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.
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Is anyone else from the UK doing anything for this?
Rule #11 is very much the order of the day for anyone with kids; Sean was not wrong!
@936adl
Trossachs Ton on Sunday out of Stirling still has places - will be looking for signs of the V
@ChrisO
Dubai to Jerusalem on your day off? Quite a ride but your colleagues will be impressed by your recognition of the feast day.
Looking forward to seeing it on Strava.
@the Engine
If i was anywhere near the Trossachs i'd be sorely tempted. However i might have to settle for something nearer to home.
@brett @Frank
Thanks gents!
Reply still not working for me. Clearly beyond my computer tech ken. However, as I've already emptied my cache looking at the DeRosa, then the beautiful Fyxo woman, I no longer need a tissue...
Cheers
@ChrisO
In this case no need to worry. He was very good rider and spent time racing semi-pro based in Ghent.
He's now old enough to appreciate his first De Rosa, and still got the legs to give it some serious attention.
(for the rest of us it's like your mate has pulled a super-model and we're all hanging around with our chins on the ground)
@markpa
Does he also happen to be a lotto winner? Just saw one of these sitting in the LBS (albeit with 'just' Super Record, not EPS) priced at $18k. You'd think that would be the most expensive bike in the shop, but no, the owner's bike was right underneath.
Fondriest TF Zero with EPS at a lazy $21k
Boys - Tomorrow is the ride! Heading out with one of my favorite riding pals in the morning. Sweet as! I also get married in tomorrow! And it's father's day!
Rehearsal dinner in four hours - bbq pig roast, 140 friends attending, two kegs o' beer.
Pretty solid two days ahead of me...
I hope everyone is excited for the ride tomorrow, has the proper bike, kit, route, and riding pals planned. Enjoy lads!!
Festum Eve -- the gods conspired to shuffle the family off to a birthday party giving me time for a big ride. 90 km, climbed the aptly named Mt. Diablo, the biggest climb I can ride to from home. It was hotter'n hell out there.
@Mikael Liddy
Speaking personally I'd have compromised a little somewhere and bought proper shoes but each to their own.