About Father Dan's Bike Chapel

WHAT ✧ A clumsy, Weebly little web site (www.BikeChapel.com) about cycling. Riding on two (or 3, Maddie!) wheels under your own power. On the road, on the trail, on the track. Racing & touring.

WHO ✧ Dan "Father Tortuga" Goese is a tree-hugging cycling shaman in San Diego, California. I'm also a father, husband, grandfather, brother, son, cyclist [SDBC member & ride leader], investor, nerd, philanthropist, former engineer (U of IL BSEE, UL), product marketing puke (Northwestern/Kellogg MBA, HP), startup booster (MusicMatch) & market researcher (Outlook Research).

WHERE ✧ All over the world, but most often in coastal San Diego County, California.

WHY ✧ Fun. Elation. Relaxation. Physical & mental health. Sightseeing. Environmentally-friendly commuting. Oh yes, and because--while billions of people are comforted by religion in a world torn by religion--ours won't tell you who or what to love, hate, worship, shun or kill. In our religion, you just ride when you can to brighten your day and brighten the lives of those around you. Smile & wave!
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Dan riding with Andy Hampsten in Tuscany. Click on photo to see more or visit Cinghiale.com to book a trip with Andy.
La Madonna: The original Cycling Church
Click on photo above to see photos from Lake Como & this "La Madonna del Ghisallo," the original church of cycling. It's like Mecca for cyclists, and a nice climb from Lake Como brings you there.
"Cycling is a Religion." In addition to this little bike chapel, you can find salvation at another chapel or church of cycling. I've listed several below to guide you on your path to cycling salvation.

When cyclists talk about a church related to cycling, the first that comes to mind for the most avid cyclists around the world is the one at La Madonna del Ghisallo near Lake Como in Italy, which I plan to see in September 2017 before enjoying another week of riding with Andy & Elaine Hampsten. Here are some links:
Wikipedia | Cycling News | YouTube ride up to the church

As with every other religious organization, the cycling faithful have more than one official church. Let's face it, the Italians and Belgians are both pretty bike-crazy, so Belgium (Flanders, more specifically) has its ancient cycling church, too. Rouleur published an article with some great pictures about their visit to what they call the church of cycling here. Of course the great Eddy Merckx is the archangel (if not the god) of their church. Johan Museeuw is the monk in their awesome video here. 

In my bible it says:
religions ≅ cults ≅ secret societies​
I was raised Catholic and I firmly believe that the sheer size of the Catholic Church doesn't mean it's not a cult. Of course the cycling faithful must have their own secret society or "illuminati" as well. In this case, it is cleverly called "Velominati" and they claim they are "keepers of the cog." Now there's a fabricated word that can be easily trademarked, unlike common phrases that have "church" and "cycling" in them. 
​Here's a list of several other churches of cycling, so to speak: Social media also provides online churches of cycling for those who can't spring the airfare to get to Lake Como in Italy or Ghent/Roeselare in Belgium so you can enter the confessional in the privacy of your own home. Just genuflect your way over to these: 
BikeForums | BlogSpot | PedalPrayers | Tumblr | Twitter 

Peloton of Cycling Gods
Koers is Religie (Cycling is a Religion)
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Dan riding with George Hincapie, his brother Rich, and his dad Ricardo in South Carolina. Click on photo to see more.
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Pro/1/2 racers in SDBC's "Barrio Logan Grand Prix" criterium. Click on photo for more info.
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Father Dan at the top of Torrey Pines grade with Bob Roll.
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San Diego cyclists meet up at the Tour de France in 2010.
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Getting ready to ride with Floyd Landis (2007).