Too many good things came from the Draft last night not to be illuminated in a separate blog, despite the two-fer post last week (and the author found a few extra minutes that she didn’t think would be available to write them down for posterity).

LuLu has been industriously forming an Austrian Drafter Contingent. We are well represented in Northern Wisconsin, but clearly our wings are spreading to the far reaches of the planet.

Keez remained on home soil, earning her crown at the Battle on the Border. In her first criterium, Keez took first place in the Cat 3-4 division (check out the Drafter green mini Snap On tool box) and 6th in the Cat 1-4. She took home $25 in prize money, bumping her up a tax bracket. Her annual earnings are now $25. Minus the $20 race entry fee. Congrats to Keez and Coach Slim!

Blurple and Rimshot fought another battle against snow and sleet during their first gravel race, the Dairy Roubaix. Congrats on showing (and eating) true grit.

17 Drafters braved the shifting winds on Brains and Brawn. The B Team was small but mighty. Nemo joined the squad later on and did her bit with the other sexagenarians (curious term, no?) to battle the westerly wind on the way out to Cross Plains.

Keez and Slim came in hot (a bit late), but quickly made up for lost time by pulling the crew out Airport Rd. The weather was fickle, with temperatures dropping precipitously and the wind changing direction such that it was always working against the Draft (for real). The weather icons showed 70% chance of rain at 5PM, but Mother Nature graciously delayed that until the Drafters were warm and dry (or at least dry- some resorted to the sauna and sipping hot water to reach homeostasis). Cannibal questioned why our group doesn’t include more Mennonites (men in tights). The Drafters are working hard to increase diversity and inclusivity. Cannibal is a sensitive soul. He took it upon himself to clear Granny’s glasses of obscuring mascara, mistaking it for chain grease. Somehow Cannibal ended up with her wallet and keys during the chivalrous act. Draft responsibly.

The RAW team was back together. Back being the operative word. Skipper claimed to have dropped the boat anchor on the climb up Union Valley Road. But by the home stretch on Schneider Rd, he had traded an anchor for a sail and pulled us to shore. The promise of Midas Touch Butterscotch/ Chocolate/ Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats (GF) may have been the bait.

This is a very cultured group of cyclists. Speedy and Squirrel spent the evening conversing in the foreign tongues of Canadian and Minnesotan, with a hint of Norwegian and UPer thrown in for diversity. Granny contributed with her Iowegian lingo. All seemed to speak the common language of Rice Crispy Treats.

May Day ride will be through the historic Viaduct. Speedy and Duracell will be graciously hosting this epic ride. Departures from North Lake (see GroupMe for the address) will be at 5PM and 5:30PM sharp.

Ridewith GPS Link Drafters| Speedy and Duracell’s Viaduct Adventure

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

Mother Nature was very thoughtful last Monday, swinging 50 degrees from the weekend high of 80, so that Speedy could get in one snowy ride on her new Trek Farly Fat Bike. And now we can be done with snow.

The snowed out Brains and Brawn ride will be recycled for Monday April 24th. The B for BadAss Team will head out at 5:00PM, with the A Team departing at 5:30PM from Middleton Hills.

RidewithGPS Drafters | Brains and Brawn link

PLEASE NOTE THIS BLOG IS A TWOFER with respect to routes. There will not be a blog next week (insert disappointing sigh). The following Draft on Monday, May 1 will depart from Speedy and Duracell’s abode in the North Lake neighborhood and head to the historic Viaduct. Please see GroupMe for the address. As per the new usual, departure times will be 5PM and 5:30PM. Please bring lawn chairs and beverages for post-draft festivities.

RidewithGPS Drafters| Speedy and Duracell’s Viaduct Adventure link

HHH Recon Ride with Sag Support May 20: thanks to all who have volunteered! If you are interested, there is room for everyone. Start at Blue Mounds shelter at 11AM, riding a 30 mile loop of the HHH course once or twice, your preference. Full sag support provided by W&S, who invited you to their GRAND REOPENING on May 5. You do not need to be signed up for the HHH to enjoy the hills out west.

SKILLS AND THRILLS CLINIC MAY 21: we have 5 spots left! This is a clinic that will benefit all cyclists below Cat 1 and Pro level. If you are anything but 100% confident on cornering, descending, and group ride tactics, this is for you. Not game to spend a whole day with Slim? No worries. Feel free to attend the clinic from 9-12 and bug out on the group ride. Email BrickO if interested.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

It is amazing what 30 degrees can do to turn things green. Last Monday, rain and 40 degrees spouted 5 Drafters. This week, sunny and 70 degrees multiplied that x 6= 30 (if you count LuLu and Gopher who rode before the dinner bell and Surly who rode before breakfast). The executive committee voted unanimously to allow those rides count in the official tally. Gopher’s babysitter had a hard 5PM deadline, and LuLu honored the code, “leave no Drafter behind”. LuLu and Gopher were spotted on the return route from Riley as the group left the big city, verification of their draft. Surly’s Strava post credited the Drafters for the route (although he doubled the fun… on a FAT bike).

