The forecast does not look conducive to riding the Black Widow route. I am rarely quick to pull the cancellation trigger, but I am making an exception on this rainy day. Mother Nature has rain in store for the entire day and I fear this would be the scenario:
Incy Wincy Drafter went up the Black Hill route
Down came the rain and washed the Drafter out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
So, Incy Wincy Drafter went out Black Hill again
I take comfort knowing that many Drafter younglings were out this weekend.
Dr. Wampus demonstrates Drafting and encourages education before fashion. Note anatomically correct jersey and Drafter shorts. Offspring had to name all the bones before riding.If the shoe fits…. Dan-yelly has taught her offspring well about proper shoe attire. Right and left need a bit of work.Bomber makes sure his boy looks sharp during the Colorado Classic (an all pro-women’s race).
A few important announcements:
The RIDE is coming up on Sept 22. Sign up if you are interested. Link
Capital Off Road Pathfinders (CORP) is hosting movie night at Capital Brewery on Wednesday Sept 11 from 6-9PM. If you ride trails in southwest WI, please come join me to support this group. Link COPR Movie night
And if you like riding trails, please join us for the inaugural DIRTY DRAFT at Cam Rock park on Wednesday Sept 18, hosted by your Skipper. Details to follow, but dirty drafting will include beer afterwards. All you need is a mountain bike and a sense of adventure. No skill required (I will lead by example on that front).
Drafters get dirty at Cam Rock with Skipper
Getting dirty not your thing? Namaste. Yoga Master Pipes is leading an 8 week yoga session on Wednesdays from 2:30-3:30 starting Sept 11 at Quarry Arts on Hill St. Cost is $10 per class. Benefits are priceless. See Pipes for details. She is easy to find- big muscles, friends with Bambi, rides a unicycle.
There will be NO Labor Day Draft. As we start to lose daylight, our Monday night rides will become progressively shorter. The following week (Sept 9) we will re-visit the Black Widow but I will likely shorten the route. Historically, we have Drafted through the end of September. The annual post-season party date is TBD. There is still time to send in your Drafter photos for the competition. In-door season to start late Oct or early Nov. Joy.
The Beasts: Sandlot, Duchess, Billy Boy, Loose Screw, Vintage, Z Rex, Thing 1, Skipper, Footer, Pipes, Booker J, Cannibal, C-Monster, Tick Tock, PDQ. Bond is on the run.
17 Drafters dared to face the Beast of Barlow, including one Newbie. PDQ was drafted over a year ago. His idea of taking immediate action isn’t exactly Pretty Damn Quick. Neither was the pace set by the 4 post-RAW finishers (Bond, Booker J, Z Rex and BrickO) who faced the Beast with a few less ATPs in their pedal stroke. The Beast had more climb in 33.6 miles than RAW did in 225!
Bond sightings were reported by many Drafters for the first time this season. The stealth rider was overhead saying, “I think I will find a new group (read: not lead with Tick Tock, Vintage, Cannibal and Thing 1) to hang with today.” Despite fatigue from claiming the Titletown road sign at mile 220 on Saturday, Bond did not relinquish the yellow jersey. He made a signature pit stop at the bottom of Barlow, as if to taunt the Beast.
Cannibal’s strategy for taking on the Beast was to look less like one. Legs were meticulously shaven for maximal aerodynamic capacity. His plans were foiled, however, when he joined the Equipment Failure Club (otherwise known as the failure to bring equipment club). C-Monster offered up her no-show dress socks, but after calling his fashion consultant, Cannibal decided upon knee-high cashmere socks compliments of Billy Boy. Lawyers apparently spare no expense on footwear.
Cannibal’s plans to challenge the Beast with smooth legs were foiled when equipment failure required cashmere knee-high socks.
Sandlot joined the antithesis of the Equipment Failure Club. She humbly packed her cleat covers in preparation for Barlow “de-feet”, but victory was hers. Barlow and Duchess were merely specks in her rearview mirror.
Sandlot has beaten the Beast… and Duchess
It came out during post-Barlow banter at Longtable that several Drafters were Barlow Virgins. Sandlot, Vintage and Thing 1 have been fully deflowered by the Beast. I lost something arguably more valuable on Barlow… my damn chain. There is nothing flowery about starting on a 19% grade at 0mph.
