Cogals (pronounce it correctly: kog-al) are meetings of like-minded misfits brought together by the promise of beer, preceded by a bike ride. Cogals are free, open to all, organized by our fellow Velominati and are always followed by consumption of post-ride recovery ales and merriment. These are gatherings of unbridled observance of Rule #4.
Cogals differ themselves from other group rides by the meeting the following criteria:
- First, Cogals are free, organized and supported through Velominati, though not necessarily a Keeper. Anyone is welcome to join a Cogal. Legally speaking, however, we have no involvement, so if you crash or die, it’s your own problem. Please be careful to study the route previously and take precautionary measures to stay safe.
- Second, a Cogal is a day-long undertaking that focuses 100% on the bike. The rides are categorized (Casually Deliberate, Rule #5, Rule #10, for example) but are long. This is what you’re doing today, nothing else; see Rule #4. Rides can be any length, but a minimum distance of 130km should be expected.
- Third, Cogals always include a session of Malted Recovery Beverage Consumption after the ride. Whenever possible, it should also include a pre-ride espresso.
Not all the events in The Cogals are actual Cogals. We also post rides and events that are of interest to the community, as well as Keepers Tours, which are Velominati-hosted, paid cycling Tours tailored to the tastes of a velominatus.
Any member of the community is welcomed to organize a Cogal. If interested, either post your interest below or email us with the following information:
- Date of Cogal
- Starting Address (ideally somewhere neutral, like a café or park)
- Route (MapMyRide, Bikely, or Strava)
- Ride Classification (Casually Deliberate, Rule V, Rule VV, or suggest another)
- A paragraph describing the Cogal
Upcoming Cogals
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Submit Your Own Cogal:
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View Comments
@Frank
You have mail......
The English Cogal is being planned as I type!
Well it will be once I've finished dishing out the V on tonight's ride! http://www.shifnalcyclingsociety.co.uk
Andy
For the 200-on-100 in VT next June 28, I just looked up the sunrise time in North Troy on that day and yes, it is pre-ordained by the Gods and Merckx's, that the ride starts exactly at sunrise, which will be at 0505, or written another way, V after V in the morning. How amazing is that?!?!?
I see that a meeting place has been set at the school in North Troy which is perfect. We'll need to meet there around 0430 as the border is just a bit away and it is going to be a loooonnnggg day.
Searching for bars in Bennignton, VT, which is the first major nearby town in VT after we finish the ride, for post-ride drinks (chocolate milk?) and food! I imagine that the ride will be around 12+ hours so should plan on the ride finishing around 6 to 7 pm.
@Buck Rogers
Sign me up! And would be grateful for a space in the barn at your place the night before. How long a drive from there to the Canadian border? Or should we be looking into finding somewhere to stay closer to the border the night before? Seriously getting amped up for this. Or getting seriously amped up. Or both, really.
Looking forward to doing the Ontario/Vermont Cogal double"”almost exactly a month apart. Nice way to start the summer of 2012.
@936adl
Count me in for an English Cogal. Where, the Telford area? I've got family down near Much Wenlock, awesome countryside requiring a bit of V. Did my first (almost) century over near there in October.
I trust you'll be rolling out on the new Rourke.
That green on your blog is a bit lurid!
@Steampunk
Absolutely. I just mapquested it and it is 2 hours and 10 minutes from my place on the Lake to the start. I might be getting a room somewhere nearby for the night as the start time is (has to be) so early on the 28th. Still, even then, you can crash post-ride at my place, and before hand if I decide to get up at 0230 to go to the start (man, that sounds like a REALLY bad idea).
@Buck Rogers
Thank you for the accommodation. A couple of options. If I'm bringing our filmmaker/support driver"”and if he's using my car"”we could just meet you at the border and would be grateful for a place to crash thereafter. Alternatively, we could come down the day before and take you up to the border with us.
@Steampunk
Excellent! I would say meet at the border and you gfuys crash at my place after the ride. Should be awesome. the VMH is down with having a few riders come by afterward and crash so it's all good. Super stuff! I'll probably drive up the night before and crash at a dive motel so that I do not start off any deader than I have to be!
@Buck Rogers
Good. Let's try to sort this out soon and see who else is coming. It might be possible to get some kind of a deal at said dive motel with the booking of multiple rooms. Especially on a weeknight. (Note to self: renew passport).
@Steampunk
Completely agree. the Cogal write up on the 200-on-100 has been submitted, just pending reviw and publication by Fronk. Then we can start taking names and setting up the fine details.
@Buck Rogers
Since this is an A to B ride, how are we going to get people back from B to A?
I was also wondering if anyone was going that I could carpool with? From my current location to North Troy it is a 10 hour and 15 minute drive... I'd be willing to drive part of the way and meet up with someone coming from the south as well if possible...
Also, while Bennington is nice (I grew up 15 minutes from there), I would also suggest checking out Brattleboro as there may be more selection.
Also there's a great English Pub called the "Man of Kent" in Hoosick Falls, NY, just across the border. A bit further west in Troy, there's Brown Brew Pub, who makes a lot of great beers (There oatmeal stout won Gold at the World Beer Cup a few years back) I realize these places are a bit far though considering where the ride ends.
Back to Brattleboro though, if the last bit of the route was changed, and instead of heading towards 112 where the road splits on in East Jamaica, we headed down 30 towards 142, we could end the ride down by Brattleboro and be within minutes of cold brew.