Week in review: Sweet Vilker Ride, good times never seemed so good. So good. So good. Ten Drafters, including one newbie experienced the wonder of the “The Vilk’s Loop Y’all are Tired of Seeing on Strava”.

The change in venue was not the only unorthodox thing about this draft. For the first time since conception of the group in 2013, a newbie selected their own handle! Clyde, likely short for Clydesdale, sponsored by Pit Stop, made his debut. Expect big things from this Drafter.

Huge thanks to Vilks for hosting while BrickO and Z were heat acclimating in AZ during record high temps. 100 never felt so good. So good. So good. Hammer Time, a native of AZ, was quick to point out that its a dry heat. So it only felt like 101 instead of 110.

Looks like they brought some warm weather back home for the Draft. A beautiful southerly breeze blew in the faces of the Drafters as they headed toward Riley Tavern. There was some talk of stopping to celebrate Rimshot’s birthday, but fortunately for all, the tavern was closed.

23 Drafters came out to play, including newbie newlyweds in curious jerseys (Enron and ducks) that invariably led to their Drafter handles. No one would ever suspect Enron (or Enrob) to pose a threat of drafter dominance as he drafts comfortably with the group. Beware: if you invest in his pace line, there is a huge risk he can pull away and leave you high and dry. His bride is no slouch on the bike either. Don’t let the ducky jersey fool you. Dr. Hewey is no quack.

Octane was late to the start, but turned on the gas to catch up. Nemo joined the Draft on Blackhawk Rd. Even with helmet hair she could be on the cover of Vogue.

There was a Puma sighting on Timber Lane. Let’s hope the big cat joins us soon. Great to see you out there!

Rimshot was granted leniency in taking a short cut to and from Riley Tavern. We support him aging responsibly. Happy Birthday!

The ground is soft, but beware of deer and rabbit droppings. Feel free to bring a lawn chair. Or sit on the hot tub. Whatever works.

From a southerly breeze to an arctic blast, the forecast for next week is looking dubious. We will remain hopeful as we pine for good weather. The 29 mile route will leave you Pining For More. Wheels up 5PM.

RidewithGPS link: Drafters | Pining For More

Feeling green? Looking to spice up your Drafter wardrobe?

The Hincapie Drafter store will be opening shortly. PLEASE, pretty please, figure out your sizes and shapes this week. We have Drafters from XS to XXL who can help you decide where you fall on the spectrum. There are two cuts/styles: Velocity (tighter fit, although not their top of the line race fit) and Axis (looser, club cut). Road shorts and bibs come in two inseam lengths. There will also be long sleeve and polar jerseys (great for winter), vests, arm warmers, bibs from their gravel line (side pocket), and MTB jerseys. Ask if you need help navigating the store.

CONGRATULATIONS to Coach Arms and the UW Women’s Badger Hockey Team on their 9th NCAA Championship. So good. So good.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

The foot of snow that fell last week thwarted our plan to Draft Monday night to the Riley Tavern. We will save Riley for March 30, and enjoy of change of venue for tomorrow.

Anyone on Strava has likely seen this 27 mile route, “The Vilk’s Loop Y’all are tired of seeing on Strava”. Monday night is your chance to ride it. The theme song was kindly and unknowingly provided by Neil Diamond.

Where it began
I can’t begin to know when
But then I know it’s growin’ strong
Was in the spring
And spring became the summer
Who’d have believe you’d come along?

Quads
Smokin’ quads
Pedalin’ out
Pulling me, pullin’ you

Sweet Vilker-ride
Good times never seemed so good
I’ve been inclined
To believe they never would

But now I look at Monday night
And it don’t seem so lonely
We fill it up with a drafter or two
And when I hurt
Hurtin’ runs off my big quads
How can I hurt when pullin’ you?

RidewithGPS link: The Vilk’s Loop Y’all are tires of seeing on Strava

He will post a short pour as well on GroupMe.

