Cheers to @936adl for putting it together, and to everyone who turned up and did it.

As for the route, what a beast! A really tough saw-blade of a ride with four-seasons-in-one-day weather left me totally drained at the end of it. But the post-ride beers and curry never tasted so good as a result.

I feel like some great new riding friendships have been formed and really look forwards to getting out with as many of you guys as possible again!

mrhallorann

Well done mate. Great pics on flicker! Glad you all had a good day, seeing Shifnal made me quite nostalgic. I used to spend some time in the Nell and White Heart many years ago.

I hope a British Cogal will coincide with a visit for me one of these days.

It was certainly a tough one. 164km and over 2,300 metres of climbing! Whilst many rules were broken, 5, 10, and 9(a hail storm on the top of the long Mynd!) were religiously adhered to.

Full route Details – The Shropshire Hills Cogal

It was a pleasure to share ‘our’ local roads with so many fellow Velominatus, and from the converstaions on the way round, i’m sure this will not be the last Cogal that’s held in England.

To finish things off properly, beer and curry were duly consumed. I don’t think a Lamb Rezala has ever tasted so good!

Here’s today’s work from me http://app.strava.com/activities/6742911#

Not bad on 42:23 !!!

@muck muck
I’m working on it now mate!

Thinking of early September, but I’ll get the details up when all sorted.

Good to meet everyone today, and a big thanks to @936adl for organising everything.

Mike

Did you boys find your way back okay?

It was 7 o’clock when we got back to ironbridge! We almost needed lights to get
home!

Dave

Thinking of early September, but I’ll get the details up when all sorted.

Good to meet everyone today, and a big thanks to @936adl for organising everything.

Mike

Chapeau to 936adl for taking the time and trouble to organise the gogal.

Nice to meet you all today and share a little pain. It was a pleasure.

Now when is this Bristol cogal then!?!?

Where are you staying?

As you say what the climbs out the gorge lack in length, they make up for in gradient!

See you in the morning.

Have a great time! Take lots of pictures!!

Having all bases covered on the clothing front seems the best approach.

In the meantime hopefully The Prophet will put in a good word for us…

A-Merckx

Looking at it this morning it seems OK. Might be Roubaix tights weather though! I suspect I’m going to end up sticking all kinds of clothes in the car and making my mind up when I arrive.

The weather forecast could be better, but it’s going to be an epic!

Eyup, this is to confirm that I will very much be in attendance for this event. Really looking forwards to it!

I’ve just got back from Belgium, and I can promise that no cobbled sections are included in the route.

I’ve plotted the route on Garmin Connect for anyone who wants to upload it before saturday. – http://connect.garmin.com/course/971826

Everything crossed that the weather is kind to us….

I hope to see as many of you as possible on Saturday.

Hopefully the snow will have cleared up by next Saturday!

The route’s all sorted, and i can send this to people via e-mail next week if they let me know their details.

I’m looking forward to it, it should be fun.

I’m now off to ride some cobbles in France ;¬)

Can confirm two of us coming up from London for the ride. Sure it’s going to be tough, reckon we’ll have earned a post-ride pint (or two…).

@muck muck

No worries. The more the merrier!!

Although i hope today’s snow is gone before the ride. Ideally this will not be a Rule #9 affair.

Great thanks looks like being an epic day. I ride these roads every week but am looking forward to some new stuff hopefully! Is the route sorted? I know you are using Marshbrook but that’s about it.

@paolo
whenever you’re back in blighty be sure to be in touch!

I sure will. Damn I wish I could make this cogal, looks like you’re goning to have a great turn out and a great day! Good luck!

( snow in April???…now I remember why I left).

It’ll be nice to have a crack at it without about 20lbs of luggage and chunky touring tyres this time!

No worries. The more the merrier!!

Although i hope today’s snow is gone before the ride. Ideally this will not be a Rule #9 affair.

Long time lurker on here, first time poster.

As i live about a mile from ironbridge would you mind if i tag along?

We’ve pushed the start time back until 093V to allow those travelling a bit more time, and for consumption of a pre ride espresso.

This is certainly going to be a long one, and i’m anticipating being out pretty much all day.

