23 headed out for Black Widow. 24 made it home. How’s that, you ask? Dan-yelly departed after the B team, before the A team, and from a secret location. In other words, late and lost, but happy. Which is the point of drafting. Loose Screw was lucky to be counted amongst the two dozen to return. Black Widow claimed his battery. And his back up battery, as he pedaled home on his single speed.
McGritty, Shaq, Loose Screw, Z Wrecks, Queenie, Duracell, Velo, Cujo, Pit Stop, Squeak, Speedy and Presley
It was good to see Velo back after 52 weeks MIA (otherwise known in academic circles as a sabbatical). The friendly Canadian, Speedy, tried to strike up a conversation, but once she realized Velo’s sabbatical involved the intricacies of nuclear engineering, she steered the conversation towards maple syrup.
Hawkeye, Hammer, Colonel, Keez, Skipper, Slim, Vilks, Twinkle Toes, Car Wash and Unicorn Blood
The A Team stayed together for a hot minute. Skipper was the first to fall when he got separated from the peloton by a tractor leaving a tobacco field on Woodland Rd.
Tractor interference foils Skipper’s draft
Next to get dusted were Twinkle Toes,BrickO and Car Wash. The peloton got held up at Lodi-Springfield Rd and 19 just long enough for the BrickO and Car Wash to catch up, but when they came to heavy traffic on Hwy P, it was lights out. Hammer Time was next to get dropped on Black Hill. The 3 gave up the ghost when they hit Dane and realized the peloton was taking no prisoners. By the looks of the QOMs and achievements, Keez and Unicorn Blood were flexing their young quads. Strong work, ladies!
Speaking of ladies doing strong work, congrats to the Tour de Dane Femmes participants and competitors. 10 Drafters took the challenge, with 6 competing all 10 stages. Pit Stop and Shaq shared the podium in the yellow jersey. Hammer Time claimed the green jersey, with Cujo in polka dot. Keez climbed Alp d’ Blue faster than anyone, earning polka dot socks. The Tour de Dane Femmes committee awarded the polka dot jersey to the fastest climber who completed all stages of the tour. Congrats to all of the drafters who participated (Sandlot, Speedy, Keez, Thing 1, and BrickO)! And a shout out to Online Cycling Gear for the custom podium jerseys and East of Eden Stained Glass for the finisher awards.
The Drafters are currently scouting for young strong females. Here is our latest recruit:
Keez puts Baby Cannibella, our newest Drafter recruit, through testing
On the theme of ladies, if you find a circle of strong women, you are likely to find a Fuzzy Little Peach Man. Cannibal and Jen were wise to keep Baby Cannibella away from the dangers lurking outside around the fire pit.
Speedy, looking to redeem herself after little to say on the topic of nuclear engineering, seeks out Vilks to discuss the delicate nature of warming her buns by the fire while being commando. Fuzzy Little Peach Man was happy to share his experience.
The route for Monday Sept 30 will be a short 25.5 mile draft to Riley Tavern, departure times 4:45 and 5PM. If the weather cooperates, we will shoot for two more rides in October.
13 Drafters celebrated the last day of summer, or close to it, with a 55 mile A-Mazo ride.
JRad, Colonel, Hammer, Squeak, Octane, Cujo, Griz, Gopher, Skipper, Z Wrecks, Keez and Vilks
The group drafted responsibly to Mazomanie, enjoying blue skies that would later turn dark and dump several inches of rain. What would a finale be without one last climb up Enchanted Valley, Schuman, Dunlap Hollow and Lueth Roads? When in doubt, climb.
Enchanted Valley never disappointsJRad, Cujo, Squeak, Keez, Vilks and Hammer conquer Schuman and Vilks gives a fist bump to Spring Valley RdSkipper, JRad, Vilks on Racek Road
On the climb out of Dunlap Hollow, Keez spied a juvenile barred owl in distress. All were concerned, but only Skipper stopped to offer aid. Examination reveled a broken wing (or a dislocated shoulder- nobody was really sure of the anatomy).