Deparutre 5PM, Monday March 23. Location will be near Dawley Conservancy Bike Hub in Fitchburg, exact location to be shared in GroupMe.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

M.C. Hammer’s tribute to Hammer Time’s last Draft.

My, my, my, my Draftin’ hits me so hard
Makes me say, “Oh, my Lord
Thank you for blessin’ me with a mind to climb and two hype feet”
It feels good, when you rollin’ down
A super dope Drafter headed to San Fran town
And I’m known as such
And this is a beat, uh, you can’t touch

I told you, homeboy (You can’t touch this)
Yeah, that’s how we draftin’ and ya know (You can’t touch this)
Look at my quads, man (You can’t touch this)
Yo, let me bust the funky lyrics (You can’t touch this)

That’s word because you know (You can’t touch this)
You can’t touch this
Break it down

[Post-Chorus]
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh—
Stop, Hammer Time

18 Drafters, including two newbies were ready for Easy Street. Meet the Fockers, Gov and Magellan. You can give the Fockers a map and GPS coordinates, but that doesn’t guarantee they will follow them. The Gov was distracted by the par 3 near Wipperfurth Rd and stopped for a round before rounding the corner. Springfield Corners, that is. Not on the map. Magellan also decided to explore new territory, staking out her own set of misdirections. Both landed safely back before moon rise.

To be fair, Duracell and Speedy also took a slight detour, choosing to climb Woodland on the way home in order to add on an extra 5 miles. Over achievers.

One member of the junior team was were wheely ready to get the season rolling. We are expecting big things from the younglings this season.

Octane sent out a spring check list, which proved very helpful. Both Twinkle Toes and Sandals remembered their shoes.

The draft out of Middleton Hills was provided by the Meat Wagon, Twinkle Toes and Skipper. Thighs and calves, respectively, left little gap for wind. Skipper might need a slimmer water bottle for clearance.

Eventually, Hammer Time and Keez took charge. It was only fitting Hammer Time claim several PRs and dominate the final climb up Pheasant Branch, given this is her only draft of 2026.

Running 50mm tires on a gravel bike didn’t seem to slow Keez down one bit. At the other end of the aerodynamic spectrum, Ruby showed up with some fancy new dish wheels. We expect big things from her this season, beyond her bedazzled beer bong.

Slim and Lozi had a post-draft blazing fire waiting. Speedy brought Girl Scout cookies and Loose Screw a case of Pseudo Sue to share. Our team dietician offered no comment on the post-ride fuel selections. There will be no food shaming this season. Pretty much a Michelin star resort.

The weather looks not so great for next Monday. Check GroupMe for updates. Don’t put your fat bikes away yet- we might reinstate the Drift Draft, which was a wild success this winter, along with the Dirty Draft. There was no lag time between seasons, which was a first in our 14 year history.

Dirty Draft Recap: 8 MTB rides over the months of Oct and November, with peak Drafter numbers reaching lucky 13!

As dirt gave way to snow, the Dirty Draft gave way to the Drift Draft. Fresh snow with a fresh logo, compliments of Skipper. This hardy crew of 7 rode December through February, right up until our first road Draft in March! And maybe back to the Drift Draft next Monday?

Up next on tap, once the snow melts, is Riley Tavern. NEW DEPARTURE TIME 5PM. A mere 25.1 miles so no short pour option.

RidewithGPS Link: Drafters | Riley Tavern

Feeling a little green? The new Hincapie jersey design is underway. The team store should be up before the snow melts. If you need help with sizes, please holler. It is possible to order sizing kits before the store opens, so you are sure to look suave.

