Monthly Archives: April 2025

Such A Lovely Day

April 29, 2025Uncategorizedsbrickson

Apologies to the lovely Bill Withers for the lyrical hack.

When I wake up on a Monday, love
And the sunlight hurts my eyes
And something without warning, love
Bears heavy on my mind

Then I check the wind
And the draft’s alright with me
Just one knot or two
And I know it’s gonna be

A lovely day (lovely day, lovely day, lovely day, lovely day)
(Lovely day, lovely day, lovely day, lovely day)
A lovely day (lovely day, lovely day, lovely day, lovely day)
(Lovely day, lovely day, lovely day, lovely day)

The wind to drafter ratio was greater than 2:1. Those aren’t great odds, but 14 Drafters buckled up and got er’ done.

Speedy, Coach Arms, Ruby, Shaq, Cujo and Squeak

BrickO, Herbie, Vilks, Spigot, Keez, Skipper, Carwash and Rimshot

The B Team was Bad*ass. This was Coach Arms’ first time off the ice and one two wheels since claiming the 2025 NC women’s ice hockey national championship, defeating Ohio State 4-3 in overtime. The Badgers won their fourth national championship in six seasons and a record eighth in program history. Straight off the ice and onto recruiting for next season, Coach Arms hasn’t even taken a hot minute to enjoy a glass of wine. But she made time to Draft responsibly. Compared to the battles on the ice, 35mph winds didn’t seem much of a challenge for the Canadian Goddess.

The A Team huddled up to discuss strategy. Vilks proposed rerouting to Riley Tavern in order to suffer the nasty wind head on, right out of the gate. Reflecting on the B Team’s bold pursuit north, as the Good Fellows route dictated, shame fell over the group for considering anything else, and they drafted into submission.

Only later did Speedy, the spokesperson for the B Team, confess to a TSN Turning Point, chopping 10 miles off of the route. The route was all GOOD but no FELLOWS (that road was part of the omission). That’s what happens when two Canadian skaters are running point. Shaq defended the Canadian’s tactical decision, “We were smart AND safe.” The implication being that the A Team was safe, but not so smart.

Vilks ran a shuttle service for the A Team, continuing his pole position as MVD. He had two repeat customers: Skipper and BrickO, and two elderly ladies out for a walk in their house coats who were happy to take a ride, if he was offering.

Vilks loops back to pick up the pieces on Fellows Road

Somewhere along the way, things got a little wet. Not enough to get anyone too excited. Except for Car Wash, who was adamant that the shower be credited to Mother Nature and not his perspiration. He has less to sweat since his retirement last week. CONGRATS, CAR WASH!!

Car Wash, Rimshot, Spigot and Herbie wait for the shuttle to return

Nobody was too proud to take the bike path home. No shelter from the wind, but at least the group escaped a few hills.

Safely back at base camp, the group retreated to the back yard for a beverage. Garmin Connect flashed a recovery warning of 66 hours. BrickO is seeking someone with software expertise to create a Garmin Readiness to Drink Beer score. Her’s would undoubtedly flash green after every ride. But never before a ride, in accordance with the draft responsibly covenant. Shaq lobbied for a Bourbon Readiness score, as apparently that applies to almost everyone.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS: Congrats to all the Drafters who were getting down and dirty at the Dairy Roubaix (Cujo, Herbie, Spigot, BrickO, Marco) and Driftless 100 (Twinkle Toes, JRad). Shaq was in Big Girl mode, conquering her fear of gravel, riding much of the Dairy Roubaix course with a little help from Spigot on Sunday.

Spigot and Shaq enjoy Dairy Roubaix 2.0 on Sunday

Tuesday’s Highlight: Z’s back!!!

THREE IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR NEXT MONDAY, MAY 5

The first Monday of each month, starting May 5, we will ride from Crossroads Coffeehouse/ Creekside Scoop located at 2020 Main St, Cross Plains. There is parking behind the building, and along Bourbon Road. A huge thanks to Katy Ripp (owner) and Abby (right hand woman) for welcoming us back. Creekside Scoop doesn’t officially open on Monday nights until July, so we will have the place to ourselves. They WILL have service for the Drafters, so please be a respectful patron. The beer floats are surprisingly delicious.
Starting times will move to 4:45 and 5PM.
There will be a full strength and short pour option for rides where it makes sense, especially as we continue to increase miles. You can ride either one at 4:45 or 5PM.

This week from Creekside Coffeehouse, the full strength route is 34 miles and the short pour 24.5 miles. When in doubt, climb.

Link to RidewithGPS Drafters | Crossroads Coffeehouse

Drafters | Crossroads Coffeehouse Download

Link to RidewithGPS Drafters | Crossroads Coffeehouse Short Pour

Drafters | Crossroads Coffeehouse Short Pour Download

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

Winds of Change

April 22, 2025Uncategorizedsbrickson

The winds of change seem to be blowing. There isn’t much to do about that, except embrace what is coming. Grateful for the 6 Drafters who blew in to ride Riley.

Numbers were down in the B Team. Watson wasn’t the only one without a clue as to why. Apologies to Watson, who graciously offered not to Draft, as to adhere to the code, “No Drafter Left Behind”.

The most beautiful part of the day came around 4:45, when the sun shone and wind subsided. Grateful for those who drafted responsibly.

BrickO, Squeak, Spigot, Vilks and Twinkle Toes

Wind wasn’t the only thing that eluded the A Team. Loading the course is, of course, the hardest part of drafting responsibly.

Spigot had the faucet OPEN WIDE. With his new set of road wheels, he led the entire route. And not by a little. He attributed his well fueled ride to Shaq, who brought food enough to feed a small army post-Draft.

Spigot is also responsible for the fine photography at the Horribly Hilly Hundreds clinic on Friday. Thanks to all the Drafters (Octane, Shaq, Car Wash, Spigot, Cujo) who volunteered their time and watts to supporting the 6th best single day road event in the country, according to the final results of the USA Today survey.

Madison MultiSport and the Drafters support the HHH clinic at Blue Mounds on Sat.

Discover your inner Viking and sign up now!

The route for next Monday is a 33 mile route to the north.

WINDS OF CHANGE:

DEPARTURE TIME: 4:45.

Feel free to organize amongst yourselves for a 4:30 departure.

PLEASE NOTE: due to poor road quality of Pheasant Branch, we will be taking the bike path out and back in to town. If you have this route previously loaded into your Garmin (clearly not talking to Vilks and Twinkle Toes), you may want to upload this one with the *.

RidewithGPS link: Drafters | *Good Fellows

Drafters | *Good Fellows Download

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

Auntie Em, Auntie Em!

April 15, 2025Uncategorizedbiking, cyclingsbrickson

22mph westerly winds gusting up to 35 didn’t discourage 13 hearty Drafters from enjoying an otherwise beautiful night to play bikes.

Shaq and Speedy proudly represent the B Team

Shaq and Speedy faced the biggest challenge from a wind to weight ratio. Gutsy in the gusty, these two pedaled fiercely to Martinsville and then called it good. Only a blur of high vis yellow was seen as these two flew home.

Gopher was the first of the A Team to arrive, and made his mark (literally) as he locked em’ up, leaving a sweet streak of rubber on the pavement. Conversely, Vilks rolled in casually at 4:44. With a full minute to spare, he let out a streak of comments about Gopher’s beard, earning him a trip to HR.

JRad, LuLu, Rimshot, Spigot, Vilks, Car Wash, Keez and Gopher

Many of the A Team opted to saddle up on gravel steeds, a good stable choice against the ravaging westerlies.

Team OPEN WI.DE: BrickO, LuLu and Spigot.

Note LuLu’s salute LuLu to the open window above, where Z Wrecks is on the trainer, pedaling his way back to the Draft.

Given all of the recent shenanigans with federal grant cuts, LuLu is considering a career manufacturing and distributing his cycling ear muffs (patent pending). These carefully crafted muffs were the envy of all the Drafters, who were deafened by the wind as they entered a scene right out of the Wizard of Oz. Please submit payment directly to LuLu Wear, Inc.

LuLu fashions his muffs (not the ones over his ears, but the small ones attached to his helmet straps).

Despite being in the company of other WIDE bodies (reference to the model of bike), BrickO’s OPEN seemed to be a bit more sluggish compared to the rest of the herd. Further investigation into the matter raised suspicion that her recently painted OPEN, compliments of NYF Paint, must have been done in lead paint. There was no evidence of power outage due to old age or poor training. Common sense and the powers of deduction lead to this conclusion. Speed is a small sacrifice for going green.

Meet Maynard. Heavy on green. Light in BrickO’s heart.

No one dared to take their hands off the bars to capture action photos along the route. There was one image in particular worth a thousand words. As the group rode dutifully in single file down Pheasant Branch Road, BrickO could appreciate the straight line of red lights blinking ahead in the distance (review green lead paint memo). A tractor pulling a large farm implement emerged from a driveway, taking first position in the peloton. The image was glorious and hilarious. The title of this photograph: Sharing the Road

Ruby was grateful to Vilks and LuLu, who earned MVD (most valuable Drafter) honors for pulling the group out Schneider Road, and then going back several times throughout the ride to pull those who fell off the train back to the station. “I have an extremely large rib cage”, Ruby confessed, as she climbed Rauls Rd out of her saddle, turning over the pedals at a blistering 40rpms. Ruby went on to describe other biking battles that she has lost. Ruby vs Stan only lasted one round. Stan’s Tire Sealant was the crowned victor. Not the facial she had hoped for. Vilks had more colorful commentary, but HR restricted the transcript from being released.

Slim drafted most responsibly, opting for a tail wind from Cross Plains to Middleton Bike Park and onto the back porch where he had the fires burning.

Slim, Speedy, Keez and Vilks enjoy the warmth

A member of junior drafter, dressed appropriately in green (beneath the jacket), brought more heat! Check out these big steps.

Thing 1 and Keez amazed by this junior drafter’s big steps

A few other big steps to report:

Apex Cycling Team took 1st place at RoughRoad 100 USAC Team Event. The cumulative time of each team’s first 4 riders qualifies them for the podium. Keez took 8th overall, with teammates taking 1st and 3rd. Due to an unfortunate math error, another team took home the 2K cash prize. But hey, money can’t compare to the experience, right??? The smile says it all.

Congrats to Keez and her team Apex Cycling

Slim stepped up to instruct some femme gravel grinders in a cornering clinic on Sunday. Everyone left more confident on crushing gravel corners, and scones at Crossroads Coffeehouse. Drafters will have more opportunities to experience these scones as we move towards departures from Crossroads the first Monday of the month starting in May.

Shaq, Momma Monster, Keez and a few others learn from Slim how to crush gravel

Hammer Time wasn’t able to attend, given her bike trip with the Colonel in Mallorca, but has made special arrangements for a tutorial.

Hammer Time and The Colonel explore Mallorca

The City of Middleton stepped up to answer our pot hole and bike path on Century Ave inquiries. Thanks to all of the Drafters who stepped up to report these issues. Please continue your efforts to improve the cycling infrastructure in our community.

Please reach out to your alderperson. For many here in Middleton, District 6 Alder is Lisa Janairo at district6@cityofmiddleton.us.

So that someday, we can look a bit like this community as described in this article in the New York Times

On tap next week: Backdoor Riley Tavern. This is a 30 mile route past the historic Riley Tavern approaching from the south. Warning: do not follow Gopher’s lead. Historically, this has lead to missing the key cue. Vilks, please note departure times are at 4:30 and 4:45.

RidewithGPS link: Backdoor Riley Tavern

Drafters | Backdoor Riley Download

Draft responsibly,

BrickO