The Cogals
Cogals (pronounce it correctly: kog-al) are meetings of like-minded misfits brought together by the promise of beer, preceded by a bike ride. Cogals are free, open to all, organized by our fellow Velominati and are always followed by consumption of post-ride recovery ales and merriment. These are gatherings of unbridled observance of Rule #4.
Cogals differ themselves from other group rides by the meeting the following criteria:
- First, Cogals are free, organized and supported through Velominati, though not necessarily a Keeper. Anyone is welcome to join a Cogal. Legally speaking, however, we have no involvement, so if you crash or die, it’s your own problem. Please be careful to study the route previously and take precautionary measures to stay safe.
- Second, a Cogal is a day-long undertaking that focuses 100% on the bike. The rides are categorized (Casually Deliberate, Rule #5, Rule #10, for example) but are long. This is what you’re doing today, nothing else; see Rule #4. Rides can be any length, but a minimum distance of 130km should be expected.
- Third, Cogals always include a session of Malted Recovery Beverage Consumption after the ride. Whenever possible, it should also include a pre-ride espresso.
Not all the events in The Cogals are actual Cogals. We also post rides and events that are of interest to the community, as well as Keepers Tours, which are Velominati-hosted, paid cycling Tours tailored to the tastes of a velominatus.
Any member of the community is welcomed to organize a Cogal. If interested, either post your interest below or email us with the following information:
- Date of Cogal
- Starting Address (ideally somewhere neutral, like a café or park)
- Route (MapMyRide, Bikely, or Strava)
- Ride Classification (Casually Deliberate, Rule V, Rule VV, or suggest another)
- A paragraph describing the Cogal
Upcoming Cogals
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CONTENTS
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Submit Your Own Cogal:
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@Buck Rogers
But you’re the pater familias, godammit!
@Steampunk
@Buck Rogers
Yes, Flesherton. Forks of the Credit is a must. A buddy has a house in Carlisle we could use as a staging ground. Currently making double chocolate cheesecake while listening to Billy Talent and drinking Guinness.
@Steampunk
Buck has 5. He is the V Pater Familias.
Also I’ve chimed in a few times above on this topic but must have insulted the dutchmonkey (damn nonbreeder!) somehow as my comments got hung up in the moderation queue.
@Nate
Very strong work! Nicely done.
Incidentally, I used to be taller than Frank. Sixteen years of marital bliss, however, has me down to 178cm…
@Mikel Pearce
I’m now deep into a bottle of Grand Marnier mself with my Italian Cafe Music CD spinning and all seems possible!
Of course the V kiddos are all asleep and the VMH is headed there herself.
I had better hurry there myself before she falls asleep!
Until tomorrow, Gentlemen!
@Buck Rogers
Knob Creek. The Hold Steady. Teenagers downstairs. Mrs. getting weary. Tomorrow, we ride!
@Steampunk
Chapeau. Tomorrow, we ride.
(I have some 23 year old Pappy Van Winkle if you really like bourbon–I’ll bring it to VT)
@Steampunk, @Buck Rogers
Bulleit Bourbon. Padawans fast asleep. Rain. Tomorrow, Rule #9.
@Nate
Bulleit makes a rye too. Try it for comparison.
@Eightzero
Is that the one with the lime green label? I think I’ve had it. If I recall it had more bite and had less volupte than the bourbon.
@buck anytime works for me. Seeing as I work nights and weekends, all I need is a heads up on a finalized date a month or two in advance to ask off the required time. So it doesn’t matter to me (although the later it is the better fitness I should have, but even then a couple of weeks will only help so much)
@Buck Rogers
Tomorrow, we ride. How simple, how inspiring, how elegant. Must read Work. Sad that the equivalent now has devolved to “Fuck it, Dude, let’s go bowling.” But I can get you a toe.
I’ll see your Pappy and raise you El Tesoro Paradiso.
@Steampunk
So very true indeed. I slunk out of the house at a rather unnatural 5.30am this morning having arisen at 4.50am. No rain but thick fog and 5 degrees centigrade made for Rule #9 and the desire for some breakfast and a hot shower before taking the boys to rugby training meant that no slacking could be tolerated. An alarming list of chores meant that no ride would be possible in the afternoon. The guns are properly cooked and I’m now looking forward to a bottle of bordeaux that my brother in law gave me for my birthday and roast dinner with the family.
@Chris
This morning’s ride…
@ChrisO
Do you have a link to the Ronde Sportive?
@King Clydesdale
Still going for a mid-week ride as the traffic will be less. As for the weeknight. I imagine that you will not feel like working THAT night, even if we finish in time to get you to your work place!
Good! All comers: I’ll write this up ans send it into Fronk, but we’re looking at the 100 on 200 V Cogal taking place on the 28th of June. Date is set. Let me work the logistics. The only thing that will change the date is if Steampunk’s sidekick cannot make that date. I’ll also try to figure out a way to get some support, at the least rides to the start at 0430-000 timeframe!
@Chris
Very NICE! (Fronk, look the other way for a minute if you would) Love that ride posting ability, what is it from?
@itburns
We’ll have to share some of each in Austin. I have not heard of yours. Pappy VW bourbon is soooo hard to get ahold of, esp the 15 and 18 yr old stuff. But sooooo worth it if you have not had it!
@Buck Rogers
There should be a post above that about the ride, agreeing with @Nate‘s Velominati paterfamiliae post. It’s in the naughty box for some reason.
The ride wasn’t recorded on anything other than a very simple HRM. ridewithgps.com allows you to map from scratch using their Google maps based stuff. Much better than Strava from that point of view. You can also upload GPS stuff.
@Buck Rogers
Or even 200 on 100, which would be more V than the opposite. Twice as much, I would think…
@Mikel Pearce
Love that general Carlisle/Kilbride area in general, by the way. I typically come up Snake Rd, along Cedar Springs, and then out on McNiven/Nassagaweya 1, etc. Some great riding: very pretty.
@Steampunk
! Moment of weakness showing there. Hill repeats this afternoon for me!
@Chris
This is the 2011 page – I seem to recall them saying they would have the 2012 site up in early December.
http://sport.be.msn.com/cyclingtour/rondevanvlaanderen/2011/eng/
@Buck Rogers
Paradiso is one of my favorite tequilas. A friend turned me on to Pappy a couple of years ago. That stuff is amazing – others seem to agree because, as you say, it gets harder to find all the time.
@Chris
good to see you back out on that gammy knee again – agreed Strava no good for planning – I used mapmyride for ride planning in Espana, as it is the only one that seems to give vert and profile accurately, which is very important , and it still seems the best for that since the Bryton site went and died – that said, it is a bit complicated, and doesn’t easily lend to comparative and cumulative riding that Strava does
I guess it’s a case of using whichever one suits your porpoise
@eightzero
I’m a WP expert, am I allowed to weigh in? There are some suck plugins. One of the things I’ll be doing is adding that map based on your location as indicated on your community page.
Because of my (always higher than supported elsewhere) requirements and standards, none of the plugins do what I want, so I’ll code it myself.
For instance I want to mash it up w MapmyRide and Strava so it also gives you access to that persons rides on the maps. Cool stuff, just takes time, of course.
@Dr C
Dude: dolphin meat is very high in mercury. I’d stay off it.
@Cyclops
Absolutely; anyone can order a Cogal V-Pint any time – we’ll be watching the orders, though, and only those who attended the ride will receive them (obviously we’ll contact any orders made in error and issue refunds etc).
Whidbey Island Cogals attendees: order your pints!
@Frank
Cool, cool, cool.
And of course. Time – it isn’t just a pedal.
@itburns
I’ll go all in with a 100y/o bottle of Jameson?
@Steampunk
When we got home it was time for a course in The Right Way to Wash Your Bike, including lessons in How Not To Spray Water At High Pressure Into Bearings (prerequisite: What Are Bearings And How Do They Work), and Introduction To Brushes: Frame and Drivetrain.
@all:
Ride with GPS is a good alternative to mapmyride. Contrary to the name, you can plot routes with it like you do with map my ride.
@scaler911
100 year? Angels leave more than a dram worth after a century of shares? That wouldn’t be whiskey anymore, that would be the distilled essence of god.
@itburns
It was very nice. I actually considered killing my best friend when he asked for some ice with it one night. Chlorinated water with the elixir of the gods? That request probably caused Ireland’s finical crisis.
@scaler911
So you ARE coming to our Austin, Cogal, right?
@scaler911
Would have loved to have tried that. Still trying out different Irish whiskey. I homemade beer and have tried a lot of wine, but now I’m trying whiskies. Any suggestions of good stuff that won’t break the bank? Only have had bushmills and Jameson so far
@King Clydesdale
Early Times! Whiskeius Budgetatus Maximus. A 750 ml bottle is like $12. I drank an entire bottle on a camping trip this past summer, mostly straight out of the bottle.
As for a serious suggestion, try Isle of Jura – it’s good, and has a spice to it so it’s not quite as sweet as Jameson.
Been busy planning the route for the English Cogal……
Perhaps the weekend after the keepers tour, or is that too soon?
I can’t make the whole of the tour, but would love to hook up for a ride over the cobbles at some point.
Bless my Velomissus, she has embraced the tour idea to the extent that she is thinking of coming along too.
And it appears that it coincides with half term week, which means even if I come on my own for the weekend I don’t cop too much grief about coming back from Abu Dhabi and then buggering off to ride.
A possibility is emerging that the family (Velomissus and three Velomites aged 15, 12 and 9) may come over, stay somewhere in Ghent, I’ll do the ride on the Saturday and they’ll also come and watch the Ronde.
Then we may stay in the area for a couple of days, visit Bruges and maybe tour some of the WW1 battlefields, which may mean I am also in the vicinity if the cogal happens during the week.
Plus if they come they will drive over and bring my bike. Result.
@ChrisO
You are a master at this stuff.
@ChrisO
Grats to you.
As you say, result.
Mini-cogal tomorrow (saturday) morning. melbourne. Leaving Cafe Racer at 6am with G’rilla who is in town for a conference. Riding with Eight Legs bunch. Just to Mordy and back.
There you go G’rilla. Now you are committed. Anyone else welcome.
@Marcus
Very cool!!! You guys better share some pictures! Melbournites: make us proud.
@Marcus
Crap! In town in two weeks, but sans bike anyway.
@Marcus
Aw, fuuuck. A bit more notice next time gents!
@Marcus
Now that I’ve recovered from my disappointment, and reviewed my dickish response, I’ll reframe it.
I would have love to come, but can’t for various reasons. Hope you have a good one. You’ll need arm warmers!
Just tell out if you’d like to do another Melbourne round soon, and I’m there.
@Marcus
Love to join in Melbourne mini Cogal!
Saturday the 3rd December?
I’ll be @ Bluff Rd round-a-bout, 7am mass ride start. Might catch Eight Legs bunch ~6.30am Mordy?
@all
The articles haven’t been published yet, but two additional Cogals have been published on the calendar, Portland Feb 4 and the 200 on 100 June 28.
More coming. If you’d like to host a Cogal and I haven’t published it – shoot us an email and we’ll hook it up.
@mcsqueak
@scaler911
Congrats on putting a Cogal together.