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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MapMyRide - You map the route and to the left of the Save button is the access level. Public, Friends, or Private.
Public - everyone can see and find it in searches
Friends - MapMyRide friends can see and find it in searches
Private - no one can see it.
Once saved, you can go to 'My Rides' under 'Routes' and toggle through the access level where another level is available - Accessible. This level lets you send a url link to the route to people to view it but it acts like Private in every other way.
Newly registered to the site, living in Yewstun, so I may venture out for the ride. I'm friends with the guy who makes the pint glasses and stickers, and he's requested I go and see how many riders have stickers on their bikes...
@lynchk
Those are not stickers. They are decals.
@Nate
Nay, they are inspirational motivators.
@lynchk
Excellent. You'll see mine in their resplendent glory. Decals, that is.
@El Diablo
Cool. You've just been assigned the important task of being the official tech weenie. (I think that's the same pay grade as code monkey.) Now YOU HAVE TO ATTEND and bring your shiny, new-fangled thingamabob that makes cool maps. Oh, and yes, once I get the map posted to MayMyRide, I want your input. Almost all of 360 is in it (going both ways), 2244, Hamilton Pool Rd., Crumley Rd., can't remember details right now as I'm not near my notes--it's flat down around Buda, come back into town on Old San Antonio Rd, then hop on South First to come through downtown--might hop to South Congress for the approach into town heading toward the Capitol--up through campus to 24th, west on Windsor to I don't remember, up to 35th, west until it becomes Mt. Bonnell, over Mt. Bonnell to 2222, west to 360 and home back at the Arboretum. There's plenty of climbing and rollers and descending. It's over 130km, if my odometer in my truck is correct.
@itburns
Awesome! I'll post the course in the next few days. You are also an official tech weenie. Please work with @El Diablo to bring this work into the 21st century as I am wholly unqualified.
@all
There is a rumor going around that there may be SAG service with a real mechanic. Not confirmed yet. I'm still working on it.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
SAG/Support, really??? I'm in for a couple of drinks for them, or even cool, hard cash, if that will help!
@Buck Rogers
Yep. I'll have SAG confirmed Wednesday (tomorrow). I don't think I'm going to Austin until Saturday morning. I'm getting a hotel room at the Embassy Suites near the Arboretum. The Sunday morning Casually Deliberate ride starts there. There are a ton of hotels in the area if you are price shopping. I did talk to the guys at the front desk about the Buckettes. He said officially the rooms are limited to 6 people, but since 5 of your 7 are the kiddos, they're good with that.
SAG?? You guys are going soft. No SAG support unless you're doing something like the 200 on 100!
I swear, kids these days...
@Jeff in PetroMetro
The Sunday morning Casually Deliberate ride starts there.
You mean SATURDAY, right?
@frank
? The ride is a Sunday ride. Maybe this is an inside joke?
But to be clear to all comers, the Cogal starts on Sunday, the 4th of December.