It came to me in a moment of absolute clarity, the kind of clarity which only arrives to one in an oxygen-depleted state and at high speed – usually down a steep descent. It would be awfully nice to justify wearing my Molteni jersey, rather than having it hanging in my workshop all the time.
It had been suggested a few times already by the time the notion came to me last winter, that Velominati should organize an international Cogal on which all of us around the world would climb aboard our bicycles in honor of each other, and devote the day to riding. It is, after all, what we do; we ride our bikes. The rest is detail.
While the idea is simple enough, the selection of a date has proven positively futile. Summer on the Upper Half of the planet (you know the one – the one that matters) means VVinter for the Lower Half. When the Lower Half (you know the one, the one with all the convicts and Aztecs) is in summer, the important side is snowed in or sopping wet. You simply can’t choose a day that works for everyone.
The solution, of course, is simple: I unilaterally pick a date for the entire community and shove it down everyone’s throat by the virtue of being louder than almost anyone else (with the exception of the bloke sitting just behind me and to my left at the café; that is one loud-mouthed bastard, that.)
Being the type of person I am, with all the personality defects I have at my disposal, I was still perplexed by the selection of a date that holds significant meaning for all our community. January first, so we may ride off our hangovers. October 3rd, to celebrate Leiden’s liberty from the Spanish. Then the epiphany as I flew down Lighthouse Hill towards the shore of Puget Sound, where Pearl Jam and Sound Garden once rocked out in the weeds: the Velominati International Cogal will be held every year in honor of The Prophet’s birthday, June 17.
Every Velominatus is free to observe this day however they like. Take a holiday from work; declare an exemption due to your specific religious requirements. Ride on the day, in a way that helps you honor the way Eddy rode himself. Ride lots, was his sage training advice. I like to surprise my rivals, was his explanation attacking 70 or 80 or 90 or 100km from the finish. However you ride, on Festum Prophetae each year, we will honor The Prophet. We may also choose, as is customary with other holidays, to arrange within our immediate community to designate the nearest convenient day to observe the holiday. If taking the day to honor him is impractical on the 17th, designate a nearby day that works better for you.
Mark your calendars for June 17, Festum Prophetae*. Personally, I will climb aboard my steel Bike #2 fitted with tubular tires, don my wool Molteni Jersey and head out with only a bit of food in my jersey pocket and water in my bidon with the express intent to meet the Man with the Hammer. No mean feat, considering the Seattle Summer Cogal will have taken place only the day before. Two Cogals in one weekend: I can’t think of a better way to honor him.
Vive la Vie Velominatus.
*A special thanks to @ChrisO for helping determine the “correct” latin phrase.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@Cyclops
This. Is. Fucking. Awesome!
@frank
The mighty Mt. Wellington in Hobart. Ridden up that bitch twice, probably the hardest climb I've done, even if only for it's length (about 18km from memory). Hobart is a beautiful city, reminds me of Wellington NZ.
@lokerola
Ahhh, fuck me, there goes another 150 bucks. What a beuty. Thanks a lot for that one, now i have to figure out how to sneak it by the VMH.
@versio
nippe lube, that's a cool pic
@brett
If we had enough left we'd sic a Tassie Devil on to @frank.
I thought I knew what wet and windy was until I lived in Wellington for a few years.
if you want a short course challenge - Mt Wellington Challenge
@Buck Rogers
I've been spoiled and non-full zip jerseys now bug me a lot. Pulling them on seems like a chore, as well as getting them off after a hot ride. Not good since I have a bunch of cool older jerseys that aren't full zip.
I'm eagerly awaiting my V-jersey. Gonna be a summer of riding in style! And, the club/team that wanted me to join, which I decided to not do because of a lack of riding, has basically fallen to pieces. Glad I went with the Zwarte kit and don't have to wear their horrific kit.
Mt. Wellington & Hobart. Awesome. Tasmania is by far one of the awesomest places I've ever visited. If I was an Aussie I'd move there in a second. A few bikes, a VMH, a job that pays the bills...that would be a nice life.
Fred A. Birchmore is a serious dude! Damn, that guy is in pretty darn good shape. Pedaling around the planet? That's sweet as. I'd be nervous to try that today, even with all the gps assistance. Ballsy to do that in 1935.
@eightzero
Brilliant!
My birthday is that week. I've just decided that my wife will be buying me a Molteni jersey.
And maybe some Malteni. Maybe I can bring some back from my trip to Amsterdam this week.
Woolen vestments be doned, Merckx be praised;
Marinoni be ridden, Merckx be praised;
Warm coke be supped, Merckx be praised;
Uphill be saught, Merckx be praised;
Headwinds be thine sacrifice, Merckx be praised;
Pain, suffering, and anguish be thine rewards, Merckx be praised.
Ride forth in thine big ring. A Merckx.