Due to copious amounts of loose gravel on many of the roads on the Pleasantly Getting Old route scheduled for Monday, we will reroute to Dunlap Hollow. Due to drizzle, I have not done recon so let me know if you have intel about impassable roads on this route. Weather for Monday looks questionable. Cancellations