On Saturday I rolled out solo in my Flandrian Best to meditate upon the V. I’d been troubled of late by turmoil among the Velominati…What color socks? Warmers or tights? Helmet or no? Not to mention the lingering melancholy brought on by the realization that the Keeper’s Classic would roll out without me, chained as I am to the yoke of wage slavery. So it was with a heavy heart that I hit the bottom of the driveway and began turning the pedals. As I toiled up the first climb from my house, the clouds of despair began to lift and the natural rhythms of the ride began to lift my spirits. How lucky I am to ride roads like this right from my door, miles and miles of twisty, two-lane, lightly trafficked tarmac, with my choice of routes! Rolling? Climbs? Flats? Got ’em all.
The day was brisk, just 10 degrees, and my newest acquisitions, the silver and orange Carnac Helios shoes I’ve now dubbed “Orange Sunshine” for their psychedelic splendor and mood elevating qualities flashed beneath my knees in a peppery cadence, perfectly accenting the new Witte Bibs and V-Gilet. As I sped along, pondering various epic combos to present to you all as a Cogal, considering all the possibilities, I came to a comforting realization: We can ride the roads I’m privileged to ride every day! No need to worry about impressing anyone! So that’s what we’re going to do. Ride my favorite roads. With that, I’m pleased to present for your consideration the first California Cogal.
Day One: 114 km, 1663 m climbing
Date: March 3, 2012
Categorization: VV
This is the best of Santa Barbara roads, including an ascent of legendary Gibraltar Road, then across the top of the mountains, descending the equally famous Old San Marcos Pass. Ride starts and ends at Handlebar Coffee Roasters. Rollout at 9-0-V. Lunch / dinner and beverages after.
Route and location details on the Cogal Event Page.
Day 2: 111 km, 952 m climbing
Date: March 4, 2012
Categorization: Casually Deliberate
We head over the hills we climbed yesterday for 111 rolling km’s through Santa Barbara’s incomparable wine country, including the last few km of the ToC Solvang TT (sadly not in the parcours for 2012). Rollout is 9-0-V again, from the Bulldog Cafe in Solvang. Lunch and beverages after at Trattoria Grappolo in Santa Ynez.
Route and location details on the Cogal Event Page.
While I hope many of you will be able to do both days, please feel free to do one or the other should time be a limiting factor. Temps can be anything from 5-25 this time of year, so come prepared. See you all in March!
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View Comments
@pakrat
Mmmm Daddy!
I'm going to reconnoiter it Sunday, now that the Cogal is official I need to get some training in!
@Nate
Chapeau!
God damn it, I want to talk about your shoes! CARNAC! CARNAC! CARNAC! They don't suck? They are some crazy looking bitches that match the kit. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong Specialized tree and need to go back to Carnacville. Where the hell did you find those? I thought the French Carnac factory had dried up and blown away.I've ridden many years on Carnacs and gave up on them, but these are just weird enough to peak my interest.
Tell me more.
Chapeau by the way on the Cogal. It looks great, I think you need to write up the beer drinking more, SB must be lousy with good watering holes.
@BrianG
I'm actually in Truckee.
I wish I could hit Markleeville, unfortunately I am already scheduled for something non-cycling related. Sunday, over the summit to Cisco Grove and back at least.
It's winter over there and the weather looks like that!
It's summer where I am and the weather looks like scat!
@Gianni
Finally!
Thanks Gianni- I found them on eBay after Googling "orange cycling shoes". I had a pair of Carnacs in the early 90's, and as I recall they were pretty good, so I figured it was worth a $150 gamble. Guess what? They are actually damn good! Not as well made as my Sidis, but the sole is 100% cf, the footbed is really nice, and the buckle is the best design I've seen in a while. Given that I tend to have a lot of foot issues (only on the bike, numbness, tingling, etc.) they're wonders. I think the Carnac mark has been revived in the past few years, and while these were almost certainly made in Asia (the box didn't say where), quality is quite acceptable. Check eBay, and go a half size smaller than your Sidi size (not sure about Spesh).
I give them two big toes up!
@Gareth
We've had a spate of nice weather, I'm taking advantage while it lasts.
@sgt
So important to enjoy it while it lasts. I went out last week at 13c and loved it, went out today at -3c and froze my chumleys off!
Love those shoes, I may have to have a look at some of those. I have some similar looking efforts made by Polaris, but they're damned uncomfortable and given that I too suffer with foot issues, have been replaced by some specialized ones. The Spesh shoes are black and dull looking though, I need me some new disco slippers!
@sgt
Looks divine
Roads look a bit like the yumminess I had in Gran Canaria recently - same latitude I think - you are blessed
at least the Spanish had the good sense to blow their economy on tarmac-ing the back roads before they ran out of dough! Still get a climbone thinking about it
Took me 2 hours to climb this 1100m - I imagine Bertie will have been ripping up it in about 45 minutes or less
Enjoy the Cogal!
@Dr C
That's stunning but it certainly wouldn't have been paid for by Spanish taxes, more likely a Euro handout.