A note from our fearless Pipes:

Hi Fellow Drafters,Many of you hopefully know that we are excited to be able to offer yoga once again – this time at Indoorance – a country club for endurance athletes.  If you were with us before (at the VFW), the class format will be similar with a very simple (not necessarily easy) practice to help open what is closed and stretch what is tight.  If you have not practiced yoga in a while, no worries.  We will start again with the basics.  
With the mask mandate expiring soon, we will await further instruction from Indoorance on their preferences regarding a mask policy.  Most likely, masks will be optional for practice – not required.  
Who:  Drafters and any Drafter FriendsWhat:  It will be a fundamental yoga class geared toward recovery, flexibility, and mobility for cyclists – and anyone else that finds themselves primarily in the sagittal plane When:  Tuesday mornings 7am-7:50am  The first package will be 8 weeks long, beginning June 29-August 17  
Where:  Indoorance Athletic Club located at 4253 West Beltline Hwy in Madison on the opposite side of the beltline from Badger Tavern  Why:  Because like brussel sprouts, it’s good for you.
There are showers!!  And there’s WiFi.  AND THERE’S COFFEE!
Cost: You can purchase all 8 weeks in advance for  $100  (That’s $12.50 per session)If, since it’s summer, you don’t think you can make 8, but you think you can make 5, you can purchase a 5 class pass for $75  (That’s $15/class);  (This can be shared with friends, fellow Drafters or family)You can also drop in for $18/classCash, Venmo (@Karen-Rigsby-2) or checks are accepted  Thank you.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  My cell is 608.239.5369.  You can also reply to this email with any clarifying questions:  karenkraftrigsby@gmail.com
I am excited at the possibility of seeing you all on your mat.  Helmets are optional. 
Grateful for this opportunity and for Indoorance’s vision,

Karen aka Pipes aka Bambi aka Unicycle aka Krafty 

And a quick update on Hincapie 2021 Drafter gear: the store has reopened until June 12. This is the LAST opportunity to order gear for the season. If you have gear that doesn’t fit, please let me know so that I can help find a suitable Drafter to love it. A kit is only happy when worn and worn out.

Here is the link: https://order.hincapiecustom.com/BRICKOS2021

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

We experienced record high Drafter Lodi Canning Co. attendance! The order included three “shots”, one short pour, and the rest full strength drafts for a total of 27, including one newbie, Vi-King!! Donning a STOTON Cycling jersey, we welcome this Vi-King from the Norwegian Ghetto (said with love, as one of them).

Retro is definitely in!

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Rimshot picks up a metal shard in the driveway, threatening to flat before take up. Perhaps it was the GroupMe challenge Cannibal posted hours before about Rimshot bringing us home in the headwind. 27 strong, we are (eventually) dressed and off.

It should be noted that this is the only proof, and coincidently the only instance, whereby BrickO took a pull. The Big Kids invited her to the table, and she really wanted to behave up to their standards. However, after one pull, she fell off her booster seat and had to pedal quietly for the rest of the Draft sucking on a wheel. There is rumor of QOMs being acquired, but according to Drafter Bylaw 13.13.13.ABC, no Drafter shall claim QOM or any other measure of success if not able to pull his or her own weight. Skipper, Cannibal, Blurple and Vilks… thanks for the wheels. Looks like I best put my training wheels back on.

Shortly after this photo was taken, Busch Latte dropped a chain on Meek Rd, one of the steeper climbs, and disappeared from future photos until later in the Draft.

Loose Screw’s first Draft of the season and he performs some sort of David Copperfield disappearing act. Stymied by the construction, his secret short cut was revealed.

DRAFTER LOST AND FOUND: out team Physical Therapists and Biomechanists have been contemplating the counter-forces required to keep the avid cyclist upright. With a monster posterior chain comes the counter balance requirement. Anybody drop this out of their bibs?

The Wednesday Dirty Draft was small but mighty. Great to see LuLu, Vintage, Air Bourne Company, Speedy and her off spring out getting dirty.

A shout out to a few Drafters out in the wild:

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Slow Cow has petitioned for a name change from Slow Cow to Care Bear. The Executive Board will convene upon Slow Cow’s return (now at mile 300) and vote on this unusual request. Check out his hiking adventures at: Adventure Guy

You too can be a winner. Sign up as a team member of BrickO’s Drafters for the MOVEBGC July 17 or/and the Lake Ripley Ride July 31 and WIN A FREE ENTRY TO THE HINCAPIE GREENVILLE GRAN FONDO on October 23. The Drafter who raises the most money for the Boys and Girls Club or/and JRDF will receive one free entry to this amazing event. Lodging may also be included, although beds are going fast. If you choose to play but don’t win, use code SBRICKSON for 20% off.

There is a virtual Ride for Mental Health on June 23-24 (or in person in NY on June 19-20). Entry is $75 and includes a Hincapie Jersey! Super value and a super cause. Consider it. Not sure of the logistics, but entertaining a group ride on those days to help stop the stigma.

Feeling blue? Go green! Several Drafters have shown remorse for not jumping on the new kit order and would like a second chance. Stout- don’t procrastinate this time. The Hincapie Store will open after Memorial Day. This will likely be the last time to order a kit in 2021, so don’t miss out. PLEASE EMAIL ME IF INTERESTED.

Also, I HAVE NEW NEVER WORN MEN’S MEDIUM VELOCITY RACE CUT, MEN’S LARGE AXIS CLUB CUT in this 2021 design, along with a WOMEN’S MEDIUM AXIS Sprocket 2020 jersey for sale (discount if you ask nicely).

For those who ordered Drifit shirts from SweatVac… they are coming soon. Supply is low and demand is high, but they will be here before the snow flies. And I can still take orders (I think).

Lastly, DRAFTER YOGA IS BACK! Or at least, it looks promising. Indoorance is a “country club for endurance athletes” located on the W Beltline Hwy near Seminole. They have a studio that may work beautifully for Drafter yoga (not that the VFW didn’t provide a fine floor to make gains). A recent poll indicates TUESDAY 7AM to be the most popular time. Pipes will be forthcoming with details. As the survey was anonymous (screwed that up, again), please email or text her if you would like to join the fun.

MEMORIAL DAY RIDE WILL BE HOSTED BY CANNIBAL. This will be a Century Ride at 6AM leaving from Fitchburg to Ja Ja Janesville and back. Expect average speed of 20mph and 3800ish feet of climbing. Group size is 8-10 and growing. See GroupMe for details.

The following week, we will return to our normal Drafting channel at 5PM from Middleton Hills to tackle the Formidable Festge on June 7.

RidewithGPS link Formidable Festge

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

An incident has been brought to the attention of BrickO’s Drafters Editorial Staff . This retraction, correction and amendment (to cover all the bases) is to rectify erroneous reporting in the blog released earlier this morning.

Let the official record show that Hit-The-Wall did indeed complete Cannibal’s Verona Route in its entirety. Protected sources provided accurate intel, but the translation to Northern WI was muddled. To be clear, the journalist’s mind might have been muddled. Too many S’mores and dark beverages.

Booker J should also be recognized as fulfilling his Drafter duties, diligently and dutifully pulling Hit-The-Wall to the Garden Party. Well done, Men. Please accept our sincerest apologies for false accusations of drafting off course.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

Fashion. Clearly the theme of Monday’s Draft.

Vogue and GQ are in a bidding battle for an exclusive interview with the The Drafter’s Cannibal, master of Garden Drinks and Apron Fashion calendar contender. Apron stock shot up 200% after the Monday night Draft, as men and boys all over the world stripped the shelves of aprons. The careful tailoring exposes just enough quadriceps to make one wonder, “just how big is it?” Straps are tastefully adjusted to cover the chest without impeding motion required to grasp 4 Solo cups. The apron falls away to allow arm pit aeration, a functional feature for post-draft odiferous emanations. The flip flop accents the ensamble by highlighting the bike sock tan lines.

A dozen Drafters drafted the roads around Verona, although some of them off course.

Calling all Drafter fashionistas to Lodi Canning Co on Monday May 24, departing at 5PM from Middleton Hills. New Hincapie Drafter gear is encouraged. If your kit doesn’t fit the way you’d hoped, let me know. Usually, there is some swapping that can be negotiated within our Drafter family. Speaking of new.. Footer has a new Cervelo ride! She will likely leave at 5:30 and still be first to finish.

RidewithGPS link

Garmin link

Short Pour Option:

RidewithGPS link short pour

Looking for a Drafter Team ride? Here are two:

MOVE4BGC July 17 Registration Link

Lake Ripley Ride July 31 Registration Link

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

A season high number of Drafters showed up to face the Beast of Barlow; 23 in total including 3 Short Pour riders (well done, Badger, Columbus and Daisy).

The executive decision was made to abandon the split departure times in favor of one unified group at 5PM. And you know how that story ended….

Riddle: What is always first and last?

The First Team (formerly the B team, but who can classify these 3 beasts as B unless is stands for Badass?) objected to the executive order. Footer pleaded the case: ” If we leave at 5PM, everyone will be done drinking beer and gone by the time we are back.” Objection stands.

Let’s take a closer look at the line up.

Fortunately for Vintage, Thing 1 starts Medical School at the UW this fall and will provide at home care. For a fee. After the gravel event Saturday, she was found at Ringle reviewing her anatomy.

Tick Tock made his 2021 debut. “I picked the worst effin’ ride of the year to show up!” Don’t let the Beast get you down. Keez didn’t. Coming from the plaines of Iowa, with her 53-39 chainrings and 11-25 cassette spread, she debated avoiding the Beast and riding the short pour. Her mother didn’t exactly point out the short pour turn off, nor did she introduce the Beast.

Miles past Barlow and the climb on Mineral Point, BrickO warned her cub of the upcoming climb on Braun. “So when are we going to meet the Beast?”, the cub asked innocently. “Oh, we did that already, Keez.” So much of what we dread is in our head. As evidenced by Keez then dismounting Ruby, her 15-year-old hand me down Kestrel, to walk the crest of Braun. Brains and Brawn, you CAN have both.

Vilks would argue the Beast isn’t so much in his head: “It isn’t a Drafter ride unless I set a new FTP and throw up twice in my mouth.” Busch Latte, still left wondering what happened to the motto “we are all riding together” as he got spit out the back on Airport Road, dropped his chain on the two ghastly climbs. Romeo claimed second fastest all time male to challenge the Beast. In true Drafter spirit, he didn’t know it was a segment and soft pedaled between peaks to wait for his fellow Drafters. Such a nice boy. The Beast got its claws into Z Wrecks, causing TWO flat tires. The Beast affects us all differently. Vintage made an excellent point, “Keep your friends close and your Drafters closer. Never know when you’ll need a pull.” Or help changing a flat…

6 Drafters were well prepared for the Beast as they had faced the Bear on Saturday, a 100k gravel race in Laona, WI.

LuLu’s banana chocolate chip pancakes and an assortment of home baked cookies by Gopher ensured no one left in caloric deficit. My internal organs were sorer than my quads from the jostling around on the gravel, the endo I took on the 2 mile unmanicured section of the trail, and the copious calories I stuffed in after the race. On Sunday, the Bear participants stopped to MTB at Ringle to make sure the load of laundry was worth doing.

Columbus led us out…. on foot. That Drafter can run! Columbus discovered most of Chippewa Falls, or at least 50k of it the week prior. Finishing top 10 in her first ultra distance race, in a time of 5:09:01, despite rain and hail. Hail to Columbus.

The Draft on Monday May 17 will depart from Cannibal’s house (Verona- see GroupMe for address). There is promise of garden drinks. And if Cannibal wears his apron, be sure the Drafter Team Photographer is on site. Drone Master, check your schedule for availability.

RidewithGPS link: Cannibal Ride

Download map and cue sheet: 

DIRTY DRAFT: we will convene again at Blackhawk this Wed from 5-7PM. We can discuss moving to other MTB trails. It seems like most dirty drafters are coming from Middleton and on tight schedules, so I’m inclined to keep it at BH and PV until school is out and Drafters are a bit freer to roam.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

Mother Nature may have saved us from the Beast on Monday, but the Beast is patient and eagerly awaits our arrival next Monday, May 10. For those looking for a bit more beauty, you can bypass the Beast (see map below). Team departure at 5PM, drinks to follow. Romeo and Keez will be home from ISU and ready to draft, so plan to carbo load accordingly.

RidewithGPS link: Beast of Barlow

Z Wrecks, Vilks and BrickO faced a different Beast over the weekend. Looking Glass covered a wee bit over 8000 feet of climb, perfect 70 degree temperatures, not a wisp of wind, and without so much as a pot hole or angry driver. A huge thanks to Blue Ridge Adventures for hosting such a wonderful event. And to our RAW Crew Chief, Lynnie Lou, for supporting us all day.

Before and after photos. No mechanicals, body or bike.

I’m listening to a TED talk by Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, about confident humility. That is, surrounding yourself with people who challenge you. The strength I have gained from being around this crew of strong people extends beyond the bike (and the bar). Like most Drafters, I’m not very good at talking about myself. It is, in fact, prohibited as outlined in Drafter bylaw 3.1A.3VC. However, Vilks insisted that I post this post-race excerpt. I do believe allowing others to do something nice for you is, once in awhile, a sign of strength, too. And so, here I go….

To be added to this week’s blog- you’ve earned it!!

The rhododendrons were Red

The Ridges were Blue

BrickO kicked my ass in the Looking Glass Tour

and she smoked a Columbian Chica too!

I requested a guest spot on this week’s Drafters’ blog on account of we all know just how humble our fearless leader is, somebody has to brag on her behalf.  Z and Vilks got a front row seat to what was one helluva historic performance.   From mile 1 to mile 101, BrickO was’a dazzling and’a dancing all over her pedals.  There would be no denying what was rightfully hers, neither the steep, long climbs nor the whizzing and winding descents would stop her.  She pulled away early and often as the road grades turned from 0 to 16% (first long climb was equivalent to 4 trips up blue mounds- bottom to top), and she did more than her fair share of pulling for those less capable on the flats. It was an absolute joy to witness (when I was close enough to do so that is). Hard work pays, you proved that in spades BrickO.  Good on ya kid, good on ya! ~ Vilks

Confident humility also states that you are secure enough in your strengths to acknowledge your weaknesses. I did not smoke the young woman from Columbia. The only reason I took first on the podium is that there was a mix up with her registration (ie. she wasn’t registered). We both knew, however, who brought the stronger game on game day.

Speaking of game day… we had 13 Dirty Drafters show up at Blackhawk last Wednesday. Let’s keep it going this week, pending the dirt drying up. Speedy and kiddos, Footer, BrickO, Captain Joe, Tick Tock, Kubi, Squeak and her entire family.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO