Heavy storms were predicted to hit at 8PM, giving the Drafters a solid hour+ window of safety to draft responsibly. The prediction was 100% right on the storms hitting, and a little less accurate on the safety window. 13 Drafters rolled the dice and hit the jackpot! 12 won. Nobody was lost. You can’t win if you don’t play, but interestingly enough, you can lose if you don’t play. Ask Cujo how she got soaked by choosing not to draft.

Z said, “Suns out, guns out.” The B Team rolled with the Z pose.

Velo wasn’t on a winning roll: rolling in too late to catch the B team, and rolling against unanticipated resistance from the rubbing rear brake on his borrowed bicycle. He did roll with a great attitude, and that made all the difference.

On the first formidable climb up Enchanted Valley, the A Team showed signs of cracking. Air Bourne sent up a flare at the base of the climb, “I’m already out of gears!”. Fear not. His new Pinarello is being delivered on Friday with gears to spare. We suspect Air Bourne to be spending much, much more time in the front. Velo, gassed from climbing with his rear brake rubbing relentlessly, waived the surrender flag atop Enchanted Valley.

As the skies turned dark, Shaq, Speedy, Loose Screw and Queenie decided not to challenge Mother Nature’s hand and folded.

As Hawkeye, BrickO and Octane forged ahead to the next formidable climb up Schuman Road, they waved to the returning Drafters. “Smart call”, yelled BrickO in passing. “If they are being smart, does that make us dumb or smarter by continuing to ride?”, pondered the shrinking A Team.

Air Bourne contemplated the motto on his headset stem cap that reads, “Make Good Choices”. He and Velo did a U-Turn and hopped the B Train back home.

BrickO, Hawkeye and Octane peddled on, fiercely determined to reach Far, Far, Far View. Once on top of the ridge, the winds of change came a callin’. Hawkeye spread his wings and the trio literally flew. Until the wind did a 180, and the three folded their wings and opted for the short pour.

The remainder of the B Team, Z, Skipper and Lost Boy were already past the short pour cut off when the front came in. The temperature dropped at least 20 degrees (not an official meteorology report, just a sense) and the wind turned 180 degrees. YeeHa! A headwind both ways for the boys as they wouldn’t back down from the full strength route. Only those 3 had the grit to go the distance.

It was truly a dry draft to remember. The ride was a gift. To have escaped a drop of rain, while also beholding the raw power of what Mother Nature could unleash was indescribable. Actually, Hammer Time could probably describe it. Late to the Draft, she rode solo and was not so fortunate in staying dry. After 4 days of criterium racing at Tour of America’s Dairyland, a shower wasn’t so bad.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS:

Things really heated up at The Tour of America’s Dairyland. Congrats to Keez, Hammer Time and Unicorn Blood on three FIRSTS.

Keez raced 5 back to back criteriums in Janesville, West Allis, Grafton, and back to back days in De Pere with Apex Cycling Team. This was her first time racing with the big dogs in the Pro/1/2 division.

And by big dogs, I mean professionals like Marlies Mejias Garcia of Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24 and Olympic track alternate, Olivia Cummins. She took a turn at the front and reached her goal of a top 20 finish. Nice pull, Keez!

Hammer Time cut her criterium teeth at ToAD, racing the Novice Cat 5 in Janesville. The Colonel was providing novice support, placing her numbers in the wrong place. Thankful for a little help from a competitor, they got the numbers pinned correctly before the start of the race.

After lapping the field, TWICE, Hammer Time found herself on the podium in the leaders jersey. Rinse and repeat the following day in West Allis. Well, technically she only lapped the field once in her second criterium ever.

Everyone in the novice division was relieved when she moved up to Cat 4 for the Grafton and De Pere races, where she still hung in there for a top 10 finish. Like Keez, she mixed it up, taking a turn in front for 1.5 laps in De Pere. Nice pull, Hammer!

Shout out to Coach Slim who helped Hammer Time with some cornering tips, which she credits largely for her victory in this exclusive Insta ToAD interview.

Unicorn Blood also posted up on the podium at Toad West Allis, winning the Cat 3-4.

Congrats to all the competitors at ToAD. From those of us in the slow twitch category, it is hard to fathom doing a criterium in any category from novice to pro.

ON TAP FOR MONDAY JUNE 30

Making good use of the training hours we have accumulated since March and the summer solstice daylight, it’s due time to up the mileage. The routes for Monday June 30: full strength 38.4 miles and short pour 33.6 miles. Departure times 4:45 and 4:50. IF YOU NEED A 5PM START, PLEASE CONTACT BRICKO. No Drafter will be left behind.

RidewithGPS Link: Drafters Shy of Lodi Canning Co. Short Pour

RidewithGPS Link: Drafters Lodi Canning Co.

NOW HIRING: the Drafter Junior team is growing. Between the diaper and chamois stage, their parents would benefit from a having a day care professional to watch this growing peloton on Monday evenings so they could catch a draft. PVL: CPR and and RED CROSS babysitting certification. Other skills: diaper changing, bottle warming, mind reading, patience. Salary negotiable. Willingness to trade time for beer (not to be consumed on duty) appreciated. Hawkeye floated this idea, and it is a good one. It would be awesome if the Junior Team parents team up and rotate taking a pull each week. Please submit your resume through our secure website.

MORE DRAFTS ON TAP: another good idea submitted by Lost Boy. If you are interested in drafting during the week days or weekends, you are not alone. Please suggest days and times during the Draft or post on GroupMe and see what shakes out!

Draft responsibly,

BrickO