Beast of BarlowSkipper looks back on the Beast, Bond, Booker J, BrickO and PDQMineral Point isn’t tame either
Thanks to Longtable for hosting our post-ride libations. We said goodbye to Bond as he heads to France to face another Beast, the Alpe d’Huez. Please note: winners of the yellow and other jerseys must be present at the Drafter banquet to claim their award. This late in the season, I doubt anyone can make enough pit stops to steal the yellow jersey away from Bond.
Cannibal and Bond share a beastly hug while the rest of the Drafters share stories of beating the Beast.
Our last route to close out August will be the Black Widow. Why not? We survived the Beast. This is a 34 mile ride and despite the name, is nothing compared to the Beast. If daylight is an issue, please consider the short cut on V, immediately after Black Hill.
The day looks favorable to negotiate with the Beast of Barlow. I did do recon last Monday and have a few updates on the route:
Left turn from Garfoot onto Observatory: note the Loose Gravel sign. There is some.
Barlow is a beast. The dirt previously reported has been swept, but there is a 3 foot wide swatch of gravel. This poses no big danger as you will be climbing a 19% grade.
Descent on Garfoot is TECHNICAL. Control your speed early and often.
HARD LEFT TURN FROM DESCENT ON GARFOOT ONTO BRAUN IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AT SPEED AND THERE IS GRAVEL. I REPEAT- DANGEROUS HARD LEFT TURN OFF THE DESCENT WITH GRAVEL AT THE INTERSECTION AT BRAUN.
Previously reported sections of gravel on Garfoot off of Mineral Point and on Union Valley have been paved. Nice.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE TOBACCO CITY BOY! He ages up tomorrow, so if he rides tonight, beer is on the house (the Brick House).
C-Monster and Footer made their debut in the Birch Scroll, representing winter Draft activities. Sweet green Drafter beanies are thanks to our friends at SweatVac.
Congratulations to the 5 Drafters who participated in the Ride Across Wisconsin (RAW). Bond finished a wee bit earlier than the rest of us, and was gracious not to drink all the “good” beer at the post-ride party.
The choice is yours
Bond may not have been the first rider across the line, but he did sprint to claim the Titletown sign! I think Paul McCartney was spot on with these lyrics, which I have taken the liberty of modifying slightly to honor Bond’s accomplishment.
Stuck inside Wisconsin Ride across forever Two hundred twenty-five miles Crazy again like you
Drafter you, Drafter you
If I ever finish this ride
Thought of giving it all away To a registered charity All I need is a pint a day
If I ever get outta here If we ever get outta of here
Well, the ride exploded with a mighty crash As we rode into the sun And the first one said to the second one there I hope you’re having fun
Bond on the RAW, Bond on the RAW And Booker J, Slinger and Drafter Z Were searching every one For the Bond on the RAW Bond on the RAW Bond on the RAW Bond on the RAW
I signed up for RAW but ended up completing a new ride I like to call RAAW… Ride Almost Across Wisconsin. Nothing like a broken spoke to put a wobble in the day. Thanks to Cronometro on call, the fine mechanic from Wheel and Sprocket, and my wing man Z who didn’t leave me behind. The breakage was limited to the spoke and not my spirit. Thanks for the help, guys.
We earned our beer in RAAW.
I’d like to put in a plug for every Drafter (and cyclist) to join Bike Fed. They are advocates for us on the road. I can’t require membership, but I strongly encourage all of you to join. Link to Bike Fed:https://wisconsinbikefed.org/join/individual-members/
And if you want to bike in green to support the Draft, reorders for Hincapie Drafter gear are available now.
Call 888-826-7870
Cycling is good on so many levels: fitness, green transportation, camaraderie, post-ride beer. Here’s one that Duchess discovered that was news to me that might pique your interest: https://apple.news/AcCMvzGp-R3CEV4tjLpV5HQ
Draft responsibly, and remember the two danger intersections in bullet points 1 and 4 above.
I sent Duchess and Sandlot to negotiate with Mother Nature. They put up a great fight (with M.N., not each other) but ultimately lost the argument for a dry Draft.
Duchess and Sandlot put on their best pouty faces, but you can’t argue with Mother Nature.
