It’s a call to arms. No, it’s a call to legs, hearts and minds.
Just as the Illuminati would stage their fabled, and somewhat feared Cabals, we the Velominati will this year stage our own modern-day versions, the Cogals. A meeting of like-minded misfits brought together by the promise of beer, preceded by a bike ride. Sound like a formula you could enjoy? Then Welli-Roubaix is just the ticket.
Assembling at Hataitai Velodrome, Wellington on Sunday April 10, the date of the Queen of the Classics, we will share a cocktail of gravel and tarmac (in the place of real cobbles). It’s a ride, not a race, but attacking on the gravé is encouraged, as is banter in between bouts of the V. Sprinting on the banked concrete at the conclusion of the ride is mandatory, but no ‘winner’ will be crowned, no trophy awarded except that of cold brews and a set of commemorative V-Cards.
The next morning (Monday), lashings of Chimay, Duvel, mussels and frites en mayo will accompany the live viewing of the the main event at downtown Belgian bar Leuven. We implore the Welliminati to gather en masse, and encourage our Aussieminati to make the jump across the ditch and join in a weekend of V-based activities on and off 700 x 25s.
*In the light of the terrible events in Christchurch, we will dedicate the ride to those unfortunately affected by the earthquake, and donate V dollars (or more) each to a reputable appeal.
Good times, good people, good cause.
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Can non-attendees donate in the name of the V as a show of charity and solidarity?
Have a great ride - I will raise a beer to you all as I stand at the side of the pave in Northern France on what I'm hoping will be a very wet Sunday...
And my heart goes out to all of those affected on the South Island. My thoughts are with you.
@Drew
Of course, I'll look into setting something up that we can donate to. Cheers.
Yeah, great idea Brett and well done for organizing the poster. It's awesome. As you know, we are booked for a family trip to Kapiti Island that day. As my family do not know, I am hoping the weather is shitty so the trip is called off and I can say 'Oh, damn, I am so annoyed at missing the trip I think I'll go ride my bike on some grave'.
Super Idea! We should set these up wherever there are Velominati. Anyone living in the Clarksville, TN area and want to get together for a ride?!?!?!
Here in Wisconsin a few of us do our own L-B-L ride in the early spring. While we have no Liege or Bastogn,e we do a route that starts in the town of Luxembourg, goes to the town of Brussels before returning to Luxembourg. This part of our great state was founded by Walloonish immigrants. Last years ride featured temps of around 40, high winds and rain. The year before were recieved an inch of snow driven by high winds. There's also a few sections of gravel.
We adhere to the V, the V adheres to us.
@Rusty Tool Shed
Very cool! My parents bought some farmland out in Durand WI for the simple reason that it is exactly like the Ardennes in Belgium. We can get 4000m vertical on a 200-250km ride no problem, on short cote-like climbs. Brutal. I'm not familiar with Luxemburg or Brussels, WI but if it's anything like that, I bet those rides are fantastic. Well done!
@G'phant
You guys know a "grave" is something you get buried in, not a road surface, right? The road surface is called "gravel".
I haven't plotted the route yet, but we'll be doing a Pre-Flanders ride in Seattle, with a post-ride hammerfest at Brouwer's, for whomever is interested. We'll be focusing on the steepest, cobbled bergs around town, mostly on Queen Anne, but I'm starting an official search for the best pave in town, so if you know of a good patch, let me know.
@Buck Rogers
Definitely, we encourage all Velominati around the world to organize a similar honorary ride - do it!
When: August 7, 2011
What: Tour of Denmark V Cogal
Where: Solvang, CA (Hey, it's the closest thing to Denmark we've got!)
Hosted by yours truly, details to follow.