Aug 31: It’s Pleasant Getting Old (?)

The Lovin’ Spoonful had words for our Waunakee Warriors Ride:

Hot ride, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Hyslop, isn’t it a pity
Doesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city

All around, people looking Covid
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter with a mask head

But at night it’s a different world
Ride back and grab a beer
Come-on come-on and draft all night
Despite the heat it’ll be alright

We had the biggest turnout of the season, with 2 dozens Drafters baking in the sun and another 4 who rode a full day early to beat the heat.

Sunday riders included Bomber and Bell, and Duchess and Sandlot, who rode the Trek 100 the day before and still had enough strength to strike a Warrior Pose.

Duchess and Sandlot taking the Warrior ride seriously

Belle and Bomber beating the heat on Easy St

Two dozen Drafters weren’t the only thing baking on Monday. Gopher had been busy in the kitchen. Sensitive to Cookie Monster’s contributions the previous week, and not wanting to step on her oven mitts, he baked brownies for the Drafters.

Covid is also heating up, so we took extra measures to social distance. Captain Joe once again pulled a Captain Solo, riding at noon. Small chance the virus could do anything but waive a white flag in the heat of the day.

Columbus set sail at 4:10, with college roomie, good friend and Newbie Daisy. Not too many living things thrive in direct sun, but this flower could be one.

The B teams divided up and set off around 4:30.

The B-1 team included Newbie Helios. When you ride on the hotest Monday of the year… on a gravel bike… and bring the heat, you earn the titel of Greek God of the Sun.

Dan-yelly towed the line for the 4:43 group, while the A team further subdivided into A- (BrickO, Skipper, LuLu and Gopher) and A+ (Cannibal, Blurple, Rimshot and Booker J) teams.

BrickO promised Gopher the ride was going to be “pretty flat”. After Viaduct and Cuba Valley, the MI native realized, “We aren’t in Detroit anymore.” There was more elevation change leaving Middleton Hills than in the entire Motor City.

Late to the party: Vintage and Thing 1 rode the course backwards, meeting up with the A- team on Cuba Valley. Tick Tock staggered from home, while Octane gased up undetected.

We all rode apart but came together, within limits, for pizza, beer and Gopher’s brownies.

In other Drafter news:

A shout out to Pres for hammering out a Century!

Last Wednesday was the biggest Dirty Draft turn-out. 7 Drafters enjoyed the amazing trail upgrades at Blackhawk. Huge thanks to Skipper for breaking trail and taking action photos.

To closeout the month August, we will go long. *** B Team START AT 4PM. Other Drafters stagger at 4:15 (A-) and 4:45 (A+). A short pour is always an option when ordering your Draft. If you come at 5PM and want to ride the full 40 mile route, go for it.

This is a new route, or at least two new roads incorporated into the existing Back Door to Church route. Pleasant Valley and Old Indian are beauties. It isn’t always Pleasant Getting Old, but I thought combining these two roads wasn’t a bad way to spend a day in the second half of my century.

RidewithGPS Pleasant Getting Old

Download Map and Cue Sheet: Pleasant Getting Old