I really don’t want to cancel given that the current precipitation is nothing more than an irritating drizzle, but given the treacherous descent on Garfoot and looming cells on the radar that could potentially become more threatening, I think it would be unwise to ride. That was a really long sentence, so I ended it before finishing my thought: I also am sad not to say goodbye to KickA$$K (and enjoy watching her beat the beast of Barlow).
I found some solace in these lyrics by the Rolling Stones.
I want to ride the beast of Barlow
My back is broad my butt will be hurting
All I want is for you to climb that hill with me
I want to ride the beast of Barlow
I’ve ridden for miles my feet are hurting
All I want is for you to climb that hill with me
Ain’t I fast enough
Ain’t I strong enough
Ain’t I smart enough
I’m not too blind to see…. It’s frickin’ raining
I want to ride the beast of Barlow
But let’s stay home and draw the curtains
Put some music on the radio
Come on Drafters, climb Barlow next week with me
For those of you riding across Wisconsin on Sat (and Sun), have a blast. If RAW isn’t challenging enough, consider Penny Farthing racing:
Mother Nature made good on her promise to hold off on the thunder, lightening and downpour until all 19 Drafters were safely back. Thank you, M N.
C Monster, Vintage, Thing 1, Duchess, Booker J, Sandlot, Loose Screw, Z Rex, Pipes, Hit the Wall, Pres, Billy Bob, T Wall, Footer and Arms. Bond is in stealth mode.
Pipes upgraded her Flat Tire club membership from Bronze to Silver (sort of like her Olympic medals). There’s no better place to flat than the parking lot, where Drafters have no choice but to comply with the code and lend a helping hand.
Pumping 100 psi is no problem with Pipes like these. I have triceps envy.
The only thing requiring more air than Pipes’ flat tire was blowing out the candles on Billy Bob and Loose Screw’s birthday cakes. That’s a big number.
The Lodi Canning Co. route was epic, without any closed roads or pea gravel to interfere with our adventure. Duchess took a long strong 2 mile pull out of town. Technically, riders must be Drafting to qualify as a pull. I’m not sure if the slip stream extends back 1/4 mile. When he isn’t bonking, Duchess has the juice! We caught up with Drone Master just south of Dane. This week our Domestique was equipped with video equipment and conducted live interviews on the road. Rumor has it that Bob Roll and Phil Liggett are interviewing him for Steve Porino’s job at the Tour de France in 2020. Outside of Dane, despite my clear directions to take a right on Johnson (to be clear on the clarity, it took 3 renditions of the map, but I got there eventually), birthday Billy Boy decided to take his Johnson left.
Birthday Billy Boy turns left on Johnson in the hills of Wisconsin.
The darkening sky and threat of rain had the lead group discussing the practicality of taking the bike path home. Tick Tock is always an advocate for the bike path, and in his absence, we were inclined to shave off a few miles and feet of elevation to honor his spirit, which is vacationing in Glacier. Willing to lead but not take charge of the decision to take the short cut made for a ridiculous sight as Bond and Vintage were held motionless in track stands at the top of Lodi-Springfield and Woodland. BrickO was riding in circles around Thing 1 as a track stand was not a viable option. This maneuver was attempted days earlier, only to have left foot come in contact with front tire, which ended badly. Z Rex saw her distress and came to the rescue, following the Drafter code by always choosing the longer and uphill route. And so we rode up Woodland, waving goodbye to the bike path and quicker route to beer.
The looming storm was not the only dark excitement. Booker J came within inches of becoming Body Bag J. As we rode past Kromrey Middle School towards the Middleton Police Station, 3 oncoming vehicles approached, traveling the appropriate speed limit. The middle vehicle decided that 25mph and double yellow lines were a mere suggestion, and darted out into our lane to pass the vehicle ahead. Booker J’s cat like reflexes saved him. This is a reminder to all who take to the road on two wheels to stay alert at all times. We do an excellent job of being visible with lights and green Drafter gear, calling out “car back” and “car up”, pointing out pot holes and riding with respect for the rules of the road. Not everything is in our control, but be sure to control what you can to Draft responsibly and minimize risk of injury .
