The Drafters turned 120 this week! That is to say, two Drafters celebrated birthdays and no expense was spared to bring the party to the backyard. Two kiddie pools were secured by Speedy, chocolate cake compliments of Spigot, and a wide variety of salty snacks were enjoyed by 23 Drafters.

The B Team started with 5, including the long awaited return of Mario. Medical school let him out for one day of fun, and we are grateful he chose to Draft. Speedy was ready to rock and roll the full strength route (see Rolling Stone pose), until she wasn’t.

Her tune quickly changed as she realized her pedals and cleats were not going to make music. Box, box!

Luckily, BrickO’s bike barn is fully stocked and she executed a F1 style pit stop change out of pedals in seconds flat. Despite the rapid box, Speedy opted for pole position with the short pour. Some people will go to great lengths to be in two starting photos.

The bike barn also provides complimentary chain lube to those running a little dry. Coach Arms’ chain looked as it had been cleaned by a Zamboni, not a speck of lube left. Absolutely no jokes were made about lube and menopause, as BrickO’s daughter, Keez, was in the pit box crew.

The Short Pour 6 pack was at the starting line, ready for the green light. Coach Arms brought the gun show. BrickO will no longer be wearing her sleeveless jersey on the nights Coach Arms shows up. It is like bringing a knife to a gun fight. Coach Arms looks tough, but confessed, “I nearly melted.” Not much heat acclimation on the ice rink in LaBahn. Go Badgers.

The Bike Barn couldn’t help poor Twinkle Toes, who not only forgot his namesake (shoes) but also his helmet. Fortunately, TT and Marco drafted responsibly a few minutes behind the A Team. Strava confirmed their finish.

Spigot rolled in to the Draft carrying a full cooler on his back. Catering services are available for his baked goods Monday nights 5PM and during strength training Tue and Thur at 6AM (see flyer below). Please leave a favorable review on YELP.

The Short Pour wasn’t messing around. They threw down the power in order to be first feet in the kiddie pool.

Octane and Car Wash were doing their best to keep everyone cool on the route. Hincapie Sportswear is consulting with PPE and Hazmat suits to see if they can be customized in Drafter green. Octane threatened to file a DEI compliant after it was tastefully suggested that he draft responsibly, behind everyone else. But after reflecting in the kiddie pool, withdrew his complaint.

The A Team heard the kiddie pools didn’t have chlorine and increased their rate of speed to catch the B Team, hoping to be feet first.

Knievel and Duracell kneeled before heat gods, sweaty but not broken.

Vilks takes a knee but doesn’t dare take his banana into the pool with KickA**KK.

Spigot and Shaq share a moment in the reflection pools.

The pools grow more green as Tank, Spigot, Herbie and BrickO share a toast separately in “his and her” pools.

Did anyone notice how dapper Tank looked in his new kit? Herbie had her first sip of beer since taking 6th at SBT GVT, a whimsical look worth capturing. And Spigot has a profile picture ready in case he finds himself in line up other than a Drafter paceline.

Spigot can bake, wield a knife, and pull the A team for a good chunk of the route. A man with many, many talents. A James Bond of cycling.

HINCAPIE KITS: another order has been placed! You will be contacted directly with FedEx details. AVAILABLE AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE: New, never worn Women’s Axis large jersey, Men’s Axis medium jersey, and last years kit Women’s bibs medium. Contact BrickO for details.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS:

Momma Monster makes Lifetime Event’s Chequamegon 40 front page at HQ!

Congrats to Squeak on her 3rd place finish at the Door County Triathlon!

WEEKS AHEAD:

Please join the Draft in supporting KickA**KK in her book signing at Cap Brew this Thursday July 23 at 7PM. Food, and of course beer, will be available for purchase. If Drafters are interested in riding to the event, that can be arranged. Otherwise, gather together at Cap Brew at 6:45PM.

JULY 28th at High Noon. Want in on a little secret to success? Keez (pro) , Herbie (6th overall SBT GVL), Grit ( post-SBT GVL fastest tube ride down the Yampa), Knievel (top 10 Belgian Waffle Ride), Spigot (baking takes incredible strength), Footer (champion barefooter), BrickO (current record holder at Digman Fitness for grip strength, excellent functional skill for holding a beer), Sweeps (Unbound finisher in the muddiest year ever) and Speedy (highest W/kg of all Drafters) all trust Digman Fitness for their strength gains.

From Coach Digman: The miles you put in on the bike build incredible endurance—but they don’t build everything you need to stay healthy, powerful, and riding at your best.

Whether you’re in the middle of race season or the off-season, a well-designed strength program can make a huge difference .

Our cycling strength program is built specifically for endurance athletes—not bodybuilders. Every exercise has a purpose and is designed to help you ride longer, ride stronger, and stay healthier throughout the season.

If you’d like to learn more or schedule an assessment to see how the program can help your riding, simply reply to this email. We’d love to help you reach your cycling goals.

Route for Monday July 20: Backdoor Riley, short pour 26 miles and full strength 30. Departures: B Team 4:45PM, Short Pour and A Team 5PM.

RidewithGPS Link: Drafters | Backdoor Riley Tavern Short Pour

Ridewith GPS Link: Drafters | Backdoor Riley

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

Lucky 13 for the Drafters, not so lucky for Team USA in the World Cup. Grateful for everyone who came out to welcome KickA**KK back to the Draft. Pro move. The groups were small but mighty as they conquered epic climbs including Braun, Vermont Church, Moe, Greenwald, Forshaug, Blue Mounds Trail, Sutcliffe, Old Indian, Moen Valley and Braun, again.

Only two Drafters completed this stage. Chuck Berry wrote a song about them.

Deep down in Wi-scoooon-sin close to Cro- ooss Plains,
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
There stood a coffee shop made of earth and wood
Where met two drafter boys named Johnny ride good
Who never ever learned to read or write so well
But they could ride a bike just like a-ringin’ a bell

Go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Johnny ride good.

Presley likely did not draft alone when she abandoned the last climb on Braun. The bridge out on KP seemed more dangerous than riding Hwy 14 back to safety and ice cream. So that’s what she did.

The real pros were in the B Team. Queenie and Car Wash, known to their families as “Johnny”, rode the route as scripted. Queenie’s wife pinged his phone repeatedly after tracking her husband showed no movement on Sutcliffe. Car Wash recalls his mother apologizing for his lack of brain power. No brains, all brawn, as he suffered up the last climb on Braun. Johnny ride good.

Pro riders KK and Keez plan their strategy to bypass Braun, proving it takes brains to win a stage.

Spigot took one for the team, riding ahead to scout out the bridge on KP, or lack thereof., allowing the A team to finish ahead of the peloton. Chivalry isn’t dead.

Shout out to Natalie at Creekside Scoop for meeting our daily diary requirements. Cujo brought apple compote to add another food group. It went especially well with Exhausted Parent ice cream. The Chocolate Shoppe is entertaining changing the name to Exhausted Drafter.

Slim, Keez, KK and BrickO added some veggies to their pizza at Remington’s to round out their post-draft nutrition while they watched Team USA get smoked by Belgium.

The draft next week will return to Middleton Hills. Brewin’ on Breunig lives up to its name by taking the bike path home, stopping at Missouri Tavern for a frosty beverage. Full strength 34.8 miles, short pour 23 miles.

B Team departure 4:45. A Team and Short Pour 5PM.

RidewithGPS Link: Brewin’ not on Breunig Short Pour

RidewithGPS Link: Brewin’ on Breunig

We are so grateful to have KickA**KK drafting all of July. If you haven’t checked out her recent book, now is the time. KK has agreed to share her story with us at Crossroads/Creekside after the Draft on August 3. Order yours today (also on Amazon) to you can get a signed copy! We are hoping to organize a formal event with Bombay, Femme40 or Trek to give KK a bigger audience to share her experience. She is truly an ambassador of the sport, and a pioneer in women’s professional cycling.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO