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Cino Heroica and Coppi Centenario ride reports
Finally back home in Washington State after 3 solid days of driving. It’s good to be home. Apologies for the late response to comment on the forum about the Cino and Coppi rides. I don’t post on social media while I am away in respect to my wife wishes.
In the past week and a half, I drove 4500 miles in my Honda Fit subcompact stuffed to the gills with 4 bikes to participate in 2 wonderful events held on back to back weekends: The Cino Heroica in Montana and the Coppi Centenario in Wisconsin. The Cino and Coppi have much in common: Well organized, Vintage bikes, GREAT people, Fantastic bike riding in beautiful settings, Delicious food and drink.….and curiously enough, both events were lead by guys named Dave :-) One thing that both of these events have in common is a special “vibe”. I think this vibe is an extension of the organizer’s personality. As a participant I felt very lucky to be included. Everyone I met were friendly and interesting. I like how neither event took itself too seriously. There was a certain looseness that’s refreshing and makes you feel at ease. Here are my photo albums of each ride. Cino Album https://flic.kr/s/aHsmGTC2Af Coppi Album https://flic.kr/s/aHsmGZHYUF Cino returned after a 2 year hiatus when @mountaindave stepped up to take on the leadership role. This was their 11th year and my 8th time participating. New this year, was a bike show Friday evening at the Montessori School where Dave works. Frame builder Dave Kirk was the special guest this year and he brought a “Coors Light” Serotta to display at the show. I didn’t take any pictures at the show of that bike but did manage to snap a picture of the bike he used during the ride. A real beauty. I was a little surprised he didn’t make any attempt to outfit it in Cino fashion. Still, it was a wonderful bike. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...08c80d95_c.jpg Dave Kirks ride by NBend, on Flickr I think the thing I liked best about this year was seeing the “Godfathers” of Cino enjoying themselves as participants. So that is what I will highlight in photos: Reed, the originator of Cino Heroica https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e17657b1_c.jpg Reed by NBend, on Flickr Paul and Jan of Glacier Cyclery original sponsors, organizers and master of ceremonies https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...09048763_c.jpg Ron and Jan by NBend, on Flickr |
I rode the Singer this year on Day 1. Catered gourmet lunch on Saturday by a waterfall on private property.
@Lascauxcaveman Tim approves https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d1c463e3_c.jpg The Caveman approves by NBend, on Flickr We enjoyed lunch immensely https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1c3f829f_c.jpg The Freaks in the Show are a tight old crew... by NBend, on Flickr @gugie on his 1st Cino, fortified by lunch and beers is ready to take on the last 30 miles to Hot Springs https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3ccc9833_c.jpg Gugie feels his Oats.... or something else by NBend, on Flickr Off we go after lunch and my favorite part of the route. The climb up to Sullivan Hill. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0bb21b79_c.jpg Byron, Mario and I take a moment before descending Sullivan Hill.. by NBend, on Flickr The descent off of Sullivan is a hairball ride as always full of rough gravel washboard but everyone eventually makes it down. After my bad crash last September (not at Cino), I still am working through some confidence and fear issues so I took this descent much slower this year. We finish the day at Alamedas and cool off in the shade with some beers https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...93144270_z.jpg Alamedas by NBend, on Flickr Formal dinner and awards ceremony later that evening included the toasting to some of the award recipients with bottles of Champagne that @etherhuffer opened with a Sabre! I wish I had some photos of that but I don’t. It made quite an impression. |
The next morning we gather after breakfast for the Day 2 ride back to Kila. This year, I volunteered to drive SAG for the 1st half of the day. I stopped along the route and took some pictures of riders passing by.
Hans, the infamous rider number 86 and leader of the Squadra 86 https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...01675923_c.jpg Hans! by NBend, on Flickr Dave’s wife Dawn and daughter Emma https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...787e4bc8_c.jpg D&E 3 by NBend, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...22d144bb_c.jpg D&E 2 by NBend, on Flickr It wasn’t clear to me at the lunch stop who would actually take over driving responsibilities so I hung around after all the riders had left and the crew started to break down the lunch tables. Finally, someone came over looking for the keys so I was off the hook. He was driving the SAG directly back to the Kila pub on the paved highway. I grabbed my Bruce Gordon off of the vehicle and started the climb up 9 mile hill alone, the broom wagon up somewhere ahead of me. That experience was in itself is different than any other year - I am riding a different bike for day 2 and I am the last person on the course. It’s super quiet, I settled into a rhythm and made my way up past the broom wagon and maybe 6 or 8 other riders. One of those riders was Dave’s oldest daughter Emma who was now riding alone, Momma having hitched a ride to the top. Emma is an impressive rider. Strong, with good form that reminds me of her Dad, she matched me pedal stroke for pedal stroke up until the final pitch to Browns Meadow Pass where I met up with Bob Freeman and Gugie. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8ce28a3b_c.jpg Cheers, Bob! by NBend, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...50020677_c.jpg It's a wrap, Gugie! by NBend, on Flickr Looking through the beer selection in the coolers, I was disappointed there was nothing left except Bud Lite. Thats when @Choke saved the day offering to make me a martini. Another Cino first. Martinis on Browns Meadow Pass. Well done, Scott! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...35d6019d_c.jpg Choke serves up Martinis on Brown's Meadow summit. by NBend, on Flickr I descend off of the pass with Gugie. He gets a flat. We stop and fix it with Chokes help (thanks Scott!) We start off again and BAM! I hit a rock and double flat. Choke again to the rescue… We start off again and almost immediately, Gugie flats again. This time the front tire. Good thing Choke is there with the floor pump. When we get to the finish, the party is in full swing at the Kila Pub. Another great Cino in the books. Dave did a fantastic job bringing Cino back to life. The crowd was smaller (approx 70 riders?) but it was essentially the same vibe as in previous years. Dave is already talking of heading it up again next year. I’m happy to know where I’ll be the week after Labor day 2020… Dave, thank you so much for bringing back Cino. You did an excellent job. The magic that is Cino was not lost when you took the lead. That is a testament to you and the Godfathers of Cino. It was so good to see everyone again. Thanks to all the folks who volunteered to helped out. You folks are awesome. After dropping Gugie off at the airport on Monday afternoon I start the long drive to Wisconsin….. |
I took my time driving, not having to be there until Friday. Original plan was to stop for a day and ride the Mikkelson Trail in the Black Hills of South Dakota but ma nature had other plans. It was stormy when I passed by. Actually, it was storming pretty intensely for the next few days. On Thursday, I passed though huge squalls that flooded Interstate 90 highway in Minnesota. Traffic moving at walking speed in one spot where the water was up to the door jambs, a big bow wave forming off the front of the car as I passed through..
Finally safe and sound in Mineral Point, Wisconsin I check into the Walker House on Friday Afternoon. Built in 1836 from stone it looks like it just grew out of the ground. I walk over to Tony’s Tap brewpub that evening for an informal meet n greet. The place was soon packed with folks that have come into town for the ride. It solidified my opinion that folks from the Midwest are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Saturday morning, I met @crank_addict for breakfast at the red rooster cafe before going out with a small group of folks on a short ride. After all the talk on the “Do This” bike forum thread about hills and gearing it had me wondering if I had maybe made the wrong choice for gearing on the Holland I was using for the weekend: 36-26 low gear. I soon realized it was not going to be a problem. The climbs are all pretty short - maybe 100 - 300 feet gained on each one so even if there were some steep sections, they never lasted very long. I did find some of the loose gravel on top of some of the newly chip sealed roads a little concerning so I was very cautious on the descents. I’ll take gravel on a dirt surface any day over gravel on top of a hard surface. It quickly became apparent who the fast riders were going to be this weekend: @nomadmax and @Chrome Molly were out front early and never looked back. I was following them for a bit until I realized no one else was around so I throttled back and hung out with the main body of the group. 1st flat of the day of course would have to go to @RobbieTunes and I got one soon afterwards as well. Later that afternoon, I drove over to Hollandale for the Bike show. I unloaded and assembled 4 bikes (Holland, Singer, Bruce Gordon and Hobbs of Barbican) staking them out together on the lawn in front of the meeting hall. Dave had set up the stakes in rows perfectly suited for such a display. There was plenty of room to walk about and admire everyone’s bikes. A staggering array of interesting and beautiful bikes. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7bbd867e_c.jpg The show on Saturday by NBend, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e7062dcd_c.jpg Drive detail by NBend, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...01316dff_c.jpg Created by an art student? by NBend, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a3f0eac1_c.jpg Phish flask by NBend, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...12f2c66e_c.jpg Ephgrave by NBend, on Flickr I was a little worried what folks would think about my bikes, the Singer and Bruce Gordon still beat up and dirty from riding at Cino the weekend before but no one was critical about any of that. Everyone was really cool. At the awards banquet after dinner that night, Dave awarded my Hobbs with a beautiful plaque for best “Not Italian?” bike. Thanks Dave! |
On Sunday, we met again at Hollandale for the ride. Dave had coffee and pastries laid out for everyone. We gathered around the front of the meeting hall for a group photo before folks began to trickle out on the ride.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...32a34ca0_c.jpg The Sunday morning line up by NBend, on Flickr I left with the main group and just followed wheels for a while. When I did need to do some navigation I carried my bulky camera in a fanny pack and stopped to take some photos of some of the riders as they climbed a minor hill. My favorite picture is this one of a guy I had talked with on Friday night. I’ve forgotten his name but he was telling me that he was an original rider in the ‘bike centennial” in ’76. I love how he is celebrating his little victory staying ahead of those young whippersnappers. If anyone knows who this is, please let me know. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...82b953aa_c.jpg My favorite picture from sunday by NBend, on Flickr After catching up with the group, I realized I was carrying the wrong map/queue sheet for the 100k route. Dave gave me his copy when we stopped at an early rest stop. I spent the latter 1/2 of the ride hanging out with crank addict and really enjoyed his company. We rode at an easy pace savoring the route. We kind of did it “Cino Style” stopping for a beer in New Glarus and taking time to snap photos of each other along the way. I count those hours as the highlight of my weekend. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...66c93686_c.jpg Scott 2 by NBend, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...95021a0a_c.jpg Scott 1 by NBend, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...084d1dd7_c.jpg This is daryland by NBend, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...af0756a0_c.jpg Beautiful farm scenes by NBend, on Flickr My camera is too bulky to use while on the fly so I had some catching up to do after packing it away. It really detracts from the ride. I miss my small point and shoot camera that I lost last year. I realize now I need to get a small pocket camera again. It was a real pleasure to meet so many notable and esteemed characters I had become familiar with on Bikeforums and CR. @RobbieTunes, I was thrilled to finally meet you! Thanks for helping make this weekend a success and for making this stranger feel welcome in your old home town. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1540760b_c.jpg Robbie by NBend, on Flickr Thanks again, @iab for throwing a party that would have made Fausto proud. Everything was so well thought out and brilliantly executed. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...046a38fe_c.jpg It was a fun birthday party by NBend, on Flickr So that was my take on the past couple of weekends. An excellent finish to a remarkable Summer biking season I will never forget. The driftless area of SW Wisconsin is kind of like an amusement park for cyclists with so many small winding country roads to explore in the region. I’ll be sorely tempted to visit again. I think I’d take the train next time though.. That drive was a killer. |
Great travelogue, Matt!
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Mario (one of the riders Matt mentioned, above) rode up alongside me and took a cool picture. It's definitely from my best side.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7f2893ff06.jpg Note the fantastic big-big cross chain, something easily done with long chainstays and a 5 speed freewheel. |
Originally Posted by northbend
(Post 21129355)
My favorite picture is this one of a guy I had talked with on Friday night. I’ve forgotten his name but he was telling me that he was an original rider in the ‘bike centennial” in ’76. I love how he is celebrating his little victory staying ahead of those young whippersnappers. If anyone knows who this is, please let me know.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...82b953aa_c.jpg My favorite picture from sunday by NBend, on Flickr Terrific meeting you too, champ Matt! The company at these vintage cycling events and while out on the rides are unmatched. All the best and looking forward to seeing you again~ |
Great report, Matt!
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Originally Posted by northbend
(Post 21129349)
It quickly became apparent who the fast riders were going to be this weekend: @natterberry and @Chrome Molly were out front early and never looked back. I was following them for a bit until I realized no one else was around so I throttled back and hung out with the main body of the group.
Im the slow young guy, typically found pulling up the rear. It was very nice to meet you though! |
It was an honor to meet Matt (@northbend), one of my heroes among many. Class act all the way. The most collective wish was "more of the same." When that happens, someone did something right, and of course, Dave did, and we showed up, and the magic happened.
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Originally Posted by natterberry
(Post 21129747)
I wish I was that fast. That was probably @nomadmax in my place.
Im the slow young guy, typically found pulling up the rear. It was very nice to meet you though! |
Originally Posted by natterberry
(Post 21129747)
I wish I was that fast. That was probably @nomadmax in my place.
Im the slow young guy, typically found pulling up the rear. It was very nice to meet you though! His attention to detail was simply outstanding. You could look at his Trek for an hour. I'm an old guy, and when I see stuff brought in like his and Bernie's (@76SLT), I know the world is good. |
Originally Posted by natterberry
(Post 21129747)
I wish I was that fast. That was probably @nomadmax in my place.
Im the slow young guy, typically found pulling up the rear. It was very nice to meet you though! But you have a way cooler bike ;) I'm very serious, your attention to detail is stunning. Even more importantly, the speed at which we travel is irrelevant; it's the camaraderie of coming together that makes it memorable. |
Originally Posted by northbend
(Post 21129342)
Cino returned after a 2 year hiatus when @mountaindave stepped up to take on the leadership role. This was their 11th year and my 8th time participating.
New this year, was a bike show Friday evening at the Montessori School where Dave works. Frame builder Dave Kirk was the special guest this year and he brought a “Coors Light” Serotta to display at the show. I didn’t take any pictures at the show of that bike but did manage to snap a picture of the bike he used during the ride. A real beauty. I was a little surprised he didn’t make any attempt to outfit it in Cino fashion. Still, it was a wonderful bike. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...08c80d95_c.jpg Dave Kirks ride by NBend, on Flickr There were a couple reasons Dave didn't "cino-fy" his bike. The toe-clips were a foot issue. He explained that he had long struggled with foot issues until he got these custom-made clipless shoes. Cool, there's plenty of suffering on Cino. (the one time I used toe clips, it was for one day - I immediately switched to clipless on Day 2!). The other was not wanting to completely rebuilt the drive train. Understandable - it's a two day event. He seriously considered riding the Coors Light bike, but was worried about the 25mm tires. I know that many have done it, but again, there's plenty of suffering already on Cino. Great reports and pics, Matt - glad you had a good time at Coppi! |
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