With apologies to Cream and Clapton.

I went down to the crossroads
Climbin’ hills beggin’ please
Down to the crossroads
Climbin’ hills beggin’ please
Asked the Lord above for mercy
Take me, if you please

The short pour was small but mighty. Squeak requested permission to ride her tri-bike after discovering her road bike Di2 shifting wouldn’t charge. Less than half a mile into the route, she returned her in her aero bike in search of a air (for her tire, not her lungs- she is a beast). Nemo pleaded no contest to the climbs ahead as she had just deplaned a flight from CO after hiking a 14er. Presley and Pepe held up team as they set off from Crossroads.

The full strength route out of Crossroads had a bigger showing, and even bigger excuses for performance. Vilks had too much fun over the weekend. BrickO clung to her master’s status. Aging is real. Keez had hammered nearly a 100 miles the day before. Spigot just came off of the Hotdish 100 gravel race. Hawkeye parked at the wrong lot and missed the start. Mario and Queenie were late for the short pour and unsure if they could gulp a full strength tap. And, the course didn’t load properly in Queenie’s Garmin. The list goes on…

A highlight to the evening was the addition of a newbie. We now have Slim and Slimmer pulling at the front for our drafting entertainment.

Also entertaining was BrickO’s vintage Voler jersey from 2013. There are only a handful of these in existence. eBay has a vintage Nike Beatles Revolution t-shirt for sale for $50,000. Hmmm…. What is this vintage jersey worth for 2 extra bonus points for those “completing” in the Tour de Dane Femmes? Let the biding begin!

The Drafters set out together from Crossroads to climb 2411 feet in 34 miles. There is only one photo to suggest they actually were together (credit to Skipper).

Slim and Slimmer rode dumb and dumber watts. Only Vilks had the chutzpah to hang with them until the very end. Which is unfortunate, because the Drafter Commission was entertaining a handicap for youth in order to keep the group together until they learned his (advanced) age. Ya can’t handicap an old guy who can still bring the heat. Blurple held in their the longest, pulling BrickO and others back to safety until he had to cut the cord. Hawkeye and Car Wash landed next. The rest of the Drafters staggered in one by one. Skipper let things simmer down before posting on Strava, allowing Vilks to comp him with pizza and beer to make up for breaking the Drafter code. Octane wins the best sportsmanship award for following the Drafter Code and leaving no father (Queenie) and son (Mario) duo without a map behind… even though all three were left behind by the peloton.

Thanks to our wonderful hosts at Creekside Scoop for keeping us well hydrated and refueled.

WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT:

Super Tuesday will be performing live at the Cobb Corn Roast Celebration. Where is Cobb? According to the lead drummer, Queenie, “that way”. Super easy to find. Shocker that he didn’t have the course loaded for Crossroads.

Tour de Dane Femmes Standings. It has been an exhilarating week one of the Tour. Pit Stop is currently defending the yellow jersey, after printing the manifesto and highlighting her strategy for each stage.

Speedy has Stage 1: Lake Loop locked up, including all the bonus points for distributing 6-packs of beer (unopened) to LBSs Cronometro, Slow Roll and Machinery Row.

Hammer is currently leading Stage 2: Tavern Tribute. Bravely entering the Ranch Saloon in Dane and paying it forward with a bloody mary, she then finished her tribute at Missouri Tavern.

At another tavern, Sandlot has the current fastest time for ordering pizza and beer at Riley Tavern after completing Stage 5: Gravel Grinder. A photo finish for the pre-stage salute to commute will be required to determine the winner (see Pit Stop’s pre-stage photo above).

Shaq has already completed the pre- and exit stages of the tour, finishing back to back 75 mile days at the Bike MS ride in Baraboo. Look for her to be a contender in stages 1-8.

There is plenty of time left to join the Tour de Dane Femmes to raise excitement for women’s cycling. With Kristen Faulkner from Alaska winning GOLD (the last American, Connie Carpenter won 40 years ago, is from Madison), there is promise! What? No Drafter jersey for the photo? LAST CALL for Hincapie Drafter gear. The store will close on August 7th.

The next generation of Drafters is coming in hot. Coach Arms’ little one just advanced from the training wheels division and is ready to take a pull next week for gold.

The Draft on Monday Aug 12 will be back on base camp with departures at 4:45 and 5PM. The full strength will be a 27 mile short pour and 33 mile route that can count towards the Tour de Dane Stage 2 Tavern Tribute. Drafters are encouraged to stop at the in Ranch Saloon in Dane to pay it forward, and at Missouri Tavern near the end to pay it back.

RidewithGPS link Drafters | Short Pour Tavern Tribute

RidewithGPS link Drafters | Tavern Tribute

Draft responsibly,

BrickO