I thought we could have lunch here – http://www.stationinnmarshbrook.co.uk/ – the added bonus is it has a bike shop attached if we need anything. This is also pretty well bang on half way sp should work pretty well.

If anyone wants anymore info get in touch via twitter, and i’ll DM my mobile number.

The plan is still for post ride beer and curry for those who want to stick around.

The aim is for wheels to be turning for 0930(give or take V mins!). i’ll aim to be at the Cafe from 9 for pre ride espresso.

I’m looking forward to it!

Can you confirm the start time? Says v past 9 above, but the other pager says 10…

Can’t wait!

Yep, I’ll be there. My legs may not be though.

@paolo
Word. Not too late to show up…

If I win the lotto tonight we’ll all be there. But probably that won’t happen. I have no plans to be back in blighty any time soon but if that ever changes and I have to come over to Telford I will contact you to ride!! Count on it!

If you’re planning on attending can you let me know.

Could well be one of the climbs on the Cogal.

Not long now…..

The route is pretty well set.

Plenty of climbing, although there will be a bail out option. The main route is likely to be about 1500m of climbing.

Pace will be modest though, and no one will be left behind

We rode the first 60 or so km yesterday and it’s a lumpy bu66er!

Only just over a month to go….

To be fair though on a fine day you can’t beat the highlands.

Good idea to keep mouth closed when out in what passes for summer here, and adhere to Rule #39 of course. On the other hand, it saves you stopping to eat.

Hows the new MTB going? Fallen off yet?

Scotland sounds good – always good craic are the Scottish – could do some MTBing too – just so long as we are far enough away from those fricking monster midges in Largs!

@Chris
Shropshire sounds good, but would involve going abroad.

As would Scotland ;¬)

I was thinking the best option would be a team bus on standby with traditional Scottish deep fried confectionery in the event of extreme weather.

I once jumped into Loch Rannoch on an extremely hot day (by Scottish standards) after the the half marathon there. The water wasn’t at all warm and my heart almost stopped (I’d loved to have seen that on a HR monitor). Anyway, whilst somewhat foolish, it does allow me to claim that I invented duathlon.

Nice looking day out….bring a bivvy bag.

Nice pic, I was up (and down) that road last Sunday http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/71057602

Shropshire sounds good, but would involve going abroad.

Be part of something quite special. I know I will be..

@Chris

@strathlubnaigYou’ve got some good riding on your doorstep round there! Loch Tay, Loch Earn, Loch Rannoch – love it round there.
How about cogalling with a bit of this.

My want some of this (in the summer preferably, I presume it is covered in snow for 10 months a year?)

How about this? Or this for those that don’t particularly enjoy climbing.

And if the weather isn’t fine it’ll be Rule #9 redefined.

@strathlubnaigYou’ve got some good riding on your doorstep round there! Loch Tay, Loch Earn, Loch Rannoch – love it round there.
How about cogalling with a bit of this.

My want some of this (in the summer preferably, I presume it is covered in snow for 10 months a year?)

How about cogalling with a bit of this.

@strathlubnaig
Where abouts are you in Perthshire, my mates hotel is just to the north of Perth? I went to school up there.

Callander in the S Highlands / Trossachs, about 2 1/2 hrs from Perth, by bike.

@acciaio
– you will be away for one day only

to further clarify, – 1 day = 24 hrs, ie 9am – 9am

All we need to do then is keep everything crossed for a decent day and we should be fine.

@acciaio

This sounds like the perfect antidote to VMB #1. Congrats btw!

Trust me, stick it in the diary

There are really too many options…. The Lakes, Scotland, C2C, South West, Wales. All i need is much much more time!

would have to be the same day as one of my races wouldn’t it
I suggest a cheshire cogal, there are some great climbs over that way like the cat and fiddle, mow cop and my favourite the awesome COBBLED swiss hill! another great thing about swiss hill is that just over the top of it you’ll find the wizard pub and wizard cafe which are very bike friendly

Awesome idea! I fancy doing the Shropshire Cogal but a local one would be perfect.

Right, let’s do an Autumnal UK Cogal that I can do (gotta get the yottin season out of the way) – Hampshire, Midlands, Wales, Devon, whatever, but have it near an airport so I can get over – come to think of it, maybe I’ll organise one myself, to make sure I can get there!