Drafting responsibly with 27 cyclists through the streets of Middleton is not without its challenges: 1) what is the engineering principle behind leaving water and man hole covers an inch above or below instead of level the street? Perhaps an obstacle course for those looking to up their bike handling skills. Challenge accepted. 2) the stop lights sensors on Donna Drive and Parmenter are not sensitive to bikes, even 27 of them. After what seemed like an eternity of smelling butter burgers, it took incredible will power not to bag the ride and head directly to the strategically located Culver’s at that intersection. 3) while approaching said intersection red light, a silver car decided to part our green sea as Moses did the red one. Kudos to all the Drafters for accepting those challenges and conquering them with grace and respect. Thank you for drafting responsibly.

Butter burgers must have wet Cannibal’s appetite as he devoured the climb on Midtown Road. Someone in the group yelled out, “We have a gap. Let’s wait up for the rest of the pack.” Vilks, Keez, Granny and Squirrel may not have needed the breather, but BrickO had lactate escaping from her eyeballs. As every molecule of oxygen was being diverted from her brain and other body parts to fuel the legs, she heard Squirrel, fearlessly shouting and pointing out acorns, ensuring nobody cracked their nut.

Granny, also unfazed by the climb, humbly asked how to shift the front derailleur into the small chainring. Perhaps Granny was a handle too hastily given. Change is hard, but Granny takes this literally. One gear Granny.

The post-draft festivities commenced in the back yard. The world’s problems were likely solved by Z Wrecks, Skipper and Vilks around the solo stove.

Tennille may not have solved world hunger, but she brought gluten free pasta to solve our hunger. Forks out, dig in!

It was hard to miss the fashion show going on below the knees. Slim was sporting green kitty Christmas stockings, while Booker J pulled these off:

Sitting around the campfire/solo stove, Rimshot proposed photos be submitted for an official Drafter Calendar. Certainly, socks of the month will be highlighted, along with Baby Daddy centerfold. There is one submission thus far (warning: extreme cuteness and a little nudeness)

Babies are just too cute, so we can’t possibly choose (no offense, Gopher). Congrats to Han Solo on registering the newest Drafter. She’s dressed in green and ready to roll!

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: the Horribly Hilly Hundreds folks have asked if the Drafters would be willing to work the packet pick up on Friday, June 16 from 3:30-6:30PM. If you are willing, please text me before Friday. You earn a guaranteed spot for 2024. THANKS! Also would really, really super really appreciate 2-3 women to ride some of the HHH course on Sat May 20th at 11AM. You do NOT need to ride fast or far- seriously. Please contact me if you would enjoy getting out to ride with some Drafters (and HHH clinic folks) that day (thanks to the guys who volunteered- much appreciated).

Looking to up your bike handling skills? Coach Slim has generously granted my request to host a clinic for up to 10 interested Drafters on Sunday May 21. Group riding/paceline tactics, cornering, descending, climbing, crash control will be practiced from 9AM-noon, followed by lunch. A no-drop group ride 1-4PM will give ample time to practice those skills, followed by pizza. All that fun for $50. Please contact BrickO to reserve your spot. You can opt for just the AM session and pizza if you prefer to skip the group ride.

Starting next week, the Draft will return to A and B team departures. The staging area will open at 4:45, with the B Team rolling out at 5PM. The A team will follow at 5:30. The route for Monday April 17 with require more “Braun” than brains. Remember to BYO lawn chair and beverages. Grass to sit on and water provided by your generous hosts.

RidewithGPS link Drafters | Brains and Brawn

Draft responsibly,
BrickO

According to weather folklore, life holds balance, so if March came in roaring like a lion, it should go out like a lamb. Bad spirits (or attitudes) are thought to affect weather adversely, so it is the charge of the Drafters to think positively about our first ride in April.

The route for Monday, April 3 will take a respectful bow to the lion and proceed past the house of spirits known as Riley Tavern. Sadly, they are closed on Monday or we could stop for a mid-route refreshment. Wheels up promptly at 5:30PM from Glacier Ridge Rd. Please feel free to arrive anytime after 5PM for primping, pumping, and pit stopping.

A friendly reminder that we will be riding no more 2 wide, and single file through town, up blind hills and on country roads with a vehicle back. Offenders risk losing their draft card. Road rage is on the rise, and bad cycling etiquette only fuels the fire.

The Riley Tavern route is a 25 mile jaunt south and west. Fingers crossed for a warm southernly breeze. In some years, we have skirted around the bend on J near Riley Tavern onto Klevenville-Riley Road to enjoy a little gem of a climb on North Station St. Given the gravel and grit on that side street, we will stick to J.

RidewithGPS link Drafters: Riley Tavern

Cancellations or last minute changes will be posted on GroupMe. Don’t want one more distraction? Roger that. Turn off Drafter GroupMe notifications and just check before the ride each Monday.

BARGAIN CORNER: Saris hardly used Hammer, seller asking $400. Contact BrickO if interested.

Draft resonsibly,

BrickO