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If you are looking for the best early morning training ride in Charlotte then this is it! The COCAC is an early morning bicycle training ride in Southeast Charlotte, NC founded by Peter Levinson. The COCAC rolls every weekday from the corner of Carmel and Colony roads at 5:15AM, SHARP, Verizon time. The ride is 25.9 miles with 1,100 vertical feet of climbing and ends back at the starting point. This is a show and go ride and riders are welcome to carefully join or leave the ride at any point during the ride and should be prepared to communicate, navigate and and fix their own common mechanical issues. Headphones, tri-bikes, and brakeless single speed bikes are discouraged for safety reasons.
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COCAC5:15 is a show and go ride Monday - Friday.
A 200 Lumen headlight AND a properly mounted taillight are required to ride The COCAC5:15
A 200 Lumen headlight AND a properly mounted taillight are required to ride The COCAC5:15
Join COCACommunicator email
Thanks to the following organizations for supporting COCAC5:15:
Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry
Carolina Sports Clinic
BikeLaw.com
Unknown Bike & Brew
Total Cyclist
Weekly Rides
Keesler Design
Beneficiaries: MS Society and 24 Hours of Booty
Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry
Carolina Sports Clinic
BikeLaw.com
Unknown Bike & Brew
Total Cyclist
Weekly Rides
Keesler Design
Beneficiaries: MS Society and 24 Hours of Booty
RIDE DETAILS
The COCAC ride happens each weekday - weather permitting. The type of ride depends on the day of the week and is summarized in the above graphic. Tuesdays and Thursdays are actually comprised of two rides. All riders start together and then split as accelerations occur. The front group is known as The Peloton and the following group is known as Chase One. The speed of The Peloton (22+ mph and Chase One 18-20 mph average speed) is faster than that of the Wednesday and Friday ride (see graphic) while Chase One is usually just a bit slower than Wednesday and Friday.
On Tuesday and Thursday at Carmel and Quail Hollow roads The Peloton forms a rotating paceline. Here is a great video of how to ride a rotating paceline. (Note: The only difference between what we do and the video is that our right line is the advancing line and the left is the receding line. Typically, the direction of the rotation depends on the direction of the wind. Since we rarely have wind and don't want to cause confusion, we rotate the same way every ride.) Riders should pay attention to both the wheel ahead and the wheel behind. Try to stay of the wheel in front of you but not gap the rider behind. Avoid abrupt accelerations and decelerations. Watch the pros do it here. If you want to ride in the Peloton and not pull, be sure to avoid the advancing line, which requires some skill to maneuver at the back of the Peloton. If you find yourself in the advancing line, be considerate and pull through, even if your speed slows.
The Monday ride (unofficially known as The MOCAC) and the Wednesday version of The COCAC are much more docile than Tuesday and Thursday rides. The average speed on the Monday and Wednesday ride should be between 18 - 20 mph). We ride Noah’s Ark or Tuba Style, meaning, 2x2 in two single pacelines, side by side. The riders on the front of each paceline pull off in opposite directions. As a general rule, the pacelines are far smoother if the two front riders agree and pull off simultaneously.
Friday’s ride is officially known as -The Donald’s Ride- eponymously named for LTCR and dear friend of YFL, Donald Jacobs. Please remember, this ride is intended to be the tamest of all The COCAC rides. Conversational pace. A recovery ride. 17 – 18 average mph. A ride for all cyclingkind. As on the Monday and Wednesday ride Noah’s Ark or Tuba Style.
Regardless of what day you ride it will be dark. For the front light we really like the NiteRider Lumina Series USB rechargeable lights. They have sturdy flexible mounting system and a quick release Other lights are available and the higher the lumens the brighter the light and better visibility and/or battery life. Higher lumens often come with larger batteries that can be run on low settings for longer burn times. For the taillight you can look at the Nite Rider, Portland or Planet Bike which are popular and bright enough and have a flash setting visible even during the day. Most tail lights are directional and need to be mounted towards the line of sight of the drivers and not blind the person riding behind you. TEST IT. After installing your tail light have someone go 100-200 feet away and see how well you can be seen as a driver. If not adequate - adjust it and test again If the battery in your light is dead go home and ride Zwift.
Research has shown that running lights even during the day can improve safety. For more information on the importance of being seen click here.
The COCAC ride happens each weekday - weather permitting. The type of ride depends on the day of the week and is summarized in the above graphic. Tuesdays and Thursdays are actually comprised of two rides. All riders start together and then split as accelerations occur. The front group is known as The Peloton and the following group is known as Chase One. The speed of The Peloton (22+ mph and Chase One 18-20 mph average speed) is faster than that of the Wednesday and Friday ride (see graphic) while Chase One is usually just a bit slower than Wednesday and Friday.