@brett
Yes the Keep Calm and Carry On seems to have become popular lately, perhaps in These Troubled Economic Times.
Personally I think this one is slightly (and sadly) more in tune with the zeitgeist…
http://www.threadless.com/product/1466/Now_Panic_and_Freak_Out
Although to be strictly accurate 936adl it could have been “apply the sixpence and shilling” ;-) Not quite the same though…

Good point, although ‘sixpence and shilling’ doesn’t really have the same ring to it.

Yes the Keep Calm and Carry On seems to have become popular lately, perhaps in These Troubled Economic Times.

Personally I think this one is slightly (and sadly) more in tune with the zeitgeist…

http://www.threadless.com/product/1466/Now_Panic_and_Freak_Out

Although to be strictly accurate 936adl it could have been “apply the sixpence and shilling” ;-) Not quite the same though…

Flyer image would make a great t-shirt.

You may well be right. I wonder how hard it would be to make that happen?

@936adlNice one bruvva! The poster is mint, and my English girlfriend even recognised the Keep Calm motif and explained the origins to me.
Cogals: they even teach you shit.

I’m glad that your SO reconised the origins of the poster. It’s meant to underline the britishness(whatever that is btw) of the event.

Being selfless to a fault, i’ve been doing some extensive testing of the post ride facilities this weekend. The ‘Temple of Doom’ in the White Hart was good, the ‘Town Crier’ in the Plough excellent, and the ‘Oracle’ in Odfellows even better. I can also confirm that the East End Balti serves up an awesome Lamb Rezala.

Bring it on!

@936adl

What could go wrong?

40 kph winds, bouts of pneumonia?

:D

What could go wrong?

40 kph winds, bouts of pneumonia?

Cogals: they even teach you shit.

Looks awesome, I’d love to pop over but like @Roadslave525 I’ll have used all my credits on the Keeper’s Tour.

I should be back over there for the Edric though.

I am SO FUCKING THERE.

would have to be the same day as one of my races wouldn’t it
I suggest a cheshire cogal, there are some great climbs over that way like the cat and fiddle, mow cop and my favourite the awesome COBBLED swiss hill! another great thing about swiss hill is that just over the top of it you’ll find the wizard pub and wizard cafe which are very bike friendly
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BFZnlqjYLqY/TqxScbWY1vI/AAAAAAAABC8/WA2r2qLbuF8/s1600/front+door.jpg

Oh mama, what a photo…I miss the English pubs.

I suggest a cheshire cogal, there are some great climbs over that way like the cat and fiddle, mow cop and my favourite the awesome COBBLED swiss hill! another great thing about swiss hill is that just over the top of it you’ll find the wizard pub and wizard cafe which are very bike friendly
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BFZnlqjYLqY/TqxScbWY1vI/AAAAAAAABC8/WA2r2qLbuF8/s1600/front+door.jpg

So after the ride I’m guessing – a few recovery pints to quench the thirst and refuel then on to the curry house for a meal, possibly a few more ales and if anyone is still standing, a kebab on the way home?

What could go wrong?

I want some photos of the post-ride re-hydration in a cozy pub. This sounds like a great day on the bike, I wish I could join.

Absolutely! Pictures, write up etc will be forthcoming.

@harminator

Sounds great. Of course we know you really mean five, dime and nine…
Will Her Majesty be lining up for a pull and does she favour clinchers or tubs?

Hell yeah, i’ll have a word with QE2 and see if she can fit in a appearance. It’s a well known fact she’s a Chicken Jalfrezi fan.

COGAL! COGAL! COGAL!
Fuck yeah!

By strange coincidence, that was the same number of flats I had at the Austin version. Worst day of riding ever personally, one of the most fun socially. Cogals rule.

Fuck yeah!

Will Her Majesty be lining up for a pull and does she favour clinchers or tubs?

The most recent English pub I saw was when the local scary movie festival showed “An American Werewolf in London.” Ha, hope the one you lads re-fresh at isn’t so scary!

Might to to find a B&B, but will cross that bridge if I need to…