GO BADGERS! Be sure to cheer on Coach Arms and the Badgers this Saturday at 1PM as they enter the NCAA National Collegiate women’s ice hockey tournament.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

Song by the Beatles 1969, modified for the Drafters 2026

Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo
Here comes the fun
And I say, “It’s Drafter night”

Little drafter
It’s been a long, cold, lonely winter
Little drafter
It feels like years since we’ve drunk beer

Here comes the sun, doo-doo-do
Here comes the fun
And I say, “It’s Drafter night”

Little drafter
The smile’s returning to the faces
Little drafter
It seems like years since you’ve biked here

Here comes the sun
Here comes the fun
And I say, “It’s Drafter night”

The rain on Friday did wonders to clean up the roads. The clocks spring ahead on Sunday to give more daylight, and the forecast for Monday is 65 degrees. These are three good reasons to kick off the 14th season of the Draft. There are so many more. Here are just a few.

Coach Arms and the UW Women’s Hockey Team are fire on ice.

The junior Drafters have wrapped up ski season and have declared it time to play bikes.

While the Drafters are busy recruiting juniors, Chequamegon is heavily recruiting women. What better poster “child” for women’s cycling than Momma Monster?!

The Colonel and Hammer Time are recruiting Drafters for their west coast chapter. They will be missed.

Quick review of the drafting procedure:

Please exercise extreme caution, always, but particularly on these first few rides as we get our sea legs and evaluate road conditions.

1. Draft responsibly, ride at your own risk. There are inherent risks to riding a bike. Understand those risks, minimize them at all times. Helmet and lights are non-negotiable. Follow the rules of the road. Do not cross the center line. Do not ride more than 2 riders side by side.
2. Draft responsibly, leave no drafter behind. These are NOT no-drop rides, but it is important for general safety that the Lantern Rouge has company. Every rider should have a map or GPS to know where they are going.
3. Share in the common goal of all fellow Drafters: to seek joy in riding your bicycle. Strava segments and percent FTP can be your goals, but do not let them compromise the fun for the entire group. You are a steward of this beautiful sport. Conduct yourself accordingly, encouraging riders of all levels, above and beneath your own.

Wheels up Monday March 9 at 4:30PM from Middleton Hills. Sunset is at 6:57PM. The Easy St route is 23.7 miles. We may move start time to 5PM later in the summer when days are longer. Not feeling fit enough to ride with a group? Guaranteed you are in the majority. Don’t wait until mid-summer to dive in. Come as you are, and phone a friend!

The patio furniture isn’t set up yet, but you are welcome to bring a beer or NA beverage and hang out afterwards! Check GroupMe for updates and cancellations.

RidewithGPS link: Drafters | Easy Street

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

There is nothing quite like the Driftless to leave you breathless. Between the gorgeous views and relentless climbs, you are bound to be out of breath.

Sunday was an epic day for a finale. 17 Drafters ventured out to Ridgeway to climb some of Iowa County’s finest hills. Never too late to enlist… welcome to the Draft, Tank. He can motor on the flats and descends like a beast, but ask him how he feels about climbing. Tank wasn’t sure he wanted to enlist after learning the Drafter motto….

When in doubt, climb. And we did, no doubt. 45 miles with over 3500′ of elevation on roads with names like North Clay Hill, Far Look Road, Hill Side School Road, High Point Road, Coon Rock Road, Amacher Hollow, Blue Ridge Road, Ridgevue Road. You get the idea.

The most scenic, perhaps, is the historic 1850 Hyde Mill on Mill Creek Road.

Thank you to Speedy and Skipper for the brilliant design and team t-shirts. The topography of the rides are shown on the front in 50 shades of green, with the names (in order, no less) of every ride this season on the back.

There is much to be thankful for this drafting season. We welcomed 8 newbies: Sherlock, Ruby, Sweeps, Air Bourne, GQ, Maverick, Goose and Tank. 60 Drafters enlisted this season, with an average of 18 and max of 27 drafting responsibly on Monday nights. 25 rides in total, starting on March 23.

The first ride, as many will recall, involved a horrific crash involving 3 Drafters. It was a devastating event that we all wish could be undone. Since none of us have a time turner, we can be grateful for the strong community that supported Z, Hawkeye and Twinkle Toes through their recoveries. Their return to the Draft is the gift we treasure most, though the t-shirts are pretty darn cool.

The Drafters covered 789.25 miles. Shout out to those with 10 or more Drafts: Hammer Time, Twinkle Toes, Ruby, Spigot, Cujo, Queenie, Skipper, Presley, Hawkeye and Duracell.

8 Drafters were 15+ repeat offenders were awarded swag to cover their car seats, cause with that much riding, one can only imagine the smell emanating from their vehicles on Monday night. Shout out to John and SweatVac for making those possible.

Congrats to BrickO, Shaq, Speedy, Rimshot, Knievel, Vilks, Keez and Z. On the podium according to volume: Keez, Z and Vilks!

Shaq missed the podium, but did not miss the bourbon bike tour in KY this weekend. Sporting her Tour de Dane Femmes jersey, she did the Drafters proud.

THANK YOU ALL FOR A WONDERFUL 2025 SEASON! Hope to see you all in the spring (or maybe next Monday. Stay tuned).

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

17 Drafters came out to play. The sky looked ominous but they rode on anyway.

Cycling to the start, Herbie was nearly the casualty of a woman hurrying to get the mail.

Hammer Time arrived late and had to make bail.

Her penance was pulling BrickO all the way to Riley. Wheeee…..she said, all smiley.

One new Drafter joined the crew. From here on out, handle GQ.

Threading the needle, the Drafters missed the rain.

Twinkle Toes scorched the route without breaking a chain.

Griz came out of hibernation for his first draft of the season. Winter is coming, seems to reason.

Velo made crepes with jam and hazelnut butter. Making Marcé great again, he was heard to utter.

Pepe, Billy Boy and Loose Screw opted for an alternative route on Monday, climbing Pienza and Montalcino. Word has it they drafted responsibly.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS: Congrats to Pit Stop, McGritty and Shaq for completing a century over the weekend.

USA Gravel Nationals in La Crescent, MN was enjoyed by a few Drafters. Congrats to Spigot, Hammer Time and BrickO. Only one was brave enough to take on the Tilt-A-Whirl. This ride sponsored by Dramamine.

Columbus and Gopher ran the Yellow River Half Marathon, with nearly 2000 feet of climb. By foot or by bike, when in doubt….. CLIMB.

Tour de Dane Femmes Final Results

It was a wild tour, with the green and polka dot jerseys changing shoulders several times. The yellow jersey was never in doubt. Cujo started the Tour with the Dairyland Dare, and finished with Wright Stuff Century, accumulating 1114.35 miles in the month of August! BrickO was a distant second with 720 miles. Speedy lived up to her name during Stage 4, with a Stagecoach Sprint time of 2:38, 13 seconds faster than any other Femme! During a post-race interview, the Speedster credited Crossroads Coffeehouse for their double espresso for fueling her sprint. Speedy also recruited her son to do a stage, his first time riding the road clipped in. This is the spirit of cycling! Hammer Time left no doubt about the polka dot jersey, climbing Stage 8 Alp d’ Blue segments in 19:20, with the next Femme enduring 41seconds more of pain. Hammer’s selfie on top has been touted as the Mona Lisa of Blue Mounds. Shaq was prolific in pink, spreading cycling love throughout the community. From local bike and coffee shops to DNR kiosks, she brought cheer and left beer. While several Femmes accumulated all 45 pink points, Shaq’s touch reached the furthers corners of Dane County. This was the first Tour for newbies Sweeps and Ruby, who conquered more than miles. Congratulations to all of our Tour de Dane Femmes!

NO DRAFT MONDAY SEPTEMBER 29. A Monday draft on Oct 6 will be weather and daylight dependent, and will be posted on GroupMe.

The Drafter Finale will take place on Sunday, Sept 28 in Ridgeway. There is limited driveway parking, so please park on the west side of Ridgevue Road, south of Dream Acres. Bring a lawn chair and a lunch for after the ride, and hiking shoes if you would like to explore the springs and cave. See GroupMe for the address.

There are short pour and full strength routes.