The crew pulled over at On the Rox in Roxbury to enjoy a PBR while Skipper phoned the animal rescue folks. Actually, only Vilks proved to be an all American sipping a PRB. The rest of the Drafters sucked down electrolytes and gels. At this point, the Drafters decided to divide and conquer. Keez, Cujo, Squeak and Gopher headed back to home base while the members of the team waited on Skipper to make safely deliver the owl to animal rescue.
Willie Nelson saw us off after a 30 min delay.
On the road again I just can’t wait to get on the road again The life I love is riding bikes with my friends And I can’t wait to get on the road again
On the road again Goin’ places that I’ve never been Seein’ things that I may never see again And I can’t wait to get on the road again Everybody sing
On the road again Like a band o’ gypsies, we go down the highway We’re the best of friends Insisting that the world keep turning our way And our way
Vilks, BrickO, Colonel, Hammer (photo credit Skipper) on the road again, climbing Lueth
Back yard beverages were cut short by the violent storms that swept Dane County, and ultimately caused the Sunday Badger Challenge to be cancelled. Pit Stop and the Hot Toddies raised over $10,000! Congrats to all those who rose to the challenge, even if they were unable to ride the ride. Good news is that there will be many with fresh legs for the Draft on Monday! Hopefully we can sneak in a few more rides.
CONGRATS to Shaq on completing the Ride the Ridges century, her 7th endurance ride of the summer. It takes some big quads and aerobic fitness to conquer the Trek 100, Horribly Hilly Hundreds, MS 150, Ride Across Wisconsin, Door County Century, North Shore Century and Ride the Ridges all in one season!
Tour de Dane Awards: reminder that awards will follow the Draft on Monday. Departure times are 4:45 and 5PM for Drafters | Black Widow.
A Monday night Draft recap is typically where this blog begins. But not this week.
The youth Drafter team has a new addition. Congrats to Cannibal and Jen!
Congrats Cannibal and Jen!
Moving up to the next age group, congrats to Minnow Monster and JD on their Little Loggers finish at Chequamegon.
And moving much, much further up in the age bracket, congrats to all the Drafters who competed in the Cheq40!
Momma Monster, Cookie Monster, E$, Z WrecksSpeedy, BABES and Cookie MonsterBrickO, Bomber and BelleEli, Ninja and the crew!
Congrats to Keez on her invitation to the Fount Talent Camp in KY. True grit, this one.
Day 1. 3 days to go. 3rd place in the Criterium
Following Pit Stop’s lead last week, Cujo joins the ranks of retirement. Surgeon General’s warning: retirement increases risk of cycling fever. Do not give in to the urge to ride on Mondays before the Draft due to increased flexibility in your schedule.
Now for the Drafter recap. Pit Stop was notably absent. A Strava investigation revealed Pit Stop ignored the Surgeon General’s warning (see above) and rode at 9AM to avoid the heat. 26 non-retired Drafters deemed it a glorious night for a ride, including two Newbies, Faberge and Lost Boy.
Lost Boy was found years ago by the Drafters at The Ride, known now as the Badger Challenge (still time to join or donate to Pit Stop’s team, the Hot Toddies). He has been tracking our activities since 2018, but just now joined the Draft. Recent recruit Le Fleur enlisted her husband, who might be a Faberge hair shampoo model rivaling Joe Namath. Or Vilks.
The short pour was short on riders. Grit found her way back after weeks of roaming around National Parks with her recently retired hubby (see Surgeon General’s report, again) and teamed up with Watson to deduce the best short pour route.
Watson and Grit represent the Short Pour
The B for Bad A** Drafters photo has two newbies and 3 new faces. It is the only documented photo since the club’s conception in 2013 of Dan-yelly in the line up (read: on time). Well done, Dan-yelly!
La Fleur, Faberge, Queenie, McGritty, Pepe, Speedy, Car Wash, Lost Boy, JRad standing in for Duracell and Dan-yelly
The Colonel showed up promptly at 5:30PM. The only caveat being that the A Team left promptly at 5PM. Military time can be so confusing.
Hit-the-Wall reported a mechanical that kept him from reaching the front line.
That’s a bad fracture
The team photographer, Skipper, captured the Formidable Festge route beautifully.
Headed out Blackhawk RdKP headed towards the formidable Festge climb: Octane, Hawkeye, Slimmer, JRad, Vilks, Slim, Hammer, BrickO
The Festge climb was the last BrickO was seen in the line up. Hammer Time led the charge, crediting the power of green and her new jersey for the extra watts. Fortunately, the turn onto Table Bluff Road (another “hillacious” climb) was missed by the peloton. BrickO seized the opportunity to capitalize on their confusion, moving into first position to slog up Table Bluff. Vilks was incensed that BrickO took advantage of his hospitality, claiming he had been “waiting” at the missed turn. As the two bickered, the group did a head count and came up short.
Mid-bicker, BrickO thinks to call Twinkle Toes
The birthday boy was amiss. Telecommunication confirmed that Twinkle Toes and his derailleur had been dropped on Timber Lane. An extraction team had successfully removed him and his derailleur and were in route to a birthday dinner. The group came together in perfect harmony for a chorus of Happy Birthday as they drafted responsibly on Otto Kerl.
Otto Kerl crawl: Hawkeye, Vilks, Skipper, Hammer, JRad, Octane
The A and B teams came together on Enchanted Valley.
Dan-yelly and Slim race against the setting sunMidas, BrickO and Speedy head up Enchanted Valley
The final push on Schneider Road started as a finely oiled machine, with Vilks at the head of the paceline. As rested legs came to the front, the finely oiled machine started to crack. Hammer Time pulled up back together as we rolled into Middleton.
Vilks and Slim: a well oiled machine
Back at base camp, The Colonel showed up for roll call.
JRad, Car Wash, The Colonel, Hawkeye and Hammer Time
Lots of Junior Drafters showed up to be counted as well.
Speedy and Coach Arms with the next Drafter generation
Daylight is fading fast. Sunset for Monday Sept 23 is at 6:51PM . The routes will continue to shorten to avoid night riding. THERE IS ONLY ONE ROUTE since the full strength is so short. Groups will depart at 4:45 and 5PM. Bridge To Nowhere is a 28mile route that can be modified to come home via the bike path (and Missouri Tavern). Please opt for this if you find daylight to be outpacing you.
Tour de Dane Awards will be presented after the Draft on Monday. Yellow, green and polka dot jersey winners will be crowned (thanks to our sponsor OCG), and all those who participated will receive some sweet swag, compliments of East of Eden Stained Glass. Congrats to Pit Stop, Hammer Time, Cujo, Sandlot, Shaq, Keez, Thing One, Speedy, BrickO and Cristalyne.
FINAL 55\42 Drafter Finale Saturday 9AM. The end of year Drafter Finale is not going to take place at the end of the season per tradition, but rather this Saturday at 9AM, departing from Middleton Hills. Choose a 55mile A-Mazo Finale Rox or 42 mile Rockin’ to Roxbury option. Those Drafters who completed 10 or more Monday rides will receive a 2024 headband from our friends at SweatVac at a later Monday Draft. Also breaking with tradition, no goofy awards and fanfare this year- just a ride! On the Rox (formerly Roxbury Tavern) is a great mid-point to refuel. Their pizza is amazing. And of course you can bring a lawn chair, beverage and food to enjoy post Draft in the backyard.
Oh, what a night Late September, a year past ’23 What a very special time for me As I remember, what a night
Oh, what a night You know, I didn’t even know her name But I called her Pit Stop seemed all the same What a lady, what a night
Oh, I, I got a funny feeling When she walked in the room And UW, as they recall It ended much too soon
Pit Stop left her cycling cap to Dr. Wampus to operate responsiblyWhat a Lady. What a night.
24 Drafters came out to play, and celebrate Pit Stop’s first post-retirement Draft. After 30 plus years of caring responsibly for patients at UW, the OR will never be the same. What a lady. What a night.
McGritty, Z Wrecks, Queenie, Duracell, Pepe, Presley, Pit Stop, Speedy, Loose Screw, Watson, Cookie Monster, Footer, Yubba Dubba and Nemo
Z Wrecks gave his new knee a spin. No mechanical issues to report.
Happy to see Griz back in high vis for his 2024 debut.
No action photos were taken this week, in part due to Skipper’s absence. There seemed to be an epidemic of 4:30 conference calls tacked on at the last minute. Cookie Monster took hers from the Drafter launch pad, but Skipper didn’t get so lucky. Even in our famed photographer had been Drafting, it was unlikely for anyone to capture the break away group. Vilks and Slim were hellbent on having Keez take the Pheasant Branch QOM. All take and less action, the boys couldn’t finish, leaving her 20 yards short of the climb. She had to settle for sharing the title. Just as well as she will need a little extra fuel in the tank for her races in KY this weekend. Go get em, Keez.
Party for Pit Stop
A few Drafters made guest appearances for the party, with valid reasons for not drafting. Shaq and Spigot finished a chilly Door County Century, with head winds both ways. Shaq had to resort to drafting behind some big cocks…
Clucking hilariousSpigot and Shaq at DC Century
Congrats to all the Drafters who completed the event without help from the big cock bike club (Pres). And to Cujo, Knievel and Hundo for drafting responsibly in the Frank Lloyd Wright century!
Squeak came to celebrate Pit Stop, and would have ridden but her “bike was tired” from winning her age group at Ironman Wisconsin on Sunday. Everyone is invited to Kona next October 🙂
Can you imagine how fast she would be in green? GO SQUEAK!!!
LOST AND FOUND: A green Drafter water bottle (that’s redundant- what other color would their be?) and a green drafter headband (not redundant, surprisingly we have done white) from a few weeks back found in the garage.
Oh, how does your garden grow?
The routes for next Monday will include a full strength 30 mile (4:45 or 5PM) and short pour 22 mile option at 5PM for Formidable Festge. Just like last week, departure at 4:45 for FULL STRENGTH B TEAM only. Short pour and Full Strength A Team depart at 5PM. This will ensure all groups return at roughly the same time. Thanks!
There may or may not be an end of the year 50 mile weekend ride this season. Possible dates are Sat Sept 21 or Sunday Oct 13. Stay tuned. If a finale doesn’t fly this year, we will celebrate the end of the season after a regularly scheduled Monday night program.
We honor those who have gone before us by living each day to the fullest. We retired the jersey of this wonderful original Drafter, Anne, 10 years ago today. We draft behind in remembrance of those who have pedaled on ahead.
The third annual Tour de Dane Femmes finished up Saturday, August 31. After 5 grueling weeks of hauling beer around the Isthmus and climbing to the top of Blue Mounds State Park twice, it came down to the wire. The battle for points continued until dusk on the 31st day of the tour!
Here are some highlights of the stages. 13 Femmes participated. 6 finished all of the stages!
PRE-STAGE: Commuter Salute. Go green by running (biking) errands or commuting to work via bike.
Sandlot makes good use of jersey pockets for her trip to the liquor storeThing 1 leaves Little Thing with Dad and bikes to Target
STAGE 1: MONONA LAKE LOOP. Drop off beer at your local bike shops to show your support. This was a harder stage than the mileage would suggest. Carrying 6-packs to Cronometro, Machinery Row and Slow Roll UNOPENED is no small feat.
Cujo finds Colin’s one-hour National Record for the recordSpeedy finds a thirsty Slim at Machinery RowShaq leaves beer in good hands at Slow Roll
STAGE 2: TAVERN TRIBUTE. Pay it forward at Ranch Saloon and enjoy a draft at Missouri Tavern to support local taverns who support cyclists. This stage was an unexpected source of joy. Many Drafters did this individually. We also did it as a Monday night ride. A round was bought for the patrons at Ranch Saloon in Dane, only to have one of the recipients buy a round back, “because that’s how we do it hear.” All the Drafters ended up at Missouri Tavern for an all skate. It was all wonderful.
Full StrengthSpeedy and Owen: All Bikers Welcome
It takes more courage to pay it forward when you are all by yourself…
Hammer Time pays it forward at the Ranch Saloon
STAGE 3: CROSS PLAINS TIME TRIAL. This was for the green jersey, and ice cream or coffee at Creekside Scoop or Crossroads Coffeehouse. The Drafters enjoyed their patio throughout the summer, and thrilled to restore our caloric debt as their fine establishment. And the winner of the coveted green jersey…. HAMMER TIME.
What time is it? HAMMER TIME
STAGE 4: HORRIBLY HILLY This was a grueling 46 mile stage that covered some of the Horribly Hilly Hundreds terrain. Participants supported the Friends of Blue Mounds by committing to ride or volunteer at HHH in 2025. Perhaps the highlight of this stage was watching the video PitStop posted of her son climbing the hill while she cheered him on, and seeing her Strava segment congratulate her on the biggest climb yet.
Stop to smell the flowers
STAGE 5: MILITARY RIDGE GRAVEL GRINDER. An effort to bring dirty fun to the Draft, and to support Riley Tavern and Rails to Trails, this stage was enjoyed by many.
Sandlot enjoys pesto chickenPit Stop and Cujo cross the finish line together
STAGE 6: VIVA LA CYCLING CLUBS. Here’s to those who keep Madison one of the most welcoming for cyclists, planning routes and building community. The cross-pollination between clubs has been a beautiful thing. As is seeing the original Voler Drafter Jersey circa 2013.
The yellow jersey came down to 2 bonus points awarded for scrounging up this relic (the jersey, not Pit Stop and Shaq). Congrats to our two yellow jersey winners! Out of 105 possible points, each of these Femmes earned 100.
STAGE 7: CAPITAL OFF ROAD PATHFINDERS. Dirty Drafters in the making. Sandlot and Pit Stop got on mountain bikes for the first time. Sandlot ended up buying one and Pit Stop donated generously to CORP. Speedy had family in town and got them out on the trails at Blackhawk.
Pit Stop’s first dirty draftSandlot gets a feel for the trail on her gravel bikes, and then buys a MTB!Speedy introduces her sister to MTBingT1 finding dirty outside a diaper changeUnknown to the Drafters, but a shout out to another Femme who dirty drafted for the FIRST TIME!
STAGE 8: ALP d’ BLUE. The battle for the polka dot jersey came down to it on Saturday Aug 31. Cujo and Keez went head to head. Keez had the faster time, but Cujo goes home in the polka dot. The judges agreed that climbing Blue Mounds twice was prerequisite fo the jersey. The rule book for 2025 has already been amended. Congrats to all the Drafters who dared to climb Blue Mounds not once, but twice ( Cujo, BrickO and Shaq).
Cujo visits Blue Mounds Bicycle Works in search of oxygen after climbing Alp d’ Blue twiceKeez doesn’t look like she just took the QOMHammer Time and The Colonel ClimbShaq for the double climb
EXIT STAGE: VOLUNTEER OR PARTICIPATE IN AN EVENT
So many completed this stage! A shout out to Keez for winning the State Road Race in New Glarus, Hammer Time for winning the Badfish TT and riding RAW plus some (240 miles), Shaq for finishing Bike MS Best Dam Bike Tour and RAW back to back, Nemo and Pit Stop for Roll & Stroll, Sandlot for Ride the Drive.
For those still looking for an event…. please consider singing up for the the Badger Challenge on Sept 22. Pit Stop has a team to support her OR manager, Todd, who was recently diagnosed with sarcroma Their team is Hot Toddies at badgerchallenge.org
A sincere thanks to all who participated in any or all of the stages. Supporting local bike shops, taverns, coffee shops and ice creams shops who support cyclists was one of the goals. The other is to remember the fun in pedaling, to engage others in the sport, and in that small way, build stronger women cyclists for the future Tour de France Femmes.
Awards will be given at one of the next two Monday night drafts… depending on arrival of the jerseys and other prizes.
Thanks again to all who dared to step out of their comfort zone and buy a drink for a stranger, pedal hard on the time trial, climb Blue Mounds (twice), try mountain biking, and building community by wearing the colors. Go Green!
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