What's actually going on in the hat? - A report on the situation

Was ist eigentlich so in der Mütze los? – Ein Bericht zur Lage

The ambitious gravel passages with plank crossings in the inner courtyard are a thing of the past, at least for the moment. Sure, we still cycle to work in the morning in anticipation of a new surprise and challenge, but the days of really big things seem to be over. Let's knock on wood and allow ourselves some time for a little written update from the eye of the volcano. A few looks back and a few forwards.

what was going on

The last text here was the announcement of Cyclingworld and our activities around it. To make it short: the fair was a hit, we had a great weekend with great rides, many interested and informed visitors and inspiring conversations at the cap stand. You can find a few pictures of the fair in the following gallery, have fun remembering. Even though we had a busy weekend, our anticipation for Cyclingworld 23 started on the Sunday evening of the 22nd edition.

Corona then caught us in the hat in April, parts of the team lay flat, the emergency service kept its head above water and rocked the place while the rest recovered. We didn't have much time, after all, with the planning of the 22nd edition of Rapha's Day in Hell, a first small challenge as a spring classic awaited us. This year we didn't celebrate an orgy of altitude meters like on the 2021 route, but simply put together a nice lap over the rustic farm roads in the area. Of course, everyone could ride the fun themselves, but on that Sunday we spent a heavenly day in hell in the pouring sunshine in the best company with friends of the cap. Thanks to Lars Teröde for the inspiration with the route, meanwhile a shortened version of it is regularly rolled out as part of our weekly after-work round.

On roads and paths

We simply started this celebratory*evening round again at the beginning of May without much fanfare and meet on Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the courtyard in front of the cap and roll between 60 and 80 kilometers in the mostly cheerful peloton. The number of participants varies, but the group is nowhere near as large as it was before Corona. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that around 27 different road bike groups meet in Düsseldorf every evening, but also because we ask you to register via Eventbrite in advance and are happy if the fellow riders also have a connection to us. Chatting on Wednesdays, getting on the bus and rolling through the countryside is certainly not the dumbest kind of evening activity, but it's more fun if you can relate to those involved. New guests are welcome, but the spirit should be right. You'll notice that on the way. We have fun chatting, we take the Social Ride story seriously. We won't be the fastest, it's enough for us if we look fantastic.

Speed ​​plays a bigger role at Düsseldorf's big race day on the Königsallee. Despite the Corona requirements, the 2021 edition of Rund um die Kö was a success that we could not have expected in this form. After the race is before the race, which is why the core team, which has grown significantly, with representatives from CCD, destinationX, g31, the cap and many other volunteers, has been working hard in the background for a few months to fill the 2022 edition with life. Anyone who hasn't been there in recent years can hardly imagine how much this event is all about. Approvals, acquisition of sponsors, selection and organization of the individual race formats, registration formalities, graphic implementation, logistics and infrastructure of exhibitors, food trucks, music, sound reinforcement, moderation, barriers, toilet vans - this list is a no brainer compared to reality. We all curtsey to those who help us to hold this event, our special thanks go to sipgate as the main sponsor and the city of Düsseldorf for their support.

The race formats on the Kö will again be a colorful mix this year, from the balance bike race for the youngest to the Petit Départ children's formats, the cargo bike race, the open Düsseldorf city championships, a hobby race exclusively for women, the fixed crit and BDR -Formats such as Masters, Elite and Amateur races, the day follows one banger after the next from early morning until evening.

If you don't just want to be on the sidelines, but want and have some time to actively participate as a helper in Rund um die Kö or the second event of our great team, the cross and gravel weekend querfeldrhein in October, we would be happy a small hole in the abdomen. There are countless tasks of all kinds that need to be mastered. You don't have to be a rocket engineer or a professional race organizer to help us, the tasks are varied and exciting, we won't overwhelm anyone. You can easily register here: LINK

On the eve of Rund um die Kö we are currently planning a women's warm-up ride for the free women's race, the race of the Kö-Queen. And we are happy to welcome Iris Slappendel from IRIS – I ride in style as a guest. Details will follow soon.

An important day honoring women in cycling has become Rapha's womens100 over the years. We with the team of the cap have been there from the beginning, have organized trips under the banner from the first edition. This year, as an official partner of Rapha, we are delighted to celebrate the day in appropriate style, let our courtyard shine on the day and welcome all graduates with a small party. A few small preparatory trips will certainly fit in advance, information on that will come soon.

Otherwise, we keep looking at our calendars and thinking about what else we can do. The big festival for cyclo-cross sport is fixed, the two-day querfeldrhein on the Grafenberg racetrack, where we are part of the organizing team. The debut in October last year raised the bar to a decent level, visitors and participants were enthusiastic. Race formats for all age and performance classes up to the Bundesliga race have shown the range. This year we will try to expand the Gravel side even further and will keep you up to date in good time.

In the shop

The feedback from our customers and guests on site on Oststraße has been very positive in recent months and has helped to alleviate the painful months since the move. We are happy that our stationary range receives a lot of praise and that we are a local partner of high-quality brands such as Café Du Cycliste, PEdALED, KASK, Fizik, POC, IRIS, Lake, Isadore, Giro, HJC, Abus, UDOG, Quoc, Alba Optics and our newest addition, Rapha, can offer a wide range of apparel, footwear, eyewear and helmets.

When you visit, many of you are surprised by the variety of bikes that we can offer in the store in the gravel and racing bike segment, whether complete bikes or individual structures on display. These are still possible in a wide variety of constellations, whether steel, aluminum, titanium or carbon, gravel, all-road or racer, small or large: we have a wide selection on site. Brands such as Ritchey, Genesis, Open, Focus, Brother Cycles, Jamis, Kona, All City, Cinelli, Pelago and Cannondale give us the opportunity to map bikes with a sporty background down to the smallest niche, whether for shooting on the road or in the forest, for the extended bikepacking tour or the daily ride to work. Shifting and braking is done with Shimano, Campagnolo or SRAM, mechanically or electrically, with rim brakes or hydraulic discs. Wheels are important when cycling, wheels from Hunt, Scope, DT Swiss or Classified, or hand-made from the cap workshop with parts from Duke, Hope, Sapim, H+Son and many others can offer a decent upgrade equipped with tires from Panaracer, Schwalbe, Vittoria, Continental, Wolfpack, Challenge and Rene Herse, with or without a tube.

Whether bags from Apidura or Chrome, Navis from Wahoo, care products from Antidot, light from SON, Lupine, Lezyne, Cat Eye, our selection offers many brands that are rarely found in the combination. The great fun is supplemented with an assortment of numerous saddles, handlebar tapes, tools, pumps, drinking bottles, tools, energy bars, hoses, locks and accessories, with which we occasionally lose track. But when we join forces, there is almost always someone on the team who can fulfill the wish for that one very special part.

Our collection of hat items has grown steadily, in addition to our SCHICKEN HATS in our own designs, socks, drinking bottles, mugs and our saddlebags have become perennial favorites in recent years. Our Italian espresso cups with cap logo are hardly new in the range, but supplies are on the way.

Okay, in addition to the question of when we offer which trips, the question of when our café will start is a daily talking point. We are confident that the terrace will be completed in the next few weeks, then the necessary concessions will follow and we can finally revitalize the hat area, which we miss as much as you do. So far, even having a beer together after driving in the courtyard in front of the cap has turned out to be a recurring challenge, as work is being done on the walls and floor.

The light at the end of the tunnel is shining brightly, we are proud and happy that we have managed this challenge so far with the help and a lot of understanding from our partners.

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