Earth Wind and Fire supplied lyics for the 23rd Night In September…

Hey hey hey,
ba de ya – say do you remember
ba de ya – drafting in September
ba de ya – never was a cloudy day
Ba duda, ba duda, ba duda, badu
ba duda, badu, ba duda, badu
ba duda, badu, ba duda

17 Drafters convened to do some drafting in September.  C-Monster once again came to the rescue of several Drafters who suffered equpiment failure, as in failure to bring equipement.  Cannibal borrowed her water bottle and Hit-the-Wall borrowed her waterproof phone case (ok, so it was just a ziplock bag, but still).  I guess that makes sense. In giving away her water, the chances of sweating were minimized.  C-Monster is so smart. No wonder she will shortly have earned two doctorates.

5 of the 17 Drafters didn’t convene, exactly,  but did complete the route.  Drone Master was on course sending live footage to Bob Roll.  Belle and Bomber were caught on Wipperfurth- presumably they had a head start or drafting on e-Bikes.  We are awaiting official word from the pit crew technicians, who are inspecting for motors.  Tobacco City Boy arrived a few minutes late so thought to park at Pheasant Branch Conservancy.  The peloton zipped by so quickly that he missed them entirely.  By 6PM, he abandoned the chase and rode the course backwards to increase in chances of a Drafter encounter.  Sparky, too, arrived late and ventured out alone, only to flat twice.  Vintage was kind enough to leave his beer behind and rescue Sparky from the depths of Waunakee.  We are out of room on the Flat Tire Club plaque after this seasons’s voluminous debacles.  Speedy and Duracell completed the route in the early afternoon, on account of coaching their kids’ hockey.  This excellent parental Duracell put him just out of reach of the 10 and Over club, which earns extra Drafter swag. He is appealing the decision to the USDA (United States Drafter Assoc) and providing GPS and photographic evidence that he did ride the course on Drafter Monday. The Velominati rules clearly state BIKE COMES FIRST, but the Drafters may have to ammend that to say BIKE FIRST UNLESS FAMILY NEEDS YOU.

The ride down Easy Street was as promised… easy.  Except for Sparky who double flatted and Vintage who managed to have his saddle fail.  I suggested a new saddle, but he said the more likely long term solution was to lose 20 pounds.  Whatever.  I’d buy a new saddle.  Hell, I’d buy a new bike. Why skimp?

Two of our “regulars” were off frolicking in Yellowstone, unable to Draft, but still sporting green.

Beer at Longtable tasted extra good.  The selection is so wide that it is often hard to pick just one (if you are setting limits).  Tobacco City Boy opted for the Hawaiian Shirt Party.  When asked about his selection, he said his daughter would like the colorful flowery can,while his attention was drawn to the 9% alcohol content.

Next week will be our grand finale and shortest ride of the year to Riley Tavern.

Download PDF map: Riley Tavern 20

Garmin link: GPS Riley Tavern

Following the ride, Longtable will host our END OF THE YEAR DRAFTER PARTY at 7PM. In case of rain (read: in case Hit-the-Wall rides), we will still start the party at 7PM.  There is swag for everyone who has ridden at least once.  Double swag for those achieving the 10 and over club.  And special awards for faux pas throughout the season.

The DIRTY DRAFT season is still in season.  We will meet at 5PM (NOTE: not 5:30 as initially advertised) at Pleasant View on Wed Oct 2.  There is a small possiblity of also meeting this Wed, Sept 25 at 5PM at PV.  I will send a GroupMe message to confirm.  Text me if you are interested.

It was a bummer The RIDE was cancelled, but we still have a few events to entertain:

Tyranena is this Sat, Sept 28.  Link: Tyranena sign up

The Hibernator gravel event is Sat, Oct 5.  Link: Hibernator sign up

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

The inaugural Dirty Draft at CamRock was a huge success.  What constitutes success? 10 riders got dirty, did not require emergency care, ate pizza and drank beer on a school night.  Thanks to Skipper for leading the Draft and Footer for sweeping. There was lots of mess, but everyone went home with all their parts in tact.

A little blood, not enough to require stitches.

A little goose egg, not one on the noggin.

