here. (re-direct from strava.com where Dr C was asking about the rule violation on my face, i said i subscribe to the Sean Eadie school of thought but not yet with the tree trunk legs)
@huffalotpuffalot
nice one!
Riccardo Ricco has finally confessed to giving himself a blood transfusion, but claimed it was “done only on medical prescription.”
Tosser
@King Clydesdale
Everyone is now wondering why I just snorted uncontrollably!
The closest I’ve come to something like that was being chased by a bull across a field in the UK. We were walking our bikes so s not to scare the bull when one of them, young but a good size, started to follow quite closely. It then pawed the ground a couple of times, stuck its head down and flung its legs out behind. I think the sudden movement of swinging my bike round to get on distracted it, the bike was a bright yellow Cannondale. I made it the next gate to find that it had given up and was happily munching flowers but I had been prepared to hit the gate at full speed knowing that slowing down and dismounting would have taken longer than an over the bars and over the gate manoeuvre.
I’ve never been back that way again,
@Frank Friday Beer, Booze and Eats is where and when?
@eightzero
Guys – I’m making the final adjustments to the plan today. Please check back. The route and the eating location will be nailed down this morning and the coordinates will be given. Beers at 7pm, location to be announced.
Thanks for your work Frank! I think Don and I should plan a cogal in PDX for this spring or summer, where we do the planning work and you can sit back, relax, and just show up for a sweet ride.
The Route has been posted on MapMyRide. See below for details.
@mcsqueak
That would be great. I’ve heard amazing things about the riding down there.
@frank
That looks an awesome route Frank, I am so jealous of you guys but flying from the UK may be a little hard to get past the financial controller.
Just one question, miles ? Km surely are the unit of choice for our leader?
@frank
Ohhh….170s, hunh? A full century. Rule V. I remember the part of Joe Parkin’s book when he showed up for a training ride in Belgium with a new riding buddy. Joe had 2 water bottles, and the belgian looked askanse. “Thirsty? You know…we can stop and pick up more along the way.” Joe ditched the second bottle.
I’ll be fooding up at every opportunity. Weather is looking up too.
Wow, a bit longer than I expected! Alright then, I’ll just have to man up.
@Eightzero
Yeah, the nice thing about riding with a group as you can pop into places for food/water while someone watches the bikes. I’ll for sure have to eat and refill the bottles along the way.
Very jealous. Have tried to work out an affordable flight out, but I can’t make it work””largely because I have to be back in Toronto on the Sunday morning. Happy riding, y’all.
A couple of future group-ride suggestions:
1. Madison, WI, March 30, 2012
2. Liège, Belgium, April 22, 2012
@Steampunk
What? For a football match? RFC De Liege vsRRCc Hamoir? Although for a moment I thought it was a rugby match.
There’s also a bike race on the same day. Sounds like the sportive is the day before the race. That I could probably get to.
@Steampunk
Mad-town would be fun. Wiscot would probably be down for that one. I’ll be working though.
Take lots of pictures. I loom forward to hearing about this.
@RedRanger
The new iPhone os comes out today, and that should make it way easier to take photos while riding, so I for one will try to snap a lot of them while we’re out.
I’ll also be on the lookout for a loom for you. I had no idea you were into weaving.
@mcsqueak
Sweet. I like me a new OS. Dude I am super tired at the moment and the iPhone key board has been my enemy. I am looking for an excuse to quite my job so I can sleep more.
@Lepidopterist
Always KM’s, but MMR has a tendency to default to miles when I embed this stuff. So when I look at it, its in Km’s, but others will see it in miles. I’m actually working with them on improving the embed tool, and we’ll have to add that to the list.
@Marko
Rats. I expect Josh is down for Madison, too.
@Chris
As it happens, I thought LBL was the following weekend for some reason, and found an excuse to be in Munich the previous week so I could skip out to Belgium for the weekend. Turns out I got that one wrong, but will try to book travel around the race and get some riding in.
@mcsqueak, @Eightzero
It’s very easy to cut bits of the route off if you get tired. We’ll mock you though. Oh, and I am out of shape myself. I may be the one cutting bits off.
@Steampunk
Great plan. Would love to do it. Whoever lives in those areas should feel free to take the lead and hook it up.
@mcsqueak, @RedRanger
I’ve been using iOS 5 for about a month. Its the cat’s cock. The camera is cool, but the notification system will change your life.
@all
Dinner arrangements have been made. We’ll be meeting Friday night at Quinn’s Pub on Capital Hill at 6:30 for beers and food. Make sure you’re on time – I had to really work with them to get the reservation made and they are going to seat us right at 6:30 or 6:35 and those who are late are going to have to fend for their own in order to get a table.
Looking forward to it.
@Steampunk
Keep me up to speed on the LBL arrangements. I’ll start dropping some subtle hints to Mrs Chris. A good proper reason drop some V on the rollers over the next few months! With some luck some other Euro Velominati will come out of the woodwork.
@frank
I did 105 miles last weekend, I can surely do it again this weekend. Average grades on the rollers look to be 2.5% – no problem for easy cruising. It’s not like we’re grinding up and down massive climbs.
We can try to do the full thing, or not. I just know my body and the way it likes to “bonk” on long rides if I get hungry, and getting a bit of food at some point (like after 65 kms or whatever) is a good idea for me. It can be a roll from a coffee shop or a pastry from 7-11, or whatever. Not a big deal.
Dinner promptly at 6:30? Maybe I should leave PDX at 2 instead…
Have fun gents. Wish I could be there but Rule #11 considerations intervene.
@frank — can I suggest getting the Giro di Lombardia VSP up before dinner Friday? The race is on Saturday, not Sunday.
@Chris
Chris,
I’ll be up for A Madison ride. Any other WI-based velominati out there? I’m just north of Milwaukee and can easily provide ride up to and over 100 miles without a stop light on roads that are very light on traffic.
Whoa, a late season century? I guess we’ll be in for some serious liquid carbo-loading/hydrating at Quinn’s Friday night.
@mcsqueak
Yup, have fun. I was on Whidbey island a few years ago in early spring. Bright su, everything budding out and warm – just gorgeous and weeks ahead of WI. Even back then I thought it would be an ace place to ride. Enjoy!
@frank
Quinn’s – Fuck yeah! Then we’ll all be fookin’ hung over for the v-ride.
Man the weather is looking like it’s going to be nice too. I just got the OK from the boss to not even come in tomorrow so I might be rolling into Seattle Thursday night. I’ll be able to get a ride in on Friday for sure now.
Rule #24, people!!
@Chris @Steampunk @frank
no dates out yet for L-B-L, but it’s usually 14 days after P-R which is on the 8th April
I’m cycling in Mallorca 17-21, and nearly booked my flights today, only the system cocked up so not booked yet – guess I could fly back via Brussels and join up if some Vs were doing summmink, but would need to get details soon to get it in t’diary
L-B-L Sportive looks awesome, but I think it will be on the 21st, so I wouldn’t get there in time – food for thought though
@frank
if you were going to the L-B-L weekend, how would you spend the weekend?
@wiscot
Josh and I will both be conferencing in Madison during the last week of March. A Friday afternoon ride would be great””especially if you know where to go. Let’s put this in motion.
@Chris
Will do. I’m still waiting to hear about funding for travel, but if that comes through, I’ll definitely be trying to drop myself in Belgium. The rest will hinge on whether to bring a bike or rent one when I get there…
@Nate
Good catch – I’ll get it up tonight. Thanks!
@Dr C
Is this a trick question? Riding Saturday, watching Sunday, of course.
Which reminds me:
@all
For those joining the ride Saturday – go download the Strava app (for either iPhone or Android) and get signed up. We want to give Dr. C all our cumulative love for the little competition he keeps nagging us about. I don’t use Strava so I have no idea what that’s about. I think the process is (1) Join the Velominati group or something and (2) Stop sucking so much.
I wish I could make it. I don’t post much but I lurk a lot. I have to work all weekend. LAX has flights for $200 too!! And I’m peaking. I really am I did my fastest ever century last Saturday at the OC Granfondo. I think because of meditating the V.
…pffffft, hopefully next time. Have fun.
ooops I meant 160k…
@Dr C @frank
Ahem: Riding Saturday and Monday. In essence””and maybe this is rule-worthy””watching a Spring Classic is the only excuse to forego a ride.
@Dr C
Yes, April 22th.
2012 schedule
OHHHH, soooo wish I could make it! Stuck in Texas without the ability to break away.
All you Texas Velominati out there: Let’s get a ride together for NOV or DEC. What do you say? I know that I could do it on almost any weekend almost anywhere in the State except one weekend each month when I am on call.
I want the new OS but sadly, I can only afford a hand me down 3G, so no new OS for me…
@frank
So you have Bren reluctantly won over to the idea of a Strava group?
My friend just bricked his iPhone 4 trying to do the software update. Makes me a little worried to do mine now.
@mcsqueak
Not an issue with the software, just the fact that everyone crashed the apple servers trying to download it at the same time.
@Buck Rogers
Are you available on November 12th or 13th?