The temperature may be too cold to Draft tonight, but your credit card will be heating things up quickly. Hincapie Sportswear graciously agreed to open up all the previous kit designs, in addition to the 10th Anniversary kit for 2022. I know some Drafters have favorite kits that are not passing the see through test (not that anyone is looking….) so feel free to go back in time and reorder your favorite kit.
THE STORE WILL CLOSE MONDAY, APRIL 4th.
A few updates and reminders: VELOCITY is the RACE cut. It fits snug, so if you don’t like tight elastic on your arms and torso, this cut isn’t for you. AXIS is the CLUB cut, a little more relaxed and little longer in the torso. Shorts and bibs come in two inseam lengths. Most, but not all, have gone with the longer length. You do you. The sleeveless “guns” jerseys are no longer available. Sigh. This year, we have a MTB jersey for those Dirty Drafters looking to heat things up.
Dirty Draft MTB jersey
Packages are delivered by FedEx and REQUIRE A SIGNATURE, as they are coming from Columbia. Keep that in mind as you put down an address. In the past, it was possible to go into your FedEx account and give an indirect signature. Not sure how that will play out this year.
Finally, as these are custom orders, there are NO RETURNS OR EXCHANGES. If you order something that doesn’t fit, please contact me, and not Hincapie Sportswear (unless there is a defect, then by all means, contact them). Historically, I am able to find a Drafter in need and can make a deal. Better yet, contact me ahead of time and I can find a Drafter with similar anthropometrics and gear for you to try on.
You are invited to enjoy 20% any NON-CUSTOM item this year with code SBRICKSON. Unfortunately, the code does not work with the links below.
The 10-year anniversary of BrickO’s Drafters started off with an unprecedented and impressive number of strong quads. 27 Drafters, including 3 new recruits, reported for spring training. A few more drifted in for the post-draft draft, a good sign that our priorities are in order for 2022.
The Draft was full of surprises, starting with 70 degrees in mid-March. A sea of green jerseys without jackets or leg warmers filled the staging area. The first to arrive was Vintage, wearing an official green Hincapie Drafter jersey (surprise), a porn stache (bigger surprise) and mullet (expected). With 45 minutes to spare before wheels up, Vintage headed out for an extensive warm up, blonde strands escaping from the orderly mullet, blowing in the breeze.
Dan-yelly arrived a full 15 minutes before liftoff, which is 16 more than her usual debut. Her secret? Tobacco City Boy left work at 2PM in order to round up their 3 children, secure them with a babysitter and travel from Oregon to make the Draft. After two-years MIA, TCB was barely recognizable. Fortunately, someone spotted a drafter green jersey as he drove by, just as A team was rolling out, cancelling out Dan-yelly’s timeliness.
Dan-yelly with an unprecedented timely appearanceOffset by TCB’s tardiness
TCB wasn’t the last to arrive. Skipper sent a forgotten shoe SOS from the Beltline near Todd Drive. He headed back to Monona minutes before the gates closed for departure. His Patagonia hangover after spending 10 days cycling with Columbus and LuLu had him a bit discombobulated. Skipper did remember to bring a 4 pack of Chocolate Mint Guinness, confirming his drafting priorities are in order.
What is chocolate mint beer without chocolate chip cookies? Gopher rose to the occasion, bringing dozens of freshly baked cookies, gluten free, no less.
And what occasions we have to celebrate! In no particular order: congratulations to Knievel and Hundo on their retirement and to LuLu on receiving tenure. The UW lost and gained some amazing Drafters, respectively. Kudos to Pitstop and Pres for persevering after their respective bike crashes last year, giving us the courage to keep on pedaling. Bomber beat cancer and had enough energy left in the tank to ski the Birkie, inspiring all of us to dig deep. SuperQ came back stronger than ever, without the added weight of an ACL. Sandlot thought that was an interesting training paradigm and ditched her ACL, along with shedding a little extra fibula weight. Cookie Monster went the other direction, gaining a belly full of beautiful baby who will be joining the draft later this summer. Thing 1 started medical school, and we are all hoping she chooses dermatology (in part, to stunt hair growth on Vintage’s mullet and porn stache). Granny Zilla is on dermatologic retainer for all drafter needs. So far, she’s cured toe fungus, hair loss and saddle sores.
Our B for Bad A** team was full strength. The 12-pack headed out, with a guest appearance by FishNBoots. Last seen, FishNBoots (AKA Tough Girl) was being escorted off the Funtathalon course after seeking bonus whiskey shot points, missing the cut off time. He received bonus points today for bringing along his beautiful bride, Venus. She definitely burns hot and bright, and spins like no other. Just as her namesake spins in the opposite direction of Earth and most other planets, Venus spins like no other Earthling. Her every step is like watching a New York Ballet performance.
FishNBoots and Venus, sporting the original Drafter jerseys from 2013.
Our second Newbie put to rest a hotly debated physiology discussion about the “suffering gene” and the brain’s ability to set and enforce physical limits beyond one’s VO2max. The “Central Governor” theory is the crux of Jens Voigt’s famous command, “Shut up legs. Do what I tell you to do!” Gov seeks out suffering, and in some odd way, find comfort in it. She’s gonna fit right in.
The A Team roster held 15 Drafters, including our third Newbie. She waited in the wings to get a feel for the bad boys leading us out. Somewhere before Riley Tavern, with the usual suspects pulling us at a comfortably uncomfortable pace, she made her move. That is, she moved to the head of the line, going after Cannibal like a rapid dog. I could almost feel the froth from her mouth as Cujo flew by me, quads ripping at the seams of her cycling shorts. The Drafter Illustrated Quadriceps Edition will be a beefy competition between Super Q and Cujo, coming down to the last myofiber.
Z Wrecks, Vintage, Gopher, LuLu, Booker J, Vilks, Captain Joe, Granny Zilla, Squirrel, Rimshot, Cannibal, Octane and Cujo.
The gentle southerly wind blew all sorts of unusual heat at the B for Bad A** Team. Dan-yelly appeared stranded, calling for assistance. Cannibal, demonstrating proper Drafter etiquette, slowed up to ask if she needed help. She did, but not with her bike. Dan-yelly had a small window at 5:30 to register her 3 kiddos for swim lessons, and was on hold waiting for the next available operator. These coveted swim lesson spots go faster than Cannibal downhill. TCB was simultaneously stopped, on the phone with their babysitter. As he pulled over, listening to the babysitter’s concerns over the youngest’s symptoms, he did what any responsible parent would do and trusted his instincts. A reminder: TCB had left work at 2PM in order to make his first ride in 2 years. The symptoms weren’t THAT bad. No children were harmed as TCB completed the ride, in the dark, as the lights Dan-yelly gave him for his birthday back in August were still in the box next to the diapers. The next drafted Drafter we encountered was Pres, his shiny new Madone glistening in the sun as his Garmin signaled to “make a U-turn”. Like millions of others, he is eagerly waiting for Trek’s autopilot Madone to be released. A stone’s throw from the Riley Tavern, Pres was at minimal risk for dehydration.
The A Team had their own set of issues. BrickO’s saddle bag (not a metaphor) busted a move during Cujo’s attack on Paulson Rd. There is speculation that she cut the bag loose out of fear of doing battle with the frothy dog. Captain Joe slowed up to retrieve and return BrickO’s bag, and shortly thereafter disappeared from the Draft due to cleat failure. Love em’ and leave em’ is apparently BrickO’s new motto. Remedial training for Drafter etiquette will be offered in the upcoming weeks. Skipper, being late and last to the draft after returning home to retrieve his shoes, ensured all Drafters were accounted for. He also confirmed that the wind shifted 180 degrees, as he soloed against a headwind the entire route. It must have been the Venus effect, spinning the wind around the other way.
The temperature dropped precipitously, but the cold was no match for Z Wrecks. With a fire ready to be lit in the Solo Stove and the industrial strength patio heater armed with a new tank of propane, he kept the chill away.
Columbus made her way through the Patagonia hangover to join us, along with Thing 1, who had medical school leadership duties that kept her from drafting, but not from riding the course earlier in the day.
Thing 1, drafting responsibly.
The weather for next week looks sketchy. A game day decision will be made by 4PM and broadcast on GroupMe. If you aren’t on the GroupMe Drafter channel and would like to be, please text or email BrickO your cell number. Wheels up at 5:15 B Team and 5:30 A Team. We wait for no one. Except those who leave work at 2PM in an effort to make it on time and are dressed in green.
Daylight will be a challenge for the next few weeks, so our routes will stay fairly short. The Chapel Ride is a 20 mile tour north, with a brief section on the bike path, crossing Hwy 12 just after Springfield Corners Park and Ride and before St. Therese Chapel.
Spring has sprung and it is time for the Drafter song to be sung. 2022 represents the 10th Anniversary of the Drafters. Our humble beginnings have evolved from 13 to 137 strong. To be clear, we are not necessarily the strongest cycling group with respect to pumping wattage through the quadage, but I challenge any other group to be stronger in spirit. And beer consumption, always drafting responsibly.