Cannibal connects with Mother Nature, losing a bar end plug and half a pedal.  Who plants those trees so close together, anyway? He blamed his routine tree confrontations on Skipper, who loaned him the MTB. Apparently the brakes weren’t up to Cannibal’s standards.

Slinger lived up to his Drafter handle.  Coming hot into a corner, dirt was a slingin’.  And then Slinger was slung into the powdery earth he just created.

I only wish I had a photo of Tick Tock launching into flight.  I can’t do it justice with words.

But I can perpetuate the fun with round two of the Dirty Draft.  We will meet in the parking lot near the clubhouse at Pleasant View golf course on Wed, Oct 2 at 5:30PM.  Shenanigans to follow at Longtable.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

It was a record setting night for the Drafters:

• We achieved an all time high attendance record of 24 riders!  This included one Newbie, Outlaw, bro-in-law of Hit-the-Wall.  The probability of a rain out being implicitly linked to Hit-the-Wall has been called into question.

  

  

• Cronometro’s Italian Job made an appearance.  The Black Widowette route had been shorted due to the daunting challenge of averaging  20mph to get in before sunset.  I had intended that to mean that most would ride UNDER 20mph.  The Italian Job had an entirely different interpretation. He and Cannibal  battled to Dane averaging over 25mph (possibly prompted by endless chiding by BrickO who hung on for dear life and the two bowls of cereal unwisely scarfed down late afternoon until she couldn’t- that is, couldn’t keep up.  The cereal stayed down). Tick Tock and Captain Joe took over the pursuit in Dane. Compliments and backhanded slams were exchanged simultaneously.  Tick Tock’s recollection is that the Italian Job complimented him on sustaining a high power output.  Coming from the former U.S. National one hour time trial record holder, Tick Tock figured he’d reached the peak of his career and retired later that evening, after a celebratory beer.  The Italian Job had a slightly different take.  His recollection was that Tick Tock said, “You ride great for an old guy. Especially with an Italian screw in your hip.”  I suspect there is some truth to both interpretations.  Regardless, it spawned a record highest average speed. Why am I not sure of the the exact mph? Well….
• BrickO joined the flat tire club.  She claims to have been “just riding along” (JRA) when a pot hole inexplicably jumped in front of her.   That brings the Flat Tire Club membership to a record high 8, up from 3 inductees last year.  Many Drafters abided by the code and stopped to offer assistance.  Muddled in the incomprehensible thought of her new bike being marred on its first Drafter voyage, BrickO sent them away one by one (in between curses at her own stupidity at hitting the pothole- and this farm girl is not short on curse words). Until… until… she was standing on the shoulder with her precious bike in one hand, unwilling to let the Green Machine lay down, and the rear wheel in the other, tire lever in her mouth, and surrendered.  Vintage and Loose Screw wrangled off the stiff new tire and pumped up the new one.  Z Rex came back with the sag wagon, but BrickO was already on the road, emptied tool bag clenched in her teeth (no time to waste putting it back on the seat post). She suffered TMJ damage, but it was worth saving 30 seconds after a 20min tire change.

• Bomber and Belle were riding along so sweetly, the bees couldn’t resist.  Belle sustained the first bee sting on a Drafter ride.  Luckily, beer is a known anti-histamine. Well, not exactly, but when mixed with Benadryl can intensify the side effects.
• We’ve had plenty of equipment failures (Loose Screw loosing his Garmin on a pot hole, Booker J breaking a cable, 8 Flat Tire Club inductees) and failure to bring equipment, including socks (Cannibal), water bottles and a front tire (Pipes).  But never have we had a cell phone catapult from a jersey pocket and survive being run over by a tractor.  Sparky is now the national spokesperson for otter cases, and promises to back up her data daily.
• The Drafter end of the year party is coming up, and the announcement was made that swag would be given to those riders completing 10 rides.  Drone Master is just shy at 8 and thus decided to ride no less than 3 rides in order to ensure his swag. Drone Master sightings were reported at numerous unchartered roads on the Black Widowette route. He definitely set a record for most Drafter rides in a single night. If you can’t ride 10 times, being seen 3 times more often is a creative way to earn swag .

  

• Duracell and Speedy set a record for earliest departure.  Not only did they start 20min before the Draft, but they shaved off the first 2 miles by riding from home.  They definitely took the 7:05PM sunset warning seriously.  BrickO got several texts from the impatient Speed: “thought the Drafters would have caught us by now”, “what establishment did we choose for imbibing this eve?” Clearly, she’s got her eye on the prize.

  

This is a relatively easy 27 mile ride down Easy Street (might be up, given my predilection for hills). If you want to extend it just a wee bit, skip the Right on North Madison St and take the next one, Schumacher to Easy St.  It is a hill you won’t want to miss, if you like that sort of thing.

Download PDF map: Wauna Ride Down Easy Street?

Garmin link: Easy Street Garmin Link

REMINDERS: Dirty Draft is this Wednesday, 5:30 at CamRock. Bring lights, trail pass, swimsuit and beers for after-ride festivities at Footer’s cottage on Lake Ripley. Drafter party is Sept 30 at Longtable. Please RSVP to Evite.  If I missed you, let me know.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

A little inspiration from John Denver as the weather is looking favorable for riding the Black Widowette tonight.

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on Monday nights looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me ride

Third time is a charm for this route, and also the third time it has been modified/shortened due to daylight restrictions. The map shows the full Black Widow route in red- we will be taking the short cut in blue.  Sadly, this cuts off two beautiful roads (Fellows and Lee), but safety first.  Sunset is at 7:05PM.  This is roughly a 30mile route, which means you will need to average ~20mph.  I think that’s a tall order for most of us (me, anyway). How about we ride it backwards or counter clockwise?  That way, we can knock off 2 miles and finish one the bike path.  Sound reasonable? This is the third and final rendition before we move on to another route.

PDF map to download: Black Widowette Backwards 30

Note: Garmin link is from Middleton Hills riding clockwise (original direction). Sorry for lack of recon this weekend to update the Garmin in the backwards direction.  I was detained in Ames for College Game Day, which ironically was also met with rain delays: Garmin Link Black Widowette

It is human nature to assign blame.  Who can we blame for the series of rainouts?  Hit-the-Wall volunteered.  He has dutifully loaded his bike in the car on 7 occasions, riding only 4.  The probability of it raining when Hit-the-Wall plans to Draft is really good.  His new handle might be Rainmaker.  Despite the disappointment last week, not all was lost with the rainout.

A few of us frequented the Longtable, including Nurse Sully, Captain and Tineal, BrickO, Z Rex. Duracell and Speedy get credit for spinning before imbibing.  Duracell was overheard confessing that sweating in his Drafter kit amongst the “commoners” made him feel sexy.  Perhaps the most brilliant Drafter at the Longtable was a Newbie– not afraid to show up for her first Draft without a bike and beer in hand.

A few other Drafters broke a sweat this weekend.  Congrats to those who Biked the Barns.

And to those who sought another type of Barnyard activity.

And they weren’t the only Drafters to get dirty.

Better late than never- a shout out to a few more Drafters who finished the Door Country Century last week.  Tobacco City Boy, having peaked his training mileage at 40 this summer, banked on BrickO’s Principal of Physiology: what you can do once, you can do again.  That got him to mile 80. The last 20 were a blur.  Congrats, TCB.  There is nothing like a toddler and an infant to keep your biking miles at a minimum.

Dr. Wampus prepares her daughter for winter and the indoor cycling season. On that note, we are full for Monday night indoor cycling at CXC starting in Nov, but look for a second class to be added in Jan.

One Drafter said “I do”.

That’s a wrap on the happenings that have happened.  Here’s the happenings about to happen:

• Dirty Draft this Wednesday night at CamRock, east end (park right in Cambridge) with Skipper. Proper attire required (please refrain from looking at photo above): LIGHTS on bike and helmet, trail pass, beer to share afterwards at Footer’s cottage.
• Drafter end of the year party Sept 30 at 7PM at Longtable.  Please RSVP so I can give Longtable a headcount.  If you rode at least once, you have earned Drafter swag.  If you have ridden 10 times, you earn an extra swag item.  Flat tire inductees will be recognized, along with the photo competition winners and multiple faux pas will be highlighted.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

This could be a record with 3 weeks without a Drafter ride.  We can only wag a finger at Mother Nature for 2 of those, with Labor Day making this a long stretch.  Or, we can wag a finger at Sandlot for not doing the right dance on the sun dial.

We will regroup next week for the Black Widowetter Ride, and hopefully 2 rides after that.  County Hwy P is being repaved near Martinsville, so we will have to skip the Cocktail Ride and finish with Easy Street and Riley Tavern.

Put Sept 30 on your calendar for the END OF SEASON party.  Details still in the works, but hopefully this will occur after the last ride at Longtable.

Not everyone was as eager to ride tonight as C-Monster and BrickO, who wanted to show off her new bike from Cronometro.

Sandlot, Duchess, Knievel and Hundo (and maybe others) are happy to rest their legs after the Door County Century.

Several Drafters got down and Dirty.

Remember the Dirty Draft at CamRock next Wed, Sept 18 at 5:30.  Enter CamRock on the east end (from downtown Cambridge).  Bring a bike light and a head lamp for your helmet if you have one.  You will need to buy a trail pass for $5, or annual $16.  A CORP membership is highly encouraged. Beer is also a good idea should you want to hang out afterwards at Footer’s cottage in Cambridge.

If you don’t want to get dirty, get flexible at yoga with Pipes this Wednesday, Sept 11 at Quarry Arts at 2:30.  Cost is $10.  Please RSVP to Pipes.  Following yoga, you can rehydrate at Capital Brewery for CORP movie night.

If it is more road biking you seek, think about The Ride Sept 22 or Tyranena Sept 28.  And if gravel is your thing, the 63 mile Railroad Robioux out of Fond du Lac on Oct 12. Link: Railway Robioux

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

Between the rain delay and Labor Day, it’s been awhile since the Drafters have been in the saddle together.  In the saddles, plural.  We are a close group, but we have our limits.

I trust that most Drafters have been riding during our hiatus.  Bond conquered Alpe d’huez and earned the yellow jersey, again.

Some female Drafters decided to take their Johnson left in the woods of Wisconsin.

And one Drafter learned the perils of  biking and bonking.  Even a tip over can be dastardly on a scaphoid.  Pipes has had a rough inaugural season with the Drafters.  Making friends with Bambi on Turkey Rd, forgetting her front wheel, advancing from the bronze to silver flat tire club, and now pulling up short on the opportunity for gold status with a purple cast.

With the cool September weather also comes limited light.  We will amend the Black Widow route to be a little shorter, the Black Widowette, if you will.  Both Garmin links are posted, but I strongly suggest the shorter in case of a mechanical (or a bonk and tip over). The Garmin links are from Middleton Hills, clocked at 27miles and 31miles, respectively.  Add 3~ miles from Free House.

Garmin link: Black Widowette

Garmin link: Black Widow

CAUTION: there is gravel at the bottom of Black Hill, as you turn LEFT onto V.  Stay on V as it merges with P (left) and 113 (right) into Dane. Hwy 113 isn’t ideal, but there is a wide shoulder and hopefully not much traffic.

DIRTY DRAFT: our first ride is Sept 18, at Cam Rock at 5:30.  Start at the EAST END.  Skipper will be your fearless leader.  Newbies (like myself) are welcome.  So far we have 9 enlisted. Please consider joining  Capital Off Road Pathfinders. Link: CORP membership

A trail pass is required ($5 or $16 annual) for CamRock.  Link to directions and park map: CamRock

If you want to to join CORP for movie night at Cap Brewery on Sept 11, I will see you there.  Purchase tickets here: Movie Night Cap Brew tickets

SEASON WRAP UP: the tentative plan is to ride the remaining 4 Mondays in Sept- Black Widowette, Tom Collins Cocktail Ride, Wauna Ride Easy St and finishing with Riley Tavern. We will enjoy libations at Longtable for the remaining rides as Amy has been moved to working days at Free House and I doubt any other waiter or waitress would want to tackle the Draft.  The end of season PARTY will likely be held at Longtable after the last ride on Sept 30.  Stay tuned for updates.  You must be present to win.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO