The Mamas & Papas had nothing to worry about. Monday evenin’ came and 18 drafters were here with me.

Monday, Monday
So good to me
Monday mornin’
It was all I hoped it would be
But Monday mornin’
Monday mornin’ couldn’t guarantee
That Monday evenin’ you would still be draftin’ with me

The group respectfully held up for Skipper who arrived only 1 minute late despite beltline crashes, smashes and other driving balderdashes. His new Audie passed the test, coming in hot, stopping on a dime, executing a tight 3-point turn on 2 wheels before coming to rest along side the curb.

Spigot with his new prescription orange accented ROKA sunglasses blazed the trail. It is amazing how much faster and straighter his flight plan now that he has 20/20. Duracell was waiting to catch the train on Schneider. The group stayed together until DisEnchanted Valley, where every Drafter must dance to their own drummer. Or drum to their own rhythm. Or dance like nobody’s watching, although everybody is on Strava.

This ride was sponsored by Zyrtec. The Drafters had a hay wagon escort all the way down Schuman Road. Better that than a honey wagon. There isn’t a prescription for that.

There is no photographic evidence of the Short Pour, but Shaq was heard boasting that she waited on every climb for Cujo. Shaq also mentioned that Cujo did a 100 mile gravel ride on Saturday, after sleeping in her car. She followed this up with another 100 mile gravel ride on Sunday. Shaq is hoping this behavior continues and encourages all Drafters to partake in 200 miles rides before Drafting responsibly on Monday night.

Sadly, there is photographic evidence of a misaligned banana. In addition to Zyrtec, Vilks is sponsored by PBR, nuts and bananas.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS: Congrats to Belle, Bomber, Spigot, Sweeps and OVERALL WOMEN’S CHAMPION Dr. Dewey on the largest ever CoonFork40 gravel race on Saturday.

FOMO? Here’s one not to miss. Join a bunch O’ Drafters at the Wild Hare on Sept 26 in Viroqua. Thanks to Speedy for a 26% discount with code TREKMADISON26.

HINCAPIE GEAR UPDATE: apologies for all those patiently waiting for their Drafter kits. The delay is due to an earthquake in Columbia, where the manufacturing plant is located. Our hearts go out to those 111 people who lost their lives and their families.

MONDAY AUGUST 31: the social aspect of leaving together at 4:45 has been a bonus, and stopping for a beverage at Missouri Tavern seems popular, so that’s the plan. Back by request are the PDF files. Never a bad idea to take a screenshot, just in case you find yourself wandering without a clue. Full strength is 31 miles, short pour 29 miles (not much more can be trimmed without putting drafters on busy roads).

RidewithGPS Link: Drafters | Rock of Ages MT Short Pour

RidewithGPS Link: Drafters | Rock of Ages MT

NO DRAFT MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7, LABOR DAY

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Breakdown was the theme song for the Formidable Festge route. 21% had mechanical issues. Luckily, 28% were engineers so there was a 100% return rate.

It’s alright if you draft me
It’s alright if you don’t
I’m not afraid of you bikin’ away honey
I get the feeling you won’t
Say there ain’t no sense in pretending
Your quads give you away
Something inside you is feeling like I do
We said all there is to say

Baby
Breakdown, go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey, take me through the night
(Take me, baby, breakdown, ooh)
Breakdown, now I’m standin’ here, can’t you see?
Breakdown, it’s alright
It’s alright, it’s alright

14 Drafters combined to stand as one team. For the remainder of the season, that’s the way this will roll. No A Team. No B Team. Just one Team. It is a good thing the Team held up for Dan-yelly, who came in hot, wearing her helmet while driving to minimize the transition time from car to bike. We needed every engineer for this ride!

It was a slow start to the Draft. Keez was tracking the team, as she was waiting to jump on in Cross Plains, and wondered about the long stop in Greenway Station. Missing the light on Deming Way and 14, the group was further held up as an ambulance required them to sit through a green light. Two red lights later, the team powered across the intersection, only for Dan-yelly to drop her chain. As she frantically dog paddled her way across the busy intersection, the group waited for what was to be the first of three mechanicals.

Not sure if inability to use an iPhone camera properly qualifies as a mechanical or just technological incompetence? Either way, Keez rescued BrickO by taking a Team photo at Festge.

The group had some relief climbing Table Bluff as Hawkeye flatted for the second week in a row. Nobody complained as a breather was enjoyed at the very top. Spigot, one of the team’s 4 present engineers, came to the rescue.

It took two engineers to problem solve Z’s mechanical. Both Z and Dan-yelly are biomedical engineers. Rear derailleurs were not part of their curriculum.

Twinkle Toes felt badly being the only engineer not to contribute to the mechanical issues. As an act of penance, he offered his cabin up north to any and all Drafters. Key code and address to follow.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS:

Congrats to Hawkeye on his effort at Race the Lake. Despite another flat, he flew.

Congrats to Keez on a very hard day at CORE4. Sometimes the hardest part of racing isn’t turning the pedals, it is deciding when not to turn the pedals. She came away with some bruises, but also some clarity. Congrats!

NEW PLAN FOR NEXT WEEK. EVERYBODY will depart at 4:45 TOGETHER. A, B, Short Pour will ride at 4:45. The group will naturally split up, but we will start the ride together.

The route is Far Far Farview, a 34 mile hilly endeavor with a 28.7 mile short pour option

RidewithGPS link : Drafters | Little Less Far View Short Pour

RidewithGPS link: Drafters | Far Far Far View

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

19 Drafters went in search of a watering hole. None were interested in a short pour, full strength only. Missouri Tavern delivered.

Big B Team turn out. Welcome back, Hit-the-Wall!

Hawkeye’s rear tire was suspect at the start. Vilks’ jeffrey-rigged a solution using electrical tape. It held for 9.45 miles, which was 9.45 longer than anticipated. Welcome to the flat tire club, Hawkeye! The tire blew on the outskirts of Martinsville, which was fortuitous as the Indian Trail descent headed out of Martinsville would have certainly led to disaster.

Coach Arms’ ancient Trek, thought to have been ridden in the War of 1812 by Canadian militias, nearly came apart at the lugs. Several Drafters nearly lost fillings, but held onto them as the Drafter Dentist on call was tending to his flat tire.

Everyone arrived safely at the watering hole. The boys from the bar recognized us instantly, but no shots were fired, brown or other. Keez and Coach Arms were engrossed in the Little League game. Now that the Tour de France Femmes is over, they are on to the next Fantasy League.

Watson and Shaq decided to drink from a different tap.

There was an unusual division of sexes headed back to base along the bike path, with the boys taking a strong lead. As the Draft rolled into the neighborhood, Presley’s eyes lit up, “Let’s attack”. And she did. Ain’t nothing but a Hound Dog, that one. Keez grabbed her wheel as they flew by the boys of summer. Twinkle Toes took exception to the sneak attach and countered, but Keez was too far gone.

Cujo made sure no one left in caloric deficit with an amazing GF vegan chocolate cake. Happy Birthmonth, Cujo!

Weekend Highlights: A few Drafters dressed up to play bikes on Saturday. Momma Monster, Cookie Monster and E$ were unanimously voted best team theme. Congrats Bone Appetite!

Vilks and Keez were a distant second place, but sure did Tri-Hard.

HINCAPIE DRAFTER KIT UPDATE: Keep your eyes open for FedEx information later this week. Signature required, so plan to be home or provide indirect signature. There is still a men’s medium Axis jersey available at a discounted price (brand new).

Next week on tap: Formidable Festge. Full strength 30.6 miles, short pour 22 miles. Wheels up at 4:45PM and 5PM full strength, 5PM short pour.

RidewithGPS link : Drafters | Formidable Festge Short Pour

RidewithGPS link: Drafters | Formidable Festge

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

25 Drafters heeded the call for Beer Floats. Twas’ a wonderful thing to have so many on tap to ride the Driftless.

The B Team held nearly 50% of the roster. Go big or go home. They went big. Queenie reminded everyone (without boasting) that he and Car Wash were the only two Drafters to complete the route as scripted from Cross Plains last month when the bridge on KP was out. The dudes abided. Everyone else took a short cut.

There were rumblings of another detour as the bridge on JJ had been closed the day before. Plans for a work around were hatched in the corral before the horses were let to run wild, which included 3 extra miles of backtracking. Knievel was put in charge of keeping the B Team steeds on course.

Short in numbers, but not poor, these three set out to avoid the potential detour on the JJ bridge.

The A Team heard Queenie’s call for righteousness, but without an assigned leader, the renegades biked wild (read: took a short cut).

Tank and Herbie rolled out, and then rolled up to the Driftless Downs to shred.

The A team picked up Enrob and Dr. Dewey’s on KP. Their cups runneth over, with 10 extra miles to and from Cross Plains. Enron clarified…. 10.9 miles. Ahh, it is good to be young and energetic.

The big orange detour signs were hard to ignore. Seeing the backhoe in full swing at the bridge, the B Team dared not ask permission to cross, and backtracked 3 miles and one extra climb up Vermont Church to get back on course. Lost Boy didn’t make it to the holy water. His rear tire and tube were mangled, locking up his rear wheel, leaving a smoke signal for the A Team to find. He made the call of shame to his son to be rescued, and in the spirit of the draft, drove back to Creekside for the next best thing, a beer float.

The A team reached the bridge and delegated Spigot to negotiate. Fearless crosser of the KP bridge while under construction weeks earlier, he approached the man in the big back hoe to ask the question. The scene was reminiscent of this one by P.D. Eastman. Same answer… NO.

Dr. Dewey and Enrob decided to follow in the dedicated pedal strokes of the B Team, adding on 3 miles and the Vermont Church climb. The rest of the A Team followed Keez further along 78 into Black Earth, where they connected with the route. No extra miles or climbs. No question the better play if the game was to reach the beer float first.

The B Team definitely enjoyed a few more miles and climbs. What goes up, must come down. Photo credit to Skipper.

A gorgeous night to ride extra miles, or cut them short with more time to drink beer floats and eat birthday pie. There was no wrong choice. Except to sit down on a wasp. Not the birthday buzz Coach Arms was hoping for.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS: Congrats to Sweeps and Knievel on completing the Dairyland Dare!

Next week the draft will head north to Indian Lake and home through Missouri. Missouri Tavern, that is. All are encouraged to enjoy the 28 mile route. For those not wanted to travel north, the short pour Bike Path Bonanza is 19 miles and visits the Missouri Tavern.

RidewithGPS link: Drafters | Indian Lake Missouri Tavern

RidewithGPS link: Drafters | Bike Path Bonanza

Draft Responsibly,

BrickO