18 Drafters all in a row. Point them to Missouri Tavern, and away they all go. Welcome back Griz and Maverick! Since her debut appearance back in June of 2025, Maverick has been MIA. Maybe not missing, but definitely in action.
Skipper, Z, Squeak, Keez, Car Wash, Sparky, Loose Screw, Booker J, Griz, Rimshot, Queenie, Sweeps, Twinkle Toes, Maverick and Spigot
Missing from the line up is Coach Arms, who was eager to Draft with her new demo bike. Coach Arms was shocked to learn bikes can roll down hill without pedal assist. Alas, she was T-boned en route. No bodies or bikes were damaged, but her car required towing. Since hockey season is underway, this might be the closest thing to an action shot off the ice.
Coach Arms “This bike rolls down hill without pedaling!”
Duracell and Speedy missed the photo, but didn’t miss the roll out. The machine of green rode in tight formation north towards Dane. Rimshot tossed out the idea of stopping at The Ranch Saloon, but with Vilks missing from the line up (excused absence, celebrating 30 years with Chief), there was nobody to reinforce bad choices. The group forged ahead to Missouri Tavern.
Rimshot, Spigot, Sparky, Keez, Bricko, Z (photo credit Skipper)
One small rest stop before Missouri Tavern came at the intersection of 113. A hay truck had a line of cars backed up for a country mile. For once, cars weren’t angry at us. How nice.
Forget the stork. Goose made a special delivery. Welcome to our newest Junior Drafter! Congrats Goose and Maverick.
Goose drops by the Missouri Tavern for us to meet a special someone.
Keez and Twinkle Toes battled it out for the neighborhood KOK/QOM. Twinkle Toes earned bragging rights this week, but did confess that he sand bagged the entire ride in order to win the title.
Every one is a winner when Spigot spends time baking. Snickerdoodle cookies for all. And for our GF Drafters, Spigot went the extra mile and brought treats from Bloom. What a sweet guy.
NO RIDE NEXT MONDAY (LABOR DAY).
On special request from Spigot, the Draft on Monday Sept 14th will include Barlow. Still think he’s sweet? Departure will be from the foot bridge onto Bourbon Street (the one we crossed leaving Crossroads) at 4:45. Recommend parking near Remington’s Tavern at 1821 Main St Cross Plains. Stay after for pizza and beer! This will be a hilly ride so buckle up- full strength 25.8 miles, short pour 21 miles.
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
Rimshot, Booker J, Twinkle Toes, Keez, Vilks, Lost Boy, Car Wash, Z, Loose Screw, Coach Arms, Presley, Shaq, Speedy, Cujo, Gopher, Spigot (Duracell on route)
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.
Outbound train: Spigot, Keez, CarWash, Vilks
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.
Keez and BrickO behind the hay wagonThe photographer himself caught on film. Credit: Vilks
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.
Fuel of Champions
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).
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.
Keez, Spigot, Loose Screw, Hawkeye, Car Wash, Rimshot, BrickO, Speedy, Vilks, Queenie, Dan-yelly, Twinkle Toes, Z
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.
Spigot to the rescue so Hawkeye could take flight
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.
Dan-yelly helps trouble shoot Z’s mechanical
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.
Hawkeye at RTL
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!
Keez goes for colorful
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
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.
Hawkeye joins the flat tire club
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.
BrickO, Vilks, Presley, Hit-the-Wall, Coach Arms, Pit Stop, Rimshot, Keez, Spigot, Cujo & Octane (Z and Knievel outside)
Watson and Shaq decided to drink from a different tap.
Watson and Shaq toast to clean living
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!
Vilks, Keez, Cujo & Spigot dig in
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!
Momma Monster, E$ and Cookie Monster take the cakeEach skeleton came ready to work with whisk, knife and rolling pin in hard!
Vilks and Keez were a distant second place, but sure did Tri-Hard.
Vilks and Keez in semi-transparent tri suits
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.
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.
Skipper, Lost Boy, Booker J, McGritty, Z, Knievel, Car Wash, Queenie, Mario, Coach Arms, Sweeps (Sparky TBA)
Short in numbers, but not poor, these three set out to avoid the potential detour on the JJ bridge.
Speedy, Watson and Pepe
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.
Tank & Herbie dirty drafting
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.
Children of the Corn
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.
Holy Water aid station
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.
Skipper doesn’t let Sparky out of the photo line up
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.
Happy Birthday, Coach Arms!Are you my Mother?Sweeps, Z, Speedy, Coach Arms, Pepe, Spigot, Keez, McGritty, Duracell, Mario, Queenie, Lost Boy, Tank, Herbie, Watson, Vilks & Skipper
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.
These last two weeks have left the cycling community grieving. The loss of a veteran fellow cyclist on the poorly maintained Pheasant Branch Road is tragic. Personally, revisiting the carnage on PBR from March of 2026 whereby Z, Hawkeye and Twinkle Toes were injured has left me angry and, admittedly, not at my best.
The purpose of this blog is to convey, to the best of my knowledge, a summary of what I know now, and what I didn’t know then. It is my way of righting any wrong information that was unintentionally conveyed in the previous blog.
Pheasant Branch Road north of Whittlesey Road is maintained by the Town of Springfield. The land north of there, including Redtail Ridge subdivision, has been annexed by the City of Middleton. This makes things complicated, as we have a road leading to part of the city not maintained by the city, as I understand it.
Since the accident on July 19, 2026, the City of Middleton has fixed the pothole. This is a direct quote from Council Member Mark Opitz, Alder for District 6:
“Given the circumstances and the concerns raised, City staff have been in contact with the Town of Springfield. As a neighboring community, we have offered to assist the Town this week with making a repair at the location in question. This is a specific, cooperative effort in response to the immediate situation and should not be interpreted as the City assuming responsibility for the maintenance or evaluation of roadways outside our jurisdiction.”
Council member Opitz contacted me by phone to say that he is in favor of improving Pheasant Branch Road. Read more here. Pedestrian, Bike, Transit Committee VP Kierstin Kloeckner also contacted me by phone. She indicated that in order for PBR to be improved, it needs to be put on the 5 year plan. She encouraged me, and those who are in favor of PBR improvement, to share our opinion with Hans Hilbert, President of the Friends of Pheasant Branch. It was her understanding that Mr. Hilbert and the Board were not in favor of improving PBR.
I have communicated with Hans via two emails. Hans and the Board are in favor of NOT paving the Pheasant Branch Conservancy, north of Century Ave. They are NOT opposed to improvements on PBR. Here is a direct quote from my email with Hans, “The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy do not have a formal position on favoring High Road over Pheasant Branch Road, only that we do not support paving in the Conservancy north of Century Ave.We are not opposed to the widening or reconfiguration, but would certainly need to review and understand what that means in terms of Conservancy impacts and how they could be mitigated. We want these decisions to be driven by data and for the ecological impact to be part of the discussion from the beginning.”
I felt obligated to set that record straight in the blog.
I am stepping away from posting more PBR related information on the blog. I’m not an attorney, civil engineer, or part of the City Council. I feel a civic duty to keep the drafters and the cycling community at large as safe as possible, and therefore have posted all that I know know, and thought that I knew then. There is too much information for me understand, assimilate and convey accurately, effectively, and without emotion, due to what we have lost as a cycling community.
So, I’m getting back to riding bikes, sometimes stopping at Missouri Tavern for a PBR, and always drafting responsibly. I hope to see you all Monday in Cross Plains at Crossroads. And good luck to all riding the Dairyland Dare tomorrow!
It was by far the hottest Draft in history (unverified, but agreed upon by the sweet and sweaty 16 Drafters present). If Garmin is accurate, the peak temperature hit 101. If the CORE body temperature sensor is accurate, here’s what was cooking in one Drafter’s oven:
Belle and Bomber thought it was a bit cool up north, so traveled south to enjoy the heat.
Belle, Knievel, Duracell, Z and Speedy
The short pour was concerned Pit Stop had gotten lost. 5PM rolled around and she wasn’t on the tarmac or in the bathroom. She was seeking refuge in her car with the AC on, not wanting to spend one extra minute in the sweltering temps.
Nemo, Shaq, Sweeps, Pit Stop & Loose Screw
Grandma Pit Stop wanted to look her Sunday best as her favorite Junior Drafter was cheering her on. Another Junior Drafter in the making.
No action shot from Monday, but this will do.
The heat really got to Shaq. Looking at BrickO’s socks, clearly meant to match the beer theme of her jersey, Shaq remarked, “I love those! Are they artichokes”? Hops and artichokes are easily confused, especially when the temperature inside your helmet is boiling.
New team socks: artichoke hearts
The heat blew in a newbie, and it was decided that Mercury Rising would be an appropriate handle given the record setting temps. Proving to have brains and brawn, the newbie turned off the Latham Loop, avoiding several hundred feet of climbing. Mercury Turning? Perhaps Sparky if 5 syllables doesn’t roll easily off the tongue.
A wave of panic spread over the Drafters when local patron Carl took Vilks under is massive arm and yelled a few decibels above normal volume, “Do you know what I think of you cyclists? I think you’re F’in awesome. No way would I be out there in this heat. Especially dressed like this (pointing to Vilks’ Vilas Zoo guns jersey)!”
To the surprise of no one, Vilks bough a round of shots for his new friends Carl, Matt and Vinny. No brown for Vinny, the bar tender warned as she poured him a tequila, “He will eat you.” Understood.
No brown for Vinny
Not a fan of shots or a cold draft? How about something on the rocks? 100 pounds of ice (possible exaggeration, but at least 50) brought in by Speedy filled two kiddie pools.
Pit Stop on the rocks
Bomber chose a more direct approach. This drink went straight to his head.
Bomber hoses down
Belle gasped, “My butt was literally on fire”. Melons are nearly as good as a fire extinguisher, when applied appropriately.
Z, Vilks, Speedy and Belle, “Melons, anyone?”
Octane made a prototype for future hot rides to ensure the comfort and safety of others. Or riding behind him in any condition.
Coming soon in Drafter green
WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS:
Congrats to Skipper and Octane on their 12h relay at Wausau24, and to BrickO on her first place finish in the old but nice division on the 6h solo.
BrickO, Skipper & Octane before
Skipper pulled up on his MTB, beer in hand, blood pouring from his shin. The medic declared stitches were required. BrickO went to fetch the car. Just past the portos, waiting in the line for the shower, were the BABES (Bad Ass Bitches Exploring Shit), a group of amazing women BrickO met at Wausau24 two years earlier. BABE 1: “Whatcha doing?” BRICKO: “Ah, ya know, headed to the ER.” BABE 2: “I’m a surgeon. I’ve got all we need to do that here.” SKIPPER: “I’m gonna grab a shower and a beer, then I’m all yours.” Huge shout out to the BABES.
BABES go to work on Skipper
BrickO left a little something on the course, too. Not flesh, but metal. Check your equipment. Yes, Mom.
Anything missing?
Congrats to KickA**KK on her book reading and signing at Cap Brew last Thur. Huge thanks to Spigot and non-Drafter Jen for organizing the venue and helping spread the word to LBS, and to Keez, Z, Presley, Queenie, Herbie and Tank (and anyone I missed) for showing up to help sales. KK told a tale (true) of the women riding tricycles in the Little 500 for decades, as they were not yet allowed to compete in the main bicycle race. Women finally got their own official collegiate bicycle race in 1988, and KK was on the team that won!
Women in the audience from Cap Brew Ride likely didn’t know they were in the presence of a legend
PHEASANT BRANCH ROAD UPDATE: thanks to everyone who submitted letters to Alderman Mark Opitz district6@cityofmiddleton.us and Public Works Director Benjamin John bjohn@cityofmiddleton.us. Mark attempted to create one email to reach all of the council members, but that hasn’t happened. Here is a link to a list of all, including the mayor, if you would be willing to extend your efforts.
The pothole that claimed Randy’s life has been repaired by the City. The Town of Springfield and the City of Middleton are working on resolution for the remaining treacherous potholes that remain a continued threat.
There is discussion that the Friends Board is encouraging members to oppose the improvement of PBR, instead promoting passage along the High Road corridor. If this is indeed true, I encourage you to voice your opinion. I would ask that you please send an email to Friends of Pheasant Branch President, Hans Hilbert president@pheasantbranch.org and request that your concerns be shared with all of the Board.
The City is hosting two upcoming open houses to share details on the Active Transportation Plan and collect public feedback. These events will be held at:
Northside Elementary School, Wednesday Aug 5th from 6-7PM
Parisi Park, Monday August 10 from 6-7PM
More information, including the draft plan can be viewed on the City Website.
BACK TO DRAFTING:
As we roll into August, we roll back to Crossroads for the third and last ride this summer out of Cross Plains. The bridge on KP is open (or close enough). Short pour is 23 miles at 5PM. Full strength 26.5 miles, departing at 4:45 and 5PM.
This is the second difficult blog I’ve posted in our 14 years of Drafting, the first being last March when the pot holes on Pheasant Branch Road caused a crash that injured 3 of our own. The sound of silence rung out Sat as the news of a bright light in the Stonefield Wheelmen’s tribe went out after hitting a poorly maintained stretch (which includes nearly every stretch) of Pheasant Branch Road. On behalf of our Drafter tribe, our hearts go out to the family and our cycling community.
We cannot reverse the fatality. We can be active in promoting change to prevent further loss.
There is a City Council meeting tonight, Tue July 21 at 7PM at City Hall (or via Zoom). There will be an opportunity at the beginning of the meeting for citizens to voice their concerns. Mark Opitz, representing District 6, is in full support of elevating Pheasant Branch Road (PBR) and has been championing this effort since his election in April. Please see his webpage for updates: Mark Opitz Pheasant Branch Road Safety.
Mark has shared some insights into the complicated nature of Pheasant Branch Road. Beyond the intersection at Whittlesey Road, continuing north past K, PBR is not maintained by the City of Middleton but by the Town of Springfield. The tricky part is that the land north of the city limits along PBR, including the Redtail subdivision, has been annexed by the City of Middleton. So, it appears we have a road servicing Middleton residents that is not serviced by Middleton. The Town of Springfield has been made aware, again, of the conditions causing the crash (I called them last year after Z’s accident as well). The City of Middleton, as a good-neighbor response, offered to assist the town in repairing the stretch of road where the accident took place.
Apparently, a similar conundrum occurred to the west when Pheasant Crossing subdivision was erected off of High Road (runs parallel to PBR). The current Mayor, Lisa Janairo, was at that time the District 6 representative (position now held by Mark Opitz) and pushed the City very hard to repair High Road, citing that it posed dangers to the residents occupying land annexed by the City.
I am sharing these facts as I understand them following a conversation with Mark Opitz last evening, after the Draft. Mark is encouraging our cycling community to voice our concerns. He wants to be sure they are being heard by the people who can make change. The IT department is currently constructing a single email address that will include all city council members and they mayor. I will share that as soon as I have it.
The rest of the blog seems insignificant, and almost unholy to share the joys of riding in the face of this tragedy. And yet, the greatest tribute we can pay to those we’ve lost is to live fully. So here we go….
17 Drafters checked the AQI and radar and gave two thumbs up to drafting responsibly. The forecast promised the rain would stay west, a small cell dissipating rapidly towards us with nothing more sinister than a few drops. Octane was excited by the rain, as he wouldn’t be relegated to the end of the paceline. Twinkle Toes did the rain dance (fully outfitted in cycling shoes and helmet, a big step from his wardrobe last week) by leaving the roof for his Bronco at home. Vilks tapped into his inner-MacGyver and jury-rigged a cover using a tarp and two bungee cords. The rain abided.
Twinkle Toes invited the rain by leaving his roof at home. Vilks paid homage to the weather gods. We stayed dry. Knievel, Queenie, Duracell, Z and TToes
Coach Arms looks suspiciously tan for being a hockey coach. Apparently, the wildfires are driving young hockey stars from Canada to beaches in the south?
Short Pour: Coach Arms, Shaq, and Speedy
Octane’s excitement over the rain drops quickly evaporated as his derailleur malfunctioned. Frustrated but not deterred, Octane turned on the gas and rode a modified (less hilly) route. His motivation to draft may have been fueled by the pan of brownies he baked earlier in the day. Calories count for more when shared.
Keez, Herbie, Hawkeye, Rimshot, Vilks, Octane, Tank & KickA*KK
Coach Digz made a guest appearance, leaving his bike behind but being on time for brownies. A reminder that he is offering a free virtual clinic on Tuesday July 28 at noon. Email him for details at corey@digmanfitness.com
Goose has been ducking the Draft. Hawkeye might know where he has been hiding…. CONGRATS to Goose and Mavrick on their recent addition!
WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS:
Congrats to Grit on conquering the 5-day Oregon Gravel Grinder! A woman of few words, this is what she had to say, “MF of an event. Never again.” We look forward to seeing so many more never again events from Grit!
Grit in green!
Cookie Monster has been running a very successful Junior Drafter camp in the north.
Cookie Monster and Mellow Monster
COMING SOON
Did you miss the Horribly Hilly Hundreds? Not to worry. The Dairyland Dare is nearly has horrible/fun. There is still time to sign up for the Aug 1 event. Cujo is the poster child!
DON’T MISS:
KickA**KK at Cap Brew this Thur, July 23 at 7PM. She will be riding to the event with a group from Machinery Row. All are welcome to join.
ON TAP FOR NEXT WEEK:
Full strength 31 miles Latham Loop. B team departure 4:45, A team 5PM.
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.
Knievel, Queenie, Mario, Z & Speedy
Her tune quickly changed as she realized her pedals and cleats were not going to make music. Box, box!
Quick end to Speedy’s start
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.
Coach Arms gets a bit of lube before the ride
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.
McGritty, Presley, Speedy, Shaq, Coach Arms and PepeFeet first! Presley, Coach Arms, McGritty and Pepe
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.
Case number 10012
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.
Spigot, Hawkeye, KK, Keez, Herbie, Tank and Vilks
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.
Spigot and Shaq
The pools grow more green as Tank, Spigot, Herbie and BrickO share a toast separately in “his and her” pools.
Tank, Spigot, Herbie and BrickO
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.
Motley Crue : Spigot, Tank and Herbie
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!
Top left in Drafter attire, Momma Monster!
Congrats to Squeak on her 3rd place finish at the Door County Triathlon!
Squeaked onto the podium!
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.
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.
Short Pour: Speedy, Octane, Presley, Midas & Rimshot
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.
B Team: Knievel, Cujo, Queenie & Car Wash
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.
Queenie and Car Wash all brawn as they climbed their brains out twice on BraunA Team: BrickO, KK, Keez & Spigot
Pro riders KK and Keez plan their strategy to bypass Braun, proving it takes brains to win a stage.
KK and Keez talk strategy
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.
Spigot assists KK while holding BrickO’s bike after escorting Keez to safety.
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.
KK, Speedy, Midas, Presley, Queenie, Car Wash, Cujo, and Spigot share compote
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.
Slim, Keez, BrickO and KK cheer on USA
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.
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.
brickosdrafters 
You must be logged in to post a comment.