Full strength 10:00AM departure, 45 miles.

RidewithGPS link: Drafters : Dream Acres Finale

Short pour 10:30AM departure, 31 miles.

RidewithGPS link: Drafters | Dream Acres Finale Short Pour

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

Insomnia. The publisher couldn’t sleep last night, and released the blog in an unprecedented Monday night release. Cobwebs were thick, so despite honorable intentions, some honorable deeds were not mentioned.

V2.0

….. and the Short Pour lit up the north bound lane.

The group enjoyed more than just a fire. Hawkeye brought his whole flock, including 2 Junior Drafters, and snacks! Much thanks.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS:

Shaq could make a quilt with all the t-shirts from the century rides she has done just this year alone. She rode the Peninsula Century on Saturday and is gearing up for Ride the Ridges next weekend. Spoiler alert: she isn’t done.

Spigot was included in the Chequamegon 40 shout outs, but it should be noted this was his inaugural Drag Race from Hayward to Cable… and he did it on a 40 pound (rounding) fat bike. Granted, he swapped the tires, but those fat tires ARE the shock absorption! The fact that he had enough power to capture this photo of a Badger fan playing the bag pipes while climbing a monster hill is a testament to hit grit. And appreciation for talent.

Drafter Finale. Confused? In past years, the Drafter Finale is not always the final draft. The Finale takes place on a weekend (Sun Sept 28) so that we can 1) ride/ climb longer than on a Monday evening and 2) enjoy socializing after the ride. No plans for awards this year, aside from the Tour de Dane. Just bring whatever food and beverage you would like to enjoy and a lawn chair. The venue is our barndominium in Ridgeway. Twinkle Toes has verified its structural integrity. Bring hiking shoes and enjoy exploring the cave and springs.

Ridwith GPS Link: Drafters | Dream Acres Finale Short Pour

RidewithGPS Link: Drafters | Dream Acres Finale

Draft responsibly,
BrickO

Oh what a night. Late September on a Mo-on-day. What a very special time for me. As I remember, what a night.

25 Drafters came out to play. Dan-yelley came in hot, nearly crashed the driveway. Speedy was was acting a little cray’– making crazy hand signals to warn of grasshoppers gone astray. Duracell charged up Black Hill, blowing everyone away. Skipper stretched his quad with one leg still pedaling, looking like Gumby on display. Z was so strong the medical director ordered a blood test right away. Twinkle Toes sprinted, winning the town sign but losing his chain along the way. Those are all the things that happened on Monday.

The outbound train picked up Duracell at the charging station on Pheasant Branch.

Might be one of the only rides whereby the pace was sustainable, at least for those running on geri-gas.

Approaching the widow maker, Black Hill, Keez and Hawkeye were battling the beast, when Duracell took charge. His first Drafter KOM of the season!

Home stretch on Hyslop. A rare descent for the Drafters.

The short pour Drafters were bravely holding their ground, fending off mosquitos while they waited patiently for Slim to build a fire.

Build it and they will come. Thanks Slim and Lozi for keeping us safe from those little beasts.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS: The Drafter Den in the north woods was full of activity. Momma and Pappa Monster took great care of all their cubs. Congrats to 14 full grown Drafters, 3 junior Drafters and 2 BABES (bad a** bitches exploring sh*t) who had fun getting dirty at Cheq40. The initiative was clear from the start…..

Mother Nature spared the Little Loggers race Friday night The rain hit further south in Hayward, but the dirt stayed dry in Cable. These 3 junior Drafters shredded the course. Minnow Monster and Mellow Monster were dazzling in their purple accessories. Dyson cleaned house, coming in first overall in the junior female division! Check out the monsters in the recap video.

The temperature would rise upwards of 80 on Saturday, but a fleece jacket and coffee offered welcomed warmth at dawn.

Draft responsibly. Always good to have a law firm on your team. Thanks to Janssen Law for their support.

