Reverse Chapel

Earth, Wind & Fire were singing to 23 Drafters on Monday night.

There was a
Ba-dee-ya (dee-ya, dee-ya), say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya (dee-ya, dee-ya), draftin’ in September
Ba-dee-ya (dee-ya, dee-ya), never was a cloudy day
And we’ll say
Ba-dee-ya (dee-ya, dee-ya), say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya (dee-ya, dee-ya), draftin’ in September
Ba-dee-ya (dee ya, dee-ya), golden dreams were shiny days

The B Team formed a tunnel of love. Duracell’s battery was so full, he wanted to ride (and pose) in both the B and A teams. We welcomed a Newbie, Herbie, who lined up in the tunnel, but her quads were quickly detected and she was extradited to the A Team. It was good to have Captain Joe back from his junket in Montana. Clearly, more stringent border patrol will be implemented as we can’t have our Captain flying out of state so often.

Spigot, Speedy, Shaq, Presley, Duracell, Z Wrecks, Knievel, McGritty, Cujo, Captain Joe, Herbie and Midas

And then there was one, late to the tunnel of love. Welcome, Dan-yelly! In hot mess mode that we have all come to love, she forgot her water bottle (Speedy was happy to render hydration aid) and suffered a failure of the mount for her phone, which was luckily recovered. There is still an APB out for her car keys, however, from last season.

After a hiatus for Ironman, we were happy to welcome Tinker back to the line up. Also on Dan-yelly time, so not in the photo, but in our hearts. Hawkeye flew in after receiving confirmation from the stork that his daughter wouldn’t be delivered until after the Draft.

Duracell, Herbie, Twinkle Toes, Hawkeye, Vilks, Colonel, Hammer, Keez, Octane, Slim (with Tinker nearby)

Two things were off with the A Team, both much appreciated by all in the peloton. First, our newbie was having some serious mechanical issues. Not for lack of proper bike maintenance, as Herbie had just come from the bike shop. As the line of Drafters listened to her bottom bracket creak and clank, it was a relief to have watts fall away as she climbed up Twin Valley. Just like the Love Bug, her mechanical issues did not deter her from crossing the finish line right up there with Slim, Keez and Vilks.

The other thing off was Vilks. Having just returned home at 1AM from a 2000 mile trip to watch the Badgers play the Trojans of Southern California, he was not in typical form. Or he was, but not typical for a Monday night Draft. BrickO, fulfilling her relegated role as caboose, passed him just before the climb up Mid Town and shouted some sass, thinking that was the last she would see of Vilks. True to form, he decided to punish himself for the days of imbibing, and turned up the watts. BrickO tried to be the little engine that could, but a red light on Pioneer Road ended her tortuous failings. Gratefully, she joined the B Team, where Z Wrecks had been leading the charge only 2 months after his total knee surgery. Gritty guys, both of them, battling back from elective procedures. Nothing a little yoga can’t fix.

VIlks, Midas, Octane and Speedy stretching it out

Vilks, McGritty, Z Wrecks, Captain Joe, Twinkle Toes, Tinker, Shaq, Cujo, Octane, Spigot, Slim, Speedy, Herbie, Keez & MIdas’ knee

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS: Congrats to all those Drafters who “competed” in the 3rd annual Funtathalon, and a shout out to all of the volunteers who made it possible. 9 teams divided up 4 cycling segments: 8 mile MTB ride, 13 mile road race, 24 mile gravel grinder, and a final 24 mile time trial to test their metal. When not riding, they were challenged with corn hole, Kubb, monkey tail, puzzles and trivia. Huge thanks to SweatVac for the volunteer t-shirts and OCG for the custom jerseys.

Our Amazing Volunteers! Pit Stop, Legend, Momma Monster, Ma Brick, BrickO, Sandlot, Erby, Queen Bee, Sully, Rocky, Pandora, Venus and Cujo

Pip and Squeak, Hammer and Colonel, Footer and Fish, Dan-yelly and TCB, Speedy and Duracell, Cookie Monster and E$, Sarge and Tick Tock, Keez and Twinkle Toes, Comet and Midas

No ankles were turned with the running Le Mans start. Luckily, Twinkle Toes remembered his shoes.

MTB competitors line up for the Le Mans start: Midas, Speedy, Sarge, Dan-yelly, E$, Footer, Pip, Twinkle Toes and Colonel

Pit Stop directed them up Ziggy for the first lap, and Fenceline to finish!

The transitions were well rehearsed.

Oddly, the women proved to be better at monkey tail than the men.

Everyone had an opportunity to (moon) shine.

Footer is first to go full strength with Sully and Sandlot

Everyone was a winner. After an exciting day of back and forth, these 3 teams were on the podium:

3rd Place: Trout Van Aert, Hammer and The Colonel

2nd Place: Brazen Ballerinas, Keez and Twinkle Toes

1st Place: Where’s the Swim Start?, Comet and Midas

Pit Stop, Sandlot, Sully and Queen Bee quadruple check the score board

All good things must come to an end. Or at least hibernate over the winter to recharge. Monday, Oct 7 will conclude the 2024 Drafting season. This is a very short route (21 miles), reversed from the typical chapel ride in order to provide an opportunity to wash away those sins just confessed. Option: skip the turn onto Lodi-Springfield/Woodland Rd and take the bike path home, stopping at the Missouri Tavern. Departure times 4:45 and 5PM.

For those Drafters completing 10 or more rides, headbands from SweatVac will be awarded. Congrats to: Hammer, Midas, Twinkle Toes, BrickO, Pit Stop, Speedy, Duracell, Rimshot, Octane, Presley, Knievel, Slim, Shaq, McGritty, Cujo, Queenie, Skipper, Vilks, Keez, Z Wrecks…. and Car Wash if he makes the last draft!

Link RidewithGPS Drafters | Reverse Chapel

Drafters | Reverse Chapel_Download

Draft responsibly,

BrickO