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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@Mikel Pearce, @Steampunk
We should try and recruit DerHoggz as the rumor is that he lives between Pittsburgh and Erie.
@Tartan1749
Excellent idea. Get on it!
@Tartan1749
The other part of the ride you need to check out on Google Earth if you can is the Grange Road. Dirt/mud road that goes straight up.
@Mikel Pearce
Yes. I can dig in and punch my way up Bell School Line. Rattlesnake is a whole other can of worms. Sydenham requires a good bit of effort and the Grange Road is tough.
The Ontario Cogal is not for the faint of heart.
@Tartan1749
If it would help, the starting point is an hour from Niagara Falls and the much prettier village of Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is wine country. You could certainly spend most of the weekend down there with lots for the family to do, see, and enjoy. And I hear Toronto is a nice little town, too...
@Steampunk
I'm pretty sure the Man With the Hammer stands at the top of Rattlesnake ...
Sydenham is tough, but it's so early in the ride. We will really need to just use it as a warm up. Casually Deliberate the whole way up.
I'm really looking forward to this ride. It will motivate me all winter. Trainer time!
@Mikel Pearce
I look less like Tommy V (head bobbing and tongue wagging) on Rattlesnake, and more like the guy from The Triplets of Belleville. I'm not above confessing that the first time I climbed this, I misjudged the severity of the climb leading up to this point, and had to circle in the driveway just visible on the left three or four times before I even tried to push my way to the top.
@Mikel Pearce
Sydenham is a nice starter. It's not a back-breaker, but it reminds you that Newton was onto something with that whole gravity theory thing. Casually Deliberate is the right way to climb it.
As I just intimated in my last post, the Man with the Hammer stands somewhere around the place this pic was taken. If you can get around the switchback and not be totally demoralized by the "right turn" sign in the picture, then you're probably going to be okay. Also, if you can spit out your heart and lungs to make room for more air, then it's probably not so hard either.
@Steampunk
I'm right there with you. The first time I climbed Rattlesnake (on a tri-bike), I had to stop and dismount at about that same point because my quads were cramping. I vowed then that no hill would ever make me get off my bike again. So far I've been able to keep that vow.
@Mikel Pearce
I came close on the Grange Road about a month ago, but that was mainly because the ground was so soft, but I managed to weave my way up.
@scaler911
Good route Scaler... I might have considered going down Lusted instead of SE Bluff - would be shorter I guess but you get one more hill :O)
and if you want to add a little scenic out and back going up Shipley Rd is great..