Next week we will grant KickA$$K her wish for hills by introducing a new route, Beast of Barlow. This is a 32 mile killer route, with a short cut home on Garfoot that will not allow you to escape the beast.
A few other cautionary notes: 1) Barlow has some dirt that has been swept, but it is easy to lose traction when standing (which you will most likely need to do when the grade hits close to 20%); 2) there is GRAVEL on a section of Garfoot headed home due to road work as well as on 3) Union Valley. As always, ride in control.
Last note of warning: while congregated to help Pipes change her flat tire in the parking lot, we were reprimanded by an employee leaving the BMO building for impeding her departure. She was exceedingly grumpy, but we were guilty as charged. Let’s be mindful of not parking in the reserved spots, even though it is after 5PM (I had to throw in a little snark), and giving drivers a wide berth to get out of the parking lot.
The Drafter Weather Station will keep a close eye on the weather conditions for the Lodi Canning Co. ride throughout the day, and a decision will be made by 4:30PM. Unlike the rogue blog that was auto-posted last week, announcing a rain cancellation 5 days in advance, this will not be a test of the emergency broadcast system. The ride status alert will also be available through GroupMe. If you would like to receive these notifications, let me know. I have the technology.
While we keep a watchful eye on the weather, we should also look back on the weekend and appreciate the wonderful weather for Drafting.
CONGRATS to Cookie and Momma Monster on their FIREHOUSE 50 FIRST PLACE FINISH.
Cookie Monster, Momma Monster and teammates win the Firehouse 50 relay.
In an exclusive interview with the youngest rider of the winning team, Cookie Monster graciously thanked her training partners (who also happen to be a mother-daughter combo) who did a shake down ride with her a few days prior.
30 + 20 = 50 years. I must really be wise. And tired.
If not over the hill, I am certainly over the Mill. Z Rex and BrickO toured Mill Creek in Hyde followed by Mill Creek in Pella, sporting the Drafter green in hopes of qualifying for the photo competition.
Mill Creek in Hyde
Mill Creek in Pella
You don’t need to ride to Draft…
Sandlot kicks back in Ojai
If we do ride tonight, let’s raise a glass to Loose Screw for his upcoming aging event. Happy Birthday!
Sorry. There seems to be a signaling failure in the organ under my helmet. I recreated the map for the Lodi Canning Co Ride to include Johnson Road, which was so rudely omitted from the original map. It is an important road, as it always sparks the Red Hot Chili Peppers song “Around the World” to play in my head. I’d share the lyrics but you may not want to know what happens “in the woods of Wisconsin”. Anyway, with the song in my head, there was little space left for things to go right. PLEASE PROCEED RIGHT ONTO JOHNSON RD. You don’t have the option to go left, actually. That was just a teaser.
The day was gorgeous and provided an excellent opportunity to do a reconnaissance mission for the Lodi Canning Co route. County Line Road, previously closed on an earlier Drafter Ride, is now open for business. A fresh coat of blacktop smooth as a baby’s butt awaits. Just a reminder that prior to that stretch, half the lane near the shoulder is unridable, unless you are a cobble specialist.
Upon consulting the map poster earlier, I realized (actually, I didn’t. Z Rex gets the credit fo the find) that JOHNSON RD does not appear. This is unfortunate as we are turning right onto it from Lee Rd. The map showed turning right onto 113. I’ve updated it below, adding the road at my discretion. The easy landmark for Johnson Rd is the railroad tracks, which you will cross immediately before right off Lee Rd. Previous Garmin link and written directions remain accurate.
Lastly, you can consider taking the bike path home from the end of Lodi-Springfield Rd instead of turning at the Cemetery and climbing Woodland. It saves a few miles and a few feet of elevation.
Duchess provided a link to 22 cycling quotes listed in Bicycling Magazine. I’ve taken the liberty (much like I did with putting Johnson Rd on the map) to share my favorites. https://apple.news/AjWVbBLgcRL6DnyQedKbDTg
One more piece of terrific news: RACE DAY EVENTS will be hosting the Dairyland Dare in 2020! A huge thank you to this organization for saving an event many of us have enjoyed for years. A special should out to Abbey at RDE who will be leading the charge. As your calendar fills up for next summer, also put Pedal and Party in Pardeeville with a Purpose on your radar for early July.
brickosdrafters 
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