Rock of Ages

… It’s just another Drafter Monday (Woah, woah)
I’m glad it’s not Sunday (Woah, woah)
‘Cause this is my fun day (Woah, woah, woah, woah)
My I don’t have to run day (Woah, woah)
It’s just another Drafter Monday

29 Drafters were present for the inaugural Crossroads Coffeehouse ride. Shout out to Katy and her fabulous staff for hosting the Draft. Pizza, beer and ice cream- the perfect post-draft trifecta for recovery.

There was a fairly even distribution of Drafters amongst the A, B for Bad Ass and D for Determined divisions. The D team had a dirty dozen until Duracell was drafted by the B team. It was great to see Cookie Monster back on the bike after completing her PhD marathon. Wampus quietly made her 2023 Drafter debut. She may have lost her voice, but her quads were not to be silenced. The Drafters welcomed a Newbie, Presley. Check out those blue suede shoes! It was only after the ceremonial Drafter handle dedication that Presley revealed her birth name, Lisa Marie. True dat’.

Pipes, Cookie Monster, Footer, Hit-the-Wall, Daisy, Shaq, Nemo, PitStop, Duracell, Presley, Wampus & Speedy

Inspired by seeing Elvis back in the building, Duracell danced his way into the B group to strike a pose. Good to have Captain Joe back from his 3 week junket in Alaska. Another 2023 Drafter debut was made by Mario. Congrats to Mario on admission to medical school at UW!

Pepe, Captain Joe, Z Wrecks, Queenie, Mario, Cujo and Duracell (Octane not pictured).

Octane and Queenie celebrated NEW BIKE DAY! Word on the B Street is that “YEE HAWs” reverberated off the climbs as Octane and Queenie left a trial of dust up each climb, taking command of their shiny new steeds. These bikes belonged to a good friend and wonderful man who left the planet too early. We will draft responsibly in his honor, savoring each pedal stroke. A new Cervelo for Queenie meant a new Trek for his son, Mario. Bikes are the gift that keeps giving.

11 members of the A Team gathered to discuss pre-draft strategy. Granny offered a preemptive mea culpa for not taking a turn at the front on the line. Coach Midas gave her sound advice to draft responsibly as she tapers for her upcoming 70.3. Keez extends a comforting hug as she calculates how many uncontested QOMs await.

Thing 1, Squirrel, LuLu, Vintage, Keez, Granny, Booker J, Rimshot, Cannibal and Slim

The night and the route couldn’t have been more gorgeous. D4 was a good move for Footer, Pipes, Cookie Monster and Daisy as they advanced across the board.

Strava doesn’t tell the whole story, but it tells A story. This story is one filled with Drafter (and Momma) pride. 5 of the 7 women on the leaderboard are Drafters (Karen P and Brenna G are welcome to enlist). Draft responsibly. Kudos to Coach Midas for having Granny share top billing on her taper….. Nothing like a little competitive spirit to forget what the teacher said. BrickO’s response to being bumped, “I just want you to know that even though you tried to terminate me, revenge is not an idea we promote on my planet.”

The A team huddled around Squirrel as he suffered an identity crisis as he disobeyed the sign. Never leaving his wing man or crossing the center line, Squirrel empathized with the agile tree-dwelling bushy tail rodents but held fast to drafting responsibly.

The sign suggests Squirrel do his thing, but instead he stays drafting responsibly

LuLu and Vintage went nuts over Squirrel’s evolution. After climbing the freshly pea-graveled Moyer Rd, they decided to see what they had under the hood. Buzz Lightyear was on sight. Nothing like adding a short 25%ish grade challenge to the existing 2293 feet of climb.

Vintage and LuLu explore the climb and beyond

In a hypoxic state, LuLu asked “WTF were we thinking? It was fun though.” The medical physicist deferred to his colleague, Vintage, to explain the theory.

A-Team Group Draft Theory, Vintage, age 5

Granny may need some tutoring from the Drafter scientific cohort. It appears her snot rocket velocity calculation is a bit off. Medical school as it applies to this crucial equation: “Years of Academy training wasted.”

Climbing to infinity and beyond works up an appetite. Crossroads Coffeehouse didn’t disappoint with pizza, beer and ice cream (not always in that order).

Speedy may skip the beer, but ordered a double shot of ice cream

RACE REVIEW: Vintage competed in the WORS Battle of Camrock, placing top 10 (5th to be specific). In a post-race interview conducted by Skipper, Vintage gasped, “My eyeballs could have been sucked from their sockets!” But they weren’t.