On Tuesday and Thursday at Carmel and Quail Hollow roads The Peloton forms a rotating paceline. Here is a great video of how to ride a rotating paceline. (Note: The only difference between what we do and the video is that our right line is the advancing line and the left is the receding line. Typically, the direction of the rotation depends on the direction of the wind. Since we rarely have wind and don't want to cause confusion, we rotate the same way every ride.) Riders should pay attention to both the wheel ahead and the wheel behind. Try to stay of the wheel in front of you but not gap the rider behind. Avoid abrupt accelerations and decelerations. Watch the pros do it here. If you want to ride in the Peloton and not pull, be sure to avoid the advancing line, which requires some skill to maneuver at the back of the Peloton. If you find yourself in the advancing line, be considerate and pull through, even if your speed slows.
The Monday ride (unofficially known as The MOCAC) and the Wednesday version of The COCAC are much more docile than Tuesday and Thursday rides. The average speed on the Monday and Wednesday ride should be between 18 - 20 mph). We ride Noah’s Ark or Tuba Style, meaning, 2x2 in two single pacelines, side by side. The riders on the front of each paceline pull off in opposite directions. As a general rule, the pacelines are far smoother if the two front riders agree and pull off simultaneously.
Friday’s ride is officially known as -The Donald’s Ride- eponymously named for LTCR and dear friend of YFL, Donald Jacobs. Please remember, this ride is intended to be the tamest of all The COCAC rides. Conversational pace. A recovery ride. 17 – 18 average mph. A ride for all cyclingkind. As on the Monday and Wednesday ride Noah’s Ark or Tuba Style.
Regardless of what day you ride it will be dark. For the front light we really like the NiteRider Lumina Series USB rechargeable lights. They have sturdy flexible mounting system and a quick release Other lights are available and the higher the lumens the brighter the light and better visibility and/or battery life. Higher lumens often come with larger batteries that can be run on low settings for longer burn times. For the taillight you can look at the Nite Rider, Portland or Planet Bike which are popular and bright enough and have a flash setting visible even during the day. Most tail lights are directional and need to be mounted towards the line of sight of the drivers and not blind the person riding behind you. TEST IT. After installing your tail light have someone go 100-200 feet away and see how well you can be seen as a driver. If not adequate - adjust it and test again If the battery in your light is dead go home and ride Zwift.
Research has shown that running lights even during the day can improve safety. For more information on the importance of being seen click here.
NiteRider Lumina 1100 Lumen BIke Light
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Planet Bike Flashing Tail Light
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Join COCAC on Strava
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Join COCAC on Facebook
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COCAC 515 Route - Click for Link to Strava Route - 25.9 miles 1,100 feet vertical
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The GPX file to the right can be used on your Garmin or other navigation App or device for turn-by-turn navigation - as you get to know the route.
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LEGAL STUFF AND DISCLAIMERS
- This webpage and The COCAC email are sent for informational purposes only.
- All riders are responsible for their own safety and health.
- Cyclists who decide to join The COCAC accept the risks involved with riding a bicycle on all roads including public roads that are used by all other types of vehicles.
- The COCAC, or any participants of the ride, actively or in-actively are not and will not be responsible for any injury or damage to any persons or any property, which may arise by virtue of a rider’s participation on the ride.
- All riders agree to follow applicable traffic laws as they apply to bicycles during the ride.
- Helmets, front and rear lights are all required on all rides.
- The COCAC is a "Show & Go" ride. There is no designated leader or sweep. Riders that fall off the pace should know the route as well as the area and be able to handle any mechanical issues that may occur.
TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
- The COCAC - The Corner of Carmel and Colony; the name of the morning ride; also, The Cast of Characters and Cyclists
- 5:15, SHARP, Verizon Time - The official start time of The COCAC
- SVT - SHARP, Verizon Time
- CC - COCAC(ommunicator), The official email of The COCAC comprised of ride information and disjointed ramblings of YFL
- CR - COCAC Rider
- LTCR - Long Time COCAC Rider
- OCR - Occasional COCAC Rider
- FOTC - Friend of the COCAC; someone who receives the daily email, but does not ride The COCAC
- Terror Sir Vicious - Tara Servatius (Fired from WBT)
- TVO - The Vicious One; Tara Servatius
- ESF - Easy Spin Friday
- OTC - On the Clock; the time showing on the NCBT clock on Providence just after we go through the light at the top of Hopedale. This clock is 13.9 miles from The CORNER.
- OTC2 - On the Clock 2; the time showing on the NCBT clock on Sharon Amity Road across from Cotswold Mall. This clock is 16.2 miles from The CORNER.
- Noah’s Ark Style - Riding 2x2
- Tuba Style - See Noah’s Ark Style, above (two by = tuba)
- Conversational Pace - A speed that is slow enough to allow for snappy patter and repartee.
- STTA - Something to think about; usually a quote following YFL’s signature.
- Stop-dropped - Losing contact with the group by reason of obeying the law and not running a red light.
- IJS - I’m just sayin’
- LBS - Local Bike Shop
- LSD - Long, Slow Distance
- BAG - Big @ss Group
NICKNAMES
- YFL - Your Fearless Leader; Peter Levinson, founder of The COCAC
- WOYFL - Wife of Your Fearless Leader; Cindy Levinson, mother of YFL’s kids
- DOYFL (Daughter or Daughters of Your Fearless Leader; Jill and Sophie)
- The Mayor - Riley Grier
- The Rabbi - Brad Rabinowitz
- Dr. Laura - Dr. Laura Sinai
- Sunshine - K.C. Brechnitz
- Mr. Booty - Spencer Lueders
- Young Buck - Jeff Schoch
- Rooster - Bob Rusevylan
- Jaime the K - Jaime Kosofsky
- Herbalicious - Herb Fellman (Dr. Laura’s husband)
- Mr. Climb - David Klein
- The Donald - Donald Jacobs
- The Shepherd - Rafik Betabdishoo
- X-Ray - Dr. Pete Hindel (yes, he is a radiologist)
- CIO (Chief Information Officer) - Bob Moran
- Smoot - Ilan Paltrow
- Powder - B.C. Roberts
- Gianni - John Nestico
- Radio - Chris Leavitt
- Psyc - Dennis Whittaker
- Gooch - Steve Gucciardi
- K-Pow - Kurt Powell
- F2 - Forrest Frazier
- Amp - Paul Gussler
- Bankser - Eric Banks
- Big Watts - Carl Woodworth
- Preacherman - Andy Guthe
- Stinky Cheese - Fred Sexton
- B-Cool-E - Ben Cooley (Owner of Bicycle Sport)
- Old School - Steve Fowler
- Gelby - Ken Gelbach
- Mojo Mama - Rhonda Gibbons
- Doogie Dawg - Doug Engel
- Theo (The Elegant One) - Steve Johnson
- The Big Sweezy - Bill Sweezy
- Buns - Bob Bunzey
- Wesegan (New nickname pending) - Wes Egan
- François - Frank Larsen
- Go Go - Will Goley
- Patron Saint (of Cycling) - Jeff Viscount
- J-Mac - Jason McCall
- KayCee - Kevin Casey
- Desilu - D.C. Lucchesi
- Loyyah - Ann Groninger
- Double El - Larry Lieberman
- Glitter - Walker Jones
- Raymundo - Ray Waugh (think of Rocket Power)
- Blackbird - Rusty Bryson
- Pure Engine - Matt Botting
- Coach - Chad Andrews (Owner of TotalCylist)
- Emanem (Math Man) - Tim Waite
- Rebozo - Bob Batchelor (Think BB as is Bebe Rebozo)
- BeeGee - Richard McKeon
- XT - Christy Blakely
- Dickie - Dick Winters
- Boz - Brien Boswell
- Rev - Luke Maybry
- Tom Terrific - Tom Price
- Aygee - Andy Gamble
- Scrandal - Randy Robinson
- Raz - Rasmus Pedersen
- BS (Belgium Stinky) - Andrew Raab
- The Godfather - Mickey Shaver
- Ferrik - Erik Fine
- Velomind - Dr. Mike Cowan
- Missy Mac - Melissa MacDonald
- HooLeah - Julia Engel
- Goldilocks - Ashe Lockhart (founder and ride leader of Saturday’s Goldilocks ride)
- Anni Fanni - Ann Koehler a/k/a Mankiller
- Poppy - Kerry Humphrey (Prince of pain per YFL)
- Superman - Chris Steele (the man of steel)
- Rear Window - Liam Stokes
- Deez - Derrick Dominey
- Jor-El - Joel Lutterman
- The Rocket - Randy Chapman
- Cisco - Francisco Montero
- Woot - Chris Wooten
- Pip - Claire Cullipher
- Ko Ko - Chris Guella
- Flyin’ Ryan - Ryan Hale
- Sarge - Dave Nelson
- Wiseguy - Jeff Wise
- Chuckie Boo Boo - Charlie Ayers
- L-Train - Levi Nelson
- Champagne - Eric Solomon
- Ponytail - Shelly Franke
- Forever Man - Jim Reavis
- Foxy - Stephen Fox
- Iron Lenny - Len Fumi
- The Ghost - Dennis Gunson
- O - Patrick Boyle
- Boonie - Gary Hallen
- Name - Nick Mattus
- Miss El Dee - Lisa Dale
- Anon - Mike Burkard
- YoYo - Rick Pryll