The Original Drafters, circa 2013
The season will kick off, pending cooperative weather, this Monday, March 21st. As the pandemic is quieting down and Drafters are less likely to be working remotely, we will return to a later start time to accommodate those on the clock.
Sandlot drafting responsibly during the height of Covid
5:30PM will be the official “wheels up” departure time. The B for Badass Team may elect for a 5:15PM departure. As a reminder, the B Team isn’t less fit, but tend to 1) make frequent Pit Stops
As her name implies….
2) wrong turns,
Billy Boy turns left on Johnson, into the field of corn.
3) ignore Strava segments or/and 4) like the male to female ratio.
Queenie and the B’s
Regardless of your wave, please be on time (Dan-yelly has special exemption status).
There is always time for strawberry shortcake.
Departures will mainly be from the Z-BrickO bike hub and pub. Several Drafters have offered to host rides this summer, which should be a fun way to explore and get lost on more beautiful country roads. Cannibal is on point for garden drinks. Let’s see if anyone else has the quads to rock an apron.
Cannibal serving garden drinks in nothing but his quads and an apron.
The blog will provide weekly route information, including a downloadable PDF cue sheet and RidewithGPS link so you can upload the route your GPS device. Bread crumbs will be left by Vintage, who usually starts snacking within the first few miles, for those who are technologically challenged.
Follow the crumbs.
There is no guarantee the cue sheets are 100% accurate, although Columbus, our Team Cartographer, double checks BrickO’s shoddy work. When in doubt, climb.
Columbus makes the world go round.
It is highly recommended that you download the WordPress App. The sighs are audible… yes, you’ll need to create an account. And remember a password. It’s free and painless. Get over it. The route and map are at your fingertips with the app. A blog entry generates an email, if you have it set up that way, so you will know when the route has been posted. Last minute updates will be communicated using GroupMe. This includes road construction, detours, cancellations due to weather, and random important updates Drafters feel compelled to share. Send BrickO your mobile number to be added to the GroupMe Drafter list.
These rides are 100% unsupported. Each Drafter is responsible for knowing the route, bike maintenance and sustenance. Drone Master went half a season before realizing tires required air. Aerospace engineers are some sorta special breed. When in doubt, follow Vintage. The breadcrumbs will keep you from getting lost or going hungry. The group usually doesn’t stay together, but no Drafter is left behind.
Drone Master enjoys thin air on Earth
There are very few rules, but it is important to follow the few we have: 1) Be nice. Leave the Draft a better group than you found it (which is no small feat). 2) Follow the rules of the road, wear a helmet and have a light. We are a visible (high vis green, to be exact) group in the community and want to make a good name for cyclists everywhere. 3) Don’t draft alone. Get it? The name implies as much. 4) Have fun. Grow your cycling passion. The last is a suggestion more than a rule: 5) In the spirit of the Draft, wear green. Not your color? Think Yoda, Hulk, Kermit, Green Lantern, Shrek, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Grinch. Don’t let your Drafter heart be two sizes too small.
10-year anniversary kits will be available through Hincapie Sportswear. The online store will be opening later this week and a link will be provided. Order at will! If you are uncertain about sizing, be sure to try on a kit before ordering as there are no returns, only intradrafter trading. The Velocity series is race cut (tight fitting) while the Axis is club cut (loose fitting, and a bit longer in the torso, which Drafters over 6 feet tall sometimes appreciate). Bibs and shorts come in two different lengths, so be sure to order carefully. Packages are delivered FedEx to your home, so there is no middle-drafter. They MUST be signed for, so give some thought to that, or sign electronically with your FedEx account (another password to remember, sorry).
The post-draft draft is an important part of the perpetual dehydration plan, approved by medical professionals nowhere, and deeply entrenched in Drafter culture. Nothing is provided except a patch of lawn and fire pit, which has been known to expand onto said patch of lawn. Feel free to bring a beverage, food and lawn chair. Some Drafters order pizza, others pack a delicious dinner, most salivate longingly and then head home to feast. You do you.
Ring of Fire doesn’t always stay in the ring.
The season will start in the 20-mile route range, grow with daylight to 40ish mile routes in July, and then taper back down until dusk closes out the season in October. There will be many opportunities to ride events as a team. In fact, registration for the Lake Ripley Ridejust opened up and is discounted through the end of March. Hope to see you out there on July 30 (be sure to register with BrickO’s Drafters).
For those Drafters who like to get dirty, our MTB contingent is growing. Wednesday evenings are the unofficial Dirty Draft, rotating between various trails like Blackhawk, Pleasant View, Quarry Ridge and CamRock. Unsure about getting dirty? No problem. All levels welcome. More details to follow once the trails dry out.
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