The power of the Magic 8 ball should not be underestimated.  With grey skies threatening to unleash their furry during our ride,  I first consulted the Fly Boys Consortium to get an avionics official weather report.  Captain Joe McD stood firm with, “we may get a little wet”.  This detailed report was confirmed by co-pilot Z, who added, “the big stuff probably won’t hit until 8pm”.  Great, thanks Fly Boys.  The Magic 8 ball was much more definitive.

Fittingly, 8 brave Drafters set forth to out ride the dark curtain of doom.  We endured a mere sprinkle 35min into the ride, just enough to make our cycling chamois squeak.  Well, not all of us had cycling shorts.  Ms. Iceland was inspired to rethink the functionality of cycling in LuLu leggings. Her Ivy League training coupled with her current PhD student tax bracket were key for fostering an innovative and inexpensive solution. Patent pending.

The ride was magical, filled with majestic creatures.  Several Great Blue Herons circled Fish Lake, and we were treated to a Red Tailed Fox who sat patiently in a field as we admired his beauty.  What did the fox say? Draft responsibly.

Apparently, Nurse Sally and Counselor Queen Bee were not believers in the Magic 8 ball prediction, and sought shelter in the Free House. By the time we arrived, only their empty beer glasses remained.  The tale of drinking without cycling was relayed by Drafter Emeritus Laura, who was coerced by her companions into not riding.  Repeated episodes of frequenting the Free House without actually riding has earned her the status of Drafter Emeritus (title conferred automatically upon persons who retire at a given rank).

Next Monday we will head west towards Spring Valley.  This is a VERY challenging 36 mile ride.  Be CAREFUL on the descent on Enchanted Valley.  Recent road work has left the road less than enchanting just before you reach County P.   There is a lovely shortcut on Pine if you are game for a few less hills and miles.

Garmin Spring Valley Loop

The following week is Memorial Day, and the Free House will be closed.  It is likely that we will offer a longer ride starting mid-afternoon.  If you are interested, let me know.

Draft Responsibly,

BrickO

Wonder of the world, continents, virtues, musical notes, colors of the rainbow.  All of these have something in common with the Drafters: 7 showed up to battle the breeze on Monday.

Pair, duo, deuce, dual.  These also have something in common with the Drafters: 2 showed up to drink beer sans battling the breeze.  Nurse Sally/Sully and Counselor Queen Bee clearly have the highest IQs of the bunch.  Imagine how smart they would be if they didn’t drink beer?  What an awful thought. I can’t go there.

Needless to say, we were literally stuck in Lodi again as the wind was blowing swiftly from the southeast.  Vilks pulled all but one of us home like an animal worthy of the Zoo Kit he was sporting (love the cute Polar Bear). One of the Tobacco City Boys forgot to set his nap alarm, and was forced to go it alone.  Congrats on your new position as producer of the early AM  Channel 27News. Nothing like a bike ride to start your 11pm shift off on the right foot!

The ride for next week is one of my favorites.  We will head north and visit Fish and Crystal Lakes.  As always, shorter versions are an option.

Fish and Crystal Lake Garmin

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

The Drafters gathered last Monday to honor our eldest member in birthday celebration.  It could be said that Nurse Sully is the Mother of Drafters (not to be confused with Mother of Dragons, although I wouldn’t mess with either), not simply because she is an AARP card holder, but because she is responsible for getting many of us involved in cycling.  Prior to meeting Sully, I thought all bikes had motors , competitive sports required a ball (or puck) and victories were determined by number of points.  Little did I know that a cycling victory might look like this: “Hey, I finished the 200k Horribly Hilly  in 8 hours without bonking or vomiting!” or, “No flat tires or saddle sores this time.  Total win.”  Thanks for bringing the Draft to us, Sully.  We honored her with a cake and beer.  Actually, we honored Sally.  Ride Sally Ride!

Sticking with the late 60s musical theme, Creedence Clearwater Revival wrote about our destination for next week- LODI.  Borrowing from CCR’s chords, with lyrics from Cycling Clearheaded Revival:

Just a few years ago, we set out on the road,

Seekin’ my friends and a tailwind, lookin’ for cold beer at the end.

Things got hilly, and things got more hilly, I guess you will know the route.

Oh! Boy, drafting to Lodi again.

This is a 40mile jaunt with many options for shorter versions. You can skip the right turn onto Riddle Road and the Cherokee Marsh to knock off 5 miles (sadly, the most scenic 5).  You can take the 20/25ish mile Hyer Loop by turning at Kopp Rd.  Or, you can do an out and back to Dane for similar mileage.

Lodi Marsh 40 Garmin

Wheels up at 5:30 sharp.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

18 cyclists came out to play,

20mph winds couldn’t keep them way.

Riders 6 feet and over were on the front line for a reason:

Felt good to draft behind Tall IM Tim and his betrothed, Coach Freezin’.

Another wave of 6+ footers allegedly rode the Tour de Dane faster.

Somebody better check the odometer for the Tobacco City Boys and Feng Shui Master.

The Drafter Manual was consulted for rulings on suspected motorized doping and hematocrit >50% immense.

Please see Exhibit A, entered into evidence.

Shiny bikes and their riders with new clipless pedals were out in full force,

With saddlebags stocked with Band-Aids, bacitracin, and medicinal whiskey to remedy the road rash, of course.

A warm welcome to a few newbies who volunteered for the Draft:

Speed Skater Susan, MadPower McKaylah, Ryan from Supreme, Laura from the lab and the Road Rash Twins, Quinoa and Ivy League are now official members of the Riff-Raff.

The 20 mile route for next week is much more sane than Dane, with far fewer miles, hills and corresponding opportunities to complain.   The Human Metronome will be leading the Draft. Wheels up at 6PM,  not a moment aft. I will be goofing off in the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina, a destination almost as cool as our Canadian Drafter’s homeland of Regina.

Draft Responsibly,

BrickO

There are many reasons not to ride.  This one, however, I found novel and worthy of press: “I have to do my taxes.”

CRIME REPORT: 13 riders were definitely taxed around Indian Lake, due in large part to the Human Metronome’s improved speed on his new Colnago.  An investigation is currently underway to determine if an electric motor was part of the package price. Also under investigation are allegations of cheating.  Our resident Feng shui Master started the ride well after 5:30, and yet appeared at the Free House fresh as a daisy. Timing chips secured to ankles will be required if this seedy behavior continues.

ENTERTAINMENT: Back by popular demand, the comedy portion of the Draft was provided by Counselor Queen Bee, who regaled us with dinner time stories of her friend Steve. The flavor will be lost in translation, but suffice to say, you should order the burger.  In other Drafter news, the Wahoo KICKR is now available to all 50 Shades of Cycling customers. Nobody has admitted to owning this fitness device.

SPORTS: #1 Drafter from UW-Madison PT class of 2017 and #1863 in the Men’s Olympic Distance USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championships will be competing this Saturday in Clemson, SC. Live coverage at teamusa.org

WANTED: elbow and knee pads.  Check with Coach Friesen for slightly used hockey gear if you are new to clipless pedals and tired of Band-Aids.

SCIENCE AND FASHION: University of Oregon PhD student, K2, may have transitioned from Badger to Duck, but her intelligence is not to be questioned.  Check out this recent action photo from her “work in the lab”. Who knew you could study to become of Bike Doctor?

On a fashion note, jerseys identical to the one on the model above are available through MAY 3, along with long sleeve, vests and jackets.

1. Go to the Hincapie Team Center website https://teamcenter.hincapie.com
2. If you are a Returning User, please login using your email and password you previously created. Skip ahead to “Step 2.”
3. If you are a New User follow these steps to create your account:
   1. The Access Code for is: BrickOsDrafters
   2. Provide your first and last name.
   3. Provide your email address, phone number and create a password.
   4. Click the “Create Account” button.

WEATHER: the forecast for Monday is calling for rain. They were wrong most of this week, so let’s hope the trend continues for our ride.  We will be riding the Tour de Dane, a 32mile route.  There is a shorter option on the map below.

**6pm ALTERNATIVE RIDE   There are several riders who need a later start time.  I’m proposing a shorter route, due to daylight restrictions.  The Hyer Loop is ~20miles, with an option to take the bike path home (shorter yet).  If you are game for this, maybe leave a comment so riders can look for one another at 6pm in the BMO Harris parking lot.

Draft Responsibly,

BrickO

Quote of the night: “We didn’t fall behind.  We hung back in order to watch the sunset.”  Billy Boy McC’s recap surprised Dan-yelly, who didn’t realize until their safe return to Free House that they had lost the pack.  There is a down side to wearing a winter parka with the hood up while riding behind someone nearly 7 feet tall…. limited visibility.

20mph winds gave good cause to share and enjoy the Draft.  However, one of our Edgerton natives (one of several in the group who have left the tobacco farm to join the ranks of beer drinking bicyclist) struck out alone.  He was either wanting to earn a plate of sweet potato fries without the guilt of having saved calories drafting, or was late getting out of work.  Regardless, kudos to Zack for the strong solo riding effort in that wind.

The next ride will take us to Indian Lake, roughly a 30 mile venture.  For a shortened version, simply do the loop without the “figure 8”, by staying on Martinsville Rd. CAUTION: the full route has a descent on Indian Trail that is pot-holey and gravely.  State Rd 19 has modest traffic and a narrow shoulder.  This segment ends with a fun climb up Whippoorwill, a true b..b…bear.  If you are apprehensive about any of those three things, the shorter loop is a safer bet.

Anyone interested in ordering Drafter jersey, vest or jacket from Hincapie Sportswear should shoot me an email this week.  The design (beer theme) and colors (blue and red) will remain the same as last year.  Also, we will order 1/4 zip dri Smart long sleeve shirts ($35) from Sweat Vac (see http://www.sweatvac.com) with the Drafter logo if we have 15 or more (currently 8 people have expressed interest).  Let me know if you are wanting to purchase garb. 

Indian Lake Garmin

Draft Responsibly,

BrickO

We’ve got sunshine and temperatures above 40 degrees, so the ride is on.  What isn’t on, apparently, is my BS detector.  It appears as though I have been duped, taken for a ride not on a bike, but by the color of a bike. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause, but there is no pink bike in the Drafter fleet. Good one, Counselor.  I only hope that your new black Colnago has pedals that can fly like the wind, which will be gusting tonight.

The route is posted below.  If you are hoping to ride a few less than 25 miles, I’d suggest jumping on the bike path at the end of Woodland Rd and doubling back.  We will be leaving promptly at 5:30 from the BMO Harris parking lot, weaving our way out of town on Parmenter St, right on Donna Dr, into Middleton Hills, and shooting down to Pheasant Branch.  The pot holes on the Pheasant Branch descent are plentiful, so mind your neighbor and your wheel and draft responsibly. Just a reminder to have a light in case darkness reigns while you are still on the road.

The Free House would like our cooperation in preparing for the onslaught of hungry and thirsty Drafters post-ride.  If you plan to stay for dinner, perhaps you could shoot me a text so that I can call in a head count?  Or add a comment here on the blog, whichever is easier. Thanks much.

It’s too frickin’ cold to wauna ride.  Let’s regroup next week.

BrickO

The forecast for Monday April 4 , according to the unsophisticated weather app on my iPhone, reveals a snowflake. Surely this is not accurate.  Perhaps I’m misinterpreting the symbol. A crystal could be a representation for the diamond that now sits on Jackie’s left hand.  I propose we ride.  Say I do.

Let’s shoot for a short 25mile ride towards Waunakee.  For those who seek a slightly shorter loop, hang a left on Woodland and catch the bike path along highway 12 back to the Free House. If you want to make it a truly casual ride, I suggest a pit stop at the Missouri Tavern, one of Dane County’s finest historical treasures.

If the snow does fly, I do not anticipate riding.  This has nothing to do with an aversion to riding in the cold.  Or the fact that over the past 10 days of vacation, my cycling miles totaled zero, such that I am frantically trying to make up some fitness before facing the Drafters.  Z was able to get in one ride while  on Tenerife (evidenced below), and is therefore nominated to lead the draft.

The true nature of the potential cancelation is that I am looking out for our fleet of shiny  new bikes. The Human Metronome, Ms. Iceland (AKA Ivy League Rower), Quinoa Chrissy and Counselor Liz have recently boosted the economy.  Any guesses as to the owner of this beauty? This bike is apparently  so well designed and engineered for negative drag that pedals are optional.

GPS link to Waunakee Ride

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

The inaugural Draft was full of firsts.  Here is a brief recap of the evening which consisted of 9 riders and 3 fans.

This is the first time we have started the draft in March, and savored a dry Monday, followed by rain on Tuesday. Typically, we see precipitation around 5:25pm on Monday, while the Cap Brew riders head out in perfect conditions the following night. I’m not keeping score, but so far 1-0 Drafters.

Reportedly, this is the first ride whereby the Human Metronome was forced to stand on a climb AND came back to camp winded.  Might have something to do with our newest additions, Vilks and The Terminator, JoeJoe McD.  It’s hard to say for sure if Jim had to stand on the climb in order to keep the boys in sight, or if he was merely trying to read the fine print on Vilks’ cute Vilas Zoo kit.  Most of us aren’t quite so fashionably kitted up.

The Drafters, for the first time, would like to extend pest control services to their members. Jim recently received professional training on how to successfully release a squirrel from chimney captivity into the living room with free reign.  The Terminator specializes in bat control, and his rates are on a sliding scale depending on the “hours away to beer consumed ratio”.  Safety glasses are recommended.  Ann may be willing to negotiate terms.

Kim took the inaugural draft literally, bolding biking for the first time in clipless pedals and with aerobars.  You wouldn’t have guessed by watching her bike… although it was hard to watch her, as I took a wrong turn with newbies Kim and Rick and got us a bit lost.  Reminder to all: print your maps and do not rely on your leader to have a sense of direction.  And, be sure to have lights on your bike in case you find yourself out past dark.

The most exciting first of firsts, by far, is the engagement of two Drafters, Tall Ironman Tim and Coach Friesen for a Reason. Look at the expressions on the faces of the hockey team when they received the news!  The diamond will add to the sparkle on the ice as the Badgers kick some Gopher butt this weekend. See earlier notification for our pest control service.

Hope to see you all for our next ride on April 4.  I will post a map upon my return.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO