Velominatus: zeitzmar
Order: Level 3 Velominatus
Location: Redmond, Washington, USA
I'm a longtime cross country runner and sometime swimmer who discovered my love for cycling when I bought my first road bike, a 1981 Raleigh Gran Sport that was waiting for me in the basement of the LBS in my tiny college town in Iowa. I quickly fell (not literally, not yet) for the sport and have been rapidly discovering the many joys of the way of the wheel. My sensei turned me on to la Vie Velominatus and the rest is history. I'm a recent Biology graduate from a small liberal arts school in Iowa and I currently work as an au pair (basically a manny) in France.
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After much debate and consideration (read: we got piss drunk after a ride, and started thinking about the next ride) and in full cooperation with the Keepers, we announce the first Stage Cogal, July 27 and 28, 2013 in Packwood, WA.
We adhere strictly to the guiding principles of The Cogal: free to all, open to all. These events are about community, and our love of the Bike. And of suffering. To those ends, even the casual observer will see what we have planned for routes is, in a word, a motherfucker.
Cogals shall be long. And they are all about the bike. It is what you are doing that day. Well, we have extrapolated that to The V-to-V concept on this one, mates. V-to-V: volcano to volcano. These rides are not only long, but we tossed in some vertical. I, for one, am not a climber. But when it is What I Am Doing That Day, it will get it done (I roll a 180mm 50×34 compact connected to a 11×28 for just such emergencies.) As a 2 day stage Cogal, it is what you are doing that weekend.
Day V1 is Packwood to Windy Ridge overlooking (and in) the blast zone of Mt. St. Helens. This route is generally used by a local bike club as a “High Pass Challenge” but we may modify their course a bit. In accordance with Rule #55, we will first ride UP the volcano, then we will ride DOWN the volcano. Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1331324
Day V2 is Packwood to Paradise on Ti’Swak (or Mt. Rainier to you non-natives) via Stevens Canyon road. I defy anoyone anywhere to find a more beautiful climb, starting at the Grove of the Founders on the east side of the national park. Only exceptions might be the Monuments, like Alpe d’Huez, or the Stelvio, but only because of their associated cycling lore. Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1331326
Once at the top, you have the option of a Rule #55 descent to Packwood. However, even the most casual observers of these routes will note a significant departure from any other Cogal:
They are out in the middle of fucking nowhere.
Thus, some support will be provided. On Day V1, some neutral, on the road support will be available, soley for transport of fuel and water. There simply are no cafes or shops, so to do these rides, the Keepers’ (or most likely the Keeper’s agent, @eightzero) will have arranged means to refuel for the participants. It may be van support, some caching of supplies, or a combination. On Day V2, there will be neutral fuel/water support on the climb, and an offer of transport of bags to the lodge at paradise the day of the ride. Some of us will be staying at the lodge to Get Shitfaced(tm) with a special keg, in full compliance with the rule of the Cogal requiring post-ride recovery malted beverage consumption. You may ride down, then drive up to join us if you wish, and/or then depart on your own schedule.
Note (and this is very important) the summer schedule for these places fills up quickly and early. Summers are short and spectacular in the PacNW, and people line up to take advantage. The Lodge at Paradise has limited availability, so sign up early. Make early plans for staying in Packwood. For out of towners, SeaTac and Portland International (PDX) offer easy access, but there is an entry fee to the National Park. There are several lodging options in Packwood. We plan an early start both days; and the ride starts on time.
Then prepare to meet The Man With The Hammer.
We ride. VLVV.
Event Details
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Date - July 27, 2013 - July 28, 2013
9:05 AM - 6:30 PMLocation
Butter Butte Coffee CompanyCogal Details
Route Details
Ride Classification
After much debate and consideration (read: we got piss drunk after a ride, and started thinking about the next ride) and in full cooperation with the Keepers, we announce the first Stage Cogal, July 27 and 28, 2013 in Packwood, WA.
@zeitzmar's posts:
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps): 1. Wiggo 2. Nibali 3. Hesjedal 4. Scarponi 5. Evans »
@zeitzmar's posts:
VSP PICKS: 1. Wiggo 2. Nibali 3. Hesjedal 4. Scarponi 5. Evans »
@zeitzmar's posts:
@Nate That they are! I don’t have an issue with them, but if I did I don’t have the money right now to do anything about it. »
@mouse thanks! I was lucky that I found a chrome one because I think it would have been hard to match the original color. »
Long story short, I just moved back to Redmond, Washington to live with my parents after 4 years in Iowa for school and 7 months in France working as an au pair. Sadly I had to leave my 1984 Peugeot in France with a friend and I found this 1990 Miyata 721… »
@zeitzmar's posts:
@zeitzmar's posts:
@RedRanger yes, I’m all about those. This is what I have been riding in France, although sadly I have to sell it to buy my return ticket. I’d love to find something else like it though. @G’rilla 53 or 54 cm C-T. I’m definitely down to ride, once I find… »
@Deakus Thanks! Sometimes I feel like a fraud calling myself a Velominatus because my upcoming equipment debates will not be tubular vs. clincher or carbon vs. alu box section but something more like Huffy vs. Schwinn. I just want to find a bike that is g… »
Fellow Velominati, At the beginning of April I will be leaving my au pair job in France and returning to the US to live in the Seattle metro area (specifically the Eastside) with my parents. I am a jobless, almost penniless college graduate, and it will … »
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@zeitzmar's posts:
I’ve found myself in a position where my only pump is a €14 handpump from Decathlon (a sports megastore here in France). I lack the necessary Velominatus Budgetatus savvy to acquire an actual pump, so I’m running my tyres at whatever pressure my forearms … »
@zeitzmar's posts:
@Deakus Thanks! I’m really missing riding fixed here in France, but the hills in the countryside around Paris are killer and I’m glad I have a road bike with derailleurs here. I’m hoping to take my french bike back to the states with me now that I know it… »
third time’s the charm? »
Merde ! »
My college ride, left behind in Iowa at my ex-girlfriend’s mom’s house when I moved to France. Luckily she’s a huge fan of mine so I know it’ll still be there when I go back. I think it’s fairly rules-compliant for a fixed gear road bike. I found the 1990… »
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@Deakus @pistard Actually that’s just his name. It would be funny if he were actually a 6-year old well of cycling knowledge. »
So I work as an au pair in a town just outside of Paris. Sometimes when the kids I take care of are rowdy, I suggest that we do some drawings. Naturally I draw velos because I’m shit at anything else, and the boys of course want to join me. The 6 year old… »
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I wonder what it would be like if this guy met The Prophet in person: »
@zeitzmar's posts:
I just got some new bar tape on my French steed. White cotton tape (a la The Prophet) purchased from Cycles Alex Singer in Levallois for 4€. The non Rules compliant saddle-to-bar drop is because I just switched to my rain saddle and didn’t get a chance to… »
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@zeitzmar's posts:
@itburns My friends who we met up with were doing RAGBRAI with a truck pulling an old airstream. They had a designated driver who took all their stuff and also served as a sag wagon when a rider needed a day off. They brought tents, but in every town were… »
@graham d.m. You should definitely ride RAGBRAI! It’s a lot of fun, and you meet some really amazing people along the way. I did a day and a half with a friend and we joined a larger group and strangers welcomed us into their homes when it started stormin… »
I celebrated Festum Prophetae with a trip to the Marymoor velodrome on my new steel track steed. »