It came to me in a moment of absolute clarity, the kind of clarity which only arrives to one in an oxygen-depleted state and at high speed – usually down a steep descent. It would be awfully nice to justify wearing my Molteni jersey, rather than having it hanging in my workshop all the time.
It had been suggested a few times already by the time the notion came to me last winter, that Velominati should organize an international Cogal on which all of us around the world would climb aboard our bicycles in honor of each other, and devote the day to riding. It is, after all, what we do; we ride our bikes. The rest is detail.
While the idea is simple enough, the selection of a date has proven positively futile. Summer on the Upper Half of the planet (you know the one – the one that matters) means VVinter for the Lower Half. When the Lower Half (you know the one, the one with all the convicts and Aztecs) is in summer, the important side is snowed in or sopping wet. You simply can’t choose a day that works for everyone.
The solution, of course, is simple: I unilaterally pick a date for the entire community and shove it down everyone’s throat by the virtue of being louder than almost anyone else (with the exception of the bloke sitting just behind me and to my left at the café; that is one loud-mouthed bastard, that.)
Being the type of person I am, with all the personality defects I have at my disposal, I was still perplexed by the selection of a date that holds significant meaning for all our community. January first, so we may ride off our hangovers. October 3rd, to celebrate Leiden’s liberty from the Spanish. Then the epiphany as I flew down Lighthouse Hill towards the shore of Puget Sound, where Pearl Jam and Sound Garden once rocked out in the weeds: the Velominati International Cogal will be held every year in honor of The Prophet’s birthday, June 17.
Every Velominatus is free to observe this day however they like. Take a holiday from work; declare an exemption due to your specific religious requirements. Ride on the day, in a way that helps you honor the way Eddy rode himself. Ride lots, was his sage training advice. I like to surprise my rivals, was his explanation attacking 70 or 80 or 90 or 100km from the finish. However you ride, on Festum Prophetae each year, we will honor The Prophet. We may also choose, as is customary with other holidays, to arrange within our immediate community to designate the nearest convenient day to observe the holiday. If taking the day to honor him is impractical on the 17th, designate a nearby day that works better for you.
Mark your calendars for June 17, Festum Prophetae*. Personally, I will climb aboard my steel Bike #2 fitted with tubular tires, don my wool Molteni Jersey and head out with only a bit of food in my jersey pocket and water in my bidon with the express intent to meet the Man with the Hammer. No mean feat, considering the Seattle Summer Cogal will have taken place only the day before. Two Cogals in one weekend: I can’t think of a better way to honor him.
Vive la Vie Velominatus.
*A special thanks to @ChrisO for helping determine the “correct” latin phrase.
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@versio
Precisely. Queen plays my soundtrack. But no one (yet) has lost his head.
A prayer to recite on the day, written by myself and @rigid in a drunken state on the day of Roubaix 2011...
Our Father who art in Belgium
Eddy be thy name
thy cobbles come, thy hands are numb
from pavé
as it isn't heaven
Give us this day our daily V (five),
and forgive us our rule violations,
as we drop those who attack against us,
lead us not off our line
but deliver us from COTHO.
For thine is the big ring,
and the power, and the glory,
for Eddy and ever.
A-merckx.
@brett
you guys are brilliant.
@Xyverz
You've obviously not been to Denmark (especially Aarhus, which sits about 3/4 the way up the peninsula). You can be bathed in what looks like warming sunshine in the middle of Feb when the temperature would be lucky to be above 0.
Had a look at their blog the other day, the @Rigid look-alike is the ringleader (also known as 'Il Dottore') & the one on the far left with the kid who has the 1000 yard stare downpat is the road captain. Looks like they made a trip down to Flanders recently too, the photos are pretty similar to what I expect happened behind the scenes on the KT '12
@brett
Superb.
@Superman Sam
The fastest time for the Mt Wellington Challenge is held by Richie Porte (time 49:51 - avg spd 25.43 in 2008 - when he was a triathlete dabbling in cycling). Winners since have been Nathan Earle, Ben Grenda & Campbell Flakemore all of whom are either riding pro or semi-pro.
Don't know of any records for the 'classic' ride from GPO to top of mountain.
There were numerous articles last year that referred to Phil Liggett watching Cadel Evans climb Mount Wellington 13 years ago and saying he could go on to win the Tour.
Also saw that Cameron Wurf racked up a few Strava KOM's when he was back home prior to Tour of Japan including Mt. W.
So it's certainly a climb to test yourself on. Not the steepest of climbs around Hobart but 20km of it will get to you.
Sadly yesterday I got beaten by Mellifont St at 18%.
@Mikael Liddy
Nice find... those guys are my new heroes, drinkin, smokin, watchin the ladies.
Their facebook page has some cool photos too, there's a corker of the little fella looking badass!
Late to the party on this one chaps, but we can now be certain of one thing on an annual basis...
- there will from now on, on the 17th July, mid afternoon, somewhere on the backroads of Seattle, a lanky retro cyclist, lying by the side of the road in a heap, with the hydration status of a prune, gibbering incoherently in Dutch USA, though caked dusty snot covered lips, "muthafucka, keep going, death or glory, rule 5 etc", with a blood sugar of 0.004mmol (normal range 4-7 mmol), beside his perfectly presented bike, carefully resting against a fence, immaculately lined up, should any passerby wish to take a photo of it, as he is ignored, gasping his final breath
Some things are dead certainties - chapeau Fronk
Yup their Facebook page is fab
good grief, why didn't the spellchecker pick up the June/ July typo..... hope I am spared...