The Full Fat lined up in Hayward, early enough to avoid the lines at the portos. Speedy and Joyce made the ultimate sacrifice, risking pole position at the Short and Fat to drop off their fellow Drafters. The reunion with Belle and Bomber was sweet. It was hard to miss Belle in her floral shorts, which were just as bright as her attitude about the day to come.

More Northern Contingent Drafters lined up at the Short and Fat.

They say up north provides excellent fishing opportunities. We reeled in FISH AND BOOTS!

A few Cheq newbies to congratulate. Hammer Time and The Colonel in their first and last Cheq40 before they say “I DO”.

Huge shout out to Vilks, who borrowed a MTB just to spend the day in the north woods. Skipper, be sure to check for damages. See Janssen Law to make a claim.

Not his first Chequamegon MTB Festival, but his first Full Fat, congrats to Z. He overcame more than 41 miles and 3500 feet to finish this race.

Thanks to the BABES for sticking around to cheer on the Drafters!

The post-race celebration is what keeps the Drafters coming back. It sure isn’t Fire Tower!

Momma and Pappa Monster make this feast look easy. But it took work..

Draft for Monday, Sept 22 will be a short one, for all. Safety first- daylight is fading fast. Departure time 4:45 for all Drafters. Two routes: short pour 21 miles and full strength 25 miles.

RidewithGPS Drafters | Riley-less Tavern

RidewithGPS Drafters | Riley Tavern

The Drafter Finale will take place on Sunday, Sept 28 at 10AM. Rain date Oct 12. Departure time is 10AM for the full strength 45 mile course, and 10:30 for the short pour 31 mile course. Both will start and finish in Ridgeway, just west of Blue Mound. Awards for the Tour de Dane will be presented at that time.

There may or may not be more fall Drafts on Monday evenings following the Finale. Stay tuned.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

What’s in a name? Regardless of the name, the inherent beauty of these two rides is essentially the same. The reality of where to turn, however, is very different. Averting potential disaster posed by BrickO’s inadvertent dyssynchronous posting of two routes- Crossroads on the blog and Creekside on GroupMe was beautifully navigated by 17 Drafters headed out KP.

Speedy averted the crisis altogether by drafting responsibly, alone.

The unforeseen bonus of conflicting routes is that the group was forced to stay together, allowing the team photographer, Skipper, so capture the essence of this breathtaking route.

Keeping with the Shakespeare quote, Forshaug by any other name is F’ Shaug and Forsh*t. With 3 kickers, it kicks your a**.

“A good heart is the sun and the moon; or, rather, the sun and not the moon, for it shines bright and never changes.” William Shakespeare, J. M. Jephson (1866). “The Works of William Shakespeare”, p.466

A huge shout out to Abby at Crossroads Coffeehouse and Creekside Scoop. Ice cream and beer by any other name is simply delicious. The Drafters enjoyed pizza on the patio, along with said ice cream and beer. We are so grateful for their generous hospitality, and look forward to returning next season.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Our Junior team has been doing the work.

Dirty Drafter Minnow Monster shows us how to shred. This video didn’t post in an earlier attempt. Trying it again in two formats, hoping at least one gets traction.

Congrats to IronDrafters, Tree of Rown and Squeak. Both brilliantly coached by Midas, these women rocked Ironman this weekend.

Many Drafter Century riders to celebrate. Shaq, Knievel and Cujo drafted responsibly on the Wright Stuff. Cujo and Pit Stop knocked down the Door County Century while Knievel did the same in Cleveland.

On tap for next week, Monday Sept 15. As the days grow shorter, so will the rides. 4:45 departure time from Middleton Hills. Full strength 27 .6 miles, short pour 21. 6 miles

RidewithGPS link: Northbound Short Pour

RidewithGPS link| Drafters Black Widow

Weather permitting, there will be a draft on Monday Sept 22 and then the FINAL DRAFT on Sunday Sept 28th. Rain date Oct 12. The final draft will take place from Ridgeway, just west of Blue Mound. When in doubt, CLIMB.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

From 90 degrees and humid to arm warmers. August is full of surprises. 19 Drafters made their wardrobe selections and headed north towards Crystal Lake. Welcome back, Octane! He broke is wing 6 weeks ago. It is good to have him back in flight.

