Stop the presses, North American Cogal #2 is off and running. @Jeff in PetroMetro is organizing a ride deep in the heart-o-Texas on December 4, 2011 for the rider who wants a taste of drought, dust storm, truck nuts and fun. Lest we forget what a Cogal is, “… A meeting of like-minded misfits brought together by the promise of beer, preceded by a bike ride.” Commemorative V-Pints can be fabricated for such a thirst inducing event, please send orders through Velominati central ordering department. They may even be ready in time to wash that Texas dust down the neck hole.
Keep the rubber side down, Gianni
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Dang! We’re havin’ a Cogal in Austin! How ’bout that?
I guess I’ve been a Velominatus for a little over a year now. In that time, I’ve gotten to know many fellow Velominati online. And I feel like I know y’all. But I’ve never had the opportunity to meet any of you in person. And for that matter, I don’t know most of y’all by your given names.
But some of that is about to change. On the weekend of December 4th, in Austin, I get to meet, live and in Technicolor, Buck Rogers, Itburns, Bongo, and, rumor has it, Souleur. Buck’s coming up from San Antonio with Mrs. Buck and the Buckettes. Itburns is driving in from Houston (Yewstun), same as me and my relations. Bongo’s on his way from Waco (Way-Coe). And Souleur’s coming from I don’t know where. But I know it’s a long drive.
Why Austin? ‘Cause it’s not Houston.
Austin’s pretty. Austin’s cool. Austin’s where I lived as a student, a bike racer, and as a young college graduate with a good state gubment job. Austin’s got rolling hills, good barbeque, and cold beer. And, in case I forgot to mention it, Austin’s not Houston.
So, here’s the plan, set in sand in a windstorm: I’m driving up Friday night, December 2nd, and spending the weekend. I’m staying in a hotel near the Arboretum which is in northwest Austin. That’s near the north end of Highway 360 (Capital of Texas Highway) almost where it meets Highway 183. 360 is a great jumping off point for a rolling, hilly ride west of Austin. We’ll start in the parking lot of the Arboretum. I’ll let y’all know exactly where late next week.
We’ll head southwest and make a counter-clockwise loop. As we come back east, approaching Austin from the south, I’d like to go through Buda (Bew-duh). As we come up through Austin we’ll make our way up to 35thStreet, then west over Mt. Bonnell and back toward 360 for a ride north to our starting point.
Mind you, all of this is subject to change after next Tuesday, when I’m riding reconnaissance in Austin.
I’d like for all of us to get together on Saturday evening at the Shady Grove restaurant on Barton Springs Road. We’ll get some good food, some good beer and/or margaritas, and put some faces with some names. Time to be determined, but I’m guessing around 6pm so we can eat, drink, visit, and still get some decent sleep.
Sunday morning, we’ll get a big stack of gingerbread pancakes at Kerbey Lane Café. Then at either V before 10, or V after 10, we’ll head off into the wild blue yonder.
My intention is to keep the ride between 130km and 160km. There will be quite a bit of rolling hills and not much flat. This will be a Casually Deliberate ride. No one gets dropped by much or for too long, and there will be plenty of places to stop and load up on food and drinks.
I’ll post more details after my visit to Austin on Tuesday. Stay tuned.
If anyone else can join us in Austin, please do. I’m looking forward to seeing y’all.
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View Comments
Looks like fun....I've been a lurker for a while, but I'm definitely in on this ride.
@rufio
Change your moving date. Come with us. My biggest disappointment is that FM 2222 is supposedly so busy with traffic these days that we can't climb it anymore. That was part of almost every climbing training ride in the 80's that went north and west. FM 2222 to 620, turn left. Or come back down 2222--75kph+, full tuck. And then there's Jester Estates. We are NOT going up Jester Estates. That would just be mean spirited. I'll be in Austin tomorrow. I'll drop by Mesa. I haven't been on Mesa Rd. on a bike in decades. Cool idea.
@Buck Rogers
I'm gonna try to set the course tomorrow. Driving it, then riding some of it. Wow. While I was typing this, my front tire just let go. Just sitting there, then ppssssssssssssss. Weird. Omen? Hope not.
@itburns
I met Dr. Jennifer (I think that was her name). She was quite surprised to see "Velominati" on my LOOK. She said your fit was done by Tad Hughes. That's when I knew she was your spy. How is it that we haven't ridden together yet? And seconding @Buck Rogers regarding riding lanterne rouge--this one is Casually Deliberate. No one gets left behind. But crying and suffering are perfectly acceptable. I expect I'll do a little of both.
@frank
Can you send @itburns my email address? We should be training together at least occasionally.
@joeIVpack(workin' on it)
Jump in. The water's fine. We'd love for you to join us in whatever capacity you can. Even if it means showing up for dinner on Saturday evening and enjoying a cold Coke (I'd buy you a beer, but I assume you're underage.).
@El Diablo
Excellent! See you there!
Keepers: Help! I'm tied up in the compliance approval penalty box again. Gracias!
@El Diablo
Awesome! We are actually getting up to a decent showing now! Going to have some V fun in December, Baby!
@Jeff in PetroMetro
I thought you were a morning rider. I most definitely am not, with the obvious exception of organized rides where I drag myself out of bed to get there on time. Also, I probably have been tagged as a stalker by several riders with Yellow Princesses.
As for Lanterne Rouge - no worries - just not much experience with really steep climbs. Devils Backbone section of Gruene was great though. Only one climb put me fully in the hurt locker for a bit. The only sustained climb I have ever done was up to La Mongie in 2004. Wasn't a cyclist then, was on a rental tourist bike with front shocks, and had platform pedals. Painful.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
JiPM: We HAVE to have a few killer hills thrown in here and there, no?
Even with this definitely, no doubt, being a no drop, Casually Deliberate ride, the hills are always fair game. You can all just wait for me at the tops to regroup.
This "Jester" hill sounds like fun (sorry couldn't resist). Throw that puppy in there, we'll recover and have an even better story to tell down the road.
Just my thoughts.
Oh - a good "warm up" ride this weekend for the Cogal: Elves And More 100k
Rolling hills, mostly nice pavement, and a beautiful section through national forest.
Jester isn't so bad. I just came back from a ride with Jester involved...in the dark :)
If you need any help planning routes, I have some great ones in mind with gentle hills and or pain...just depends on what ya might be looking for :)
Here is the data on a few climbs I did tonight....in case anyone is interested in trying Jester..
http://app.strava.com/rides/2262916
@Buck Rogers
Ok. Just got back from an epic drive to, around, and back from Austin. The course is set. It's between 130km and 160km, just like I'd hoped it would be. It's hardly flat at all. If we have wind from the north, it's not only going to be a climbing orgy, it's going to be a headwind home.
So, as a card carrying Luddite, can someone answer me this: Can I put this on a Map My Ride or Strava (sp?) map so everyone can see it? Also, is anyone attending the Austin Cogal bringing a GPS that can track the ride and upload to one of these services? I've gotta hand this chore off to someone more qualified than I.
Having said that, I just received an editing/writing assignment that I have to turn around by morning. Then I have to go to my big box bike shop part-time gig for 9 hours and sell bikes while not falling asleep standing up. So I'll check back either tomorrow night or Thursday morning for answers to my more-important-than-anything-else-in-the-world technical questions. Muchas Gracias!
@Jeff in PetroMetro
JiPM: You're awesome, man! Cannot wait to meet up and ride this Cogal.
I do not have a GPS or starva or garmin or any of those super high-tech things. I do have a cyclocomputer that tracks the normal stuff, but not what you are looking for.
Good luck with the next 48 hours, sounds like you have a full plate there!