Gopher saw his shadow and decided to go back home. Vilks had some subtle thoughts to point out.

The northerly winds blew Skipper into prime photography position as the flock flew out Pheasant Branch Rd.

As expected, the climb up Woodland broke up the band. Vilks, Rimshot and the Iowegian Aviators, Gopher and Hawkeye, did the lion’s share of the work for the male division. Hammer Time was tasked with keeping BrickO in tow. Skipper hung in there, dutifully capturing the carnage.

The white caps (more like green caps) on Crystal Lake confirmed the ferociousness of the northerly wind.

Birds take flight: Goose and Hawkeye with a great blue heron off to the right (not pictured) in echelon formation, withHammer Time and Rimshot in flight formation. Vilks migrated to the back to capture the migratory pattern.

The flock turned onto Mussen Rd and finally got a tail wind to ruffle their feathers.

One particular bird really stood out. A rare bread, this Parfait is to be celebrated.

Cujo and Skipper discussed a “hybird” (hybrid bird) with Skipper’s calves and Cujo’s quads. That might put Goose off the podium for most exquisite bird.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS:

Congrats to Keez on finishing Gravel Worlds, her first gravel race with the Pros!

Keez wasn’t the only one to hike a bike over the weekend. Shaq conquered her longest gravel race yet at CoonFork40, opting to walk the sandy sections. What better time to eat a waffle with sand between your toes? Smart fueling strategy. Congrats to Spigot and JRad for also completing the CoonFork40.

To the north, more dirty drafter action. Congrats to Momma Monster on the Pre-Fat!

Sweeps understand the importance of having her Junior Drafter get an early start to follow in the pedal strokes of these fierce women.

The highlight reel from the previous week was missed due to a rainout. Here’s a recap:

Spigot let it flow at Race the Lake.

Air Bourne lived up to his name.

Almost as exciting as clearing that gap is the arrival of his Drafter jersey!

Tour de Dane Femmes Standings:

What a week in women’s racing! With only 5 days left in the tour, there are still points to be won. Cujo once again racked up the highest grand total of 243 miles, with Keez enduring the longest single day on a bike with 151. BrickO achieved the greatest elevation challenge, living up to the motto, “when in doubt, climb”. But what about POINTS??

Hammer Time is in the polka dot jersey, with epic Alp d’ Blue and horribly hilly hundreds stages.

Speedy held the TT record up Stagecoach early in the week, thanks to a jolt of caffeine, but Cujo stole green later that day. But showing her spirit wasn’t broken, Speedy and her Junior Drafter crushed Stage 6 and two ice cream cones.

Cujo has been frothing at the mouth to earn the yellow jersey. As this point, it will be hard to accumulate more miles without a motor.

Shaq continues to look pretty in pink, although dutifully wearing green.

Strong work, Femmes. Let’s wrap it up! ALL 8 stages need to be completed in order to be in the running for a points jersey. Should one person hold more than one jersey, the Femme next in line shall be crowned. Be sure to turn in your data sheets by Sept 1. GO GET IT!!!

IMPORTANT UPDATES

** NO DRAFT NEXT MONDAY DUE TO LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

** FINAL DRAFT & PARTY SUNDAY SEPT 28 IN RIDGEWAY. Please note, pending weather that weekend, back up date Sunday October 12.

**NEXT DRAFT SEPT 8th LEAVES FROM CROSSROADS COFFEEHOUSE at 4:45. Please text pizza orders by NOON on Monday. Cheese, pepperoni, delux or veggie.

Full strength 34 mile and short pour 24 mile options.

RidewithGPS Drafters| Crossroads Coffeehouse Short Pour

RidewithGPS Drafters | Crossroads Coffeehouse

Draft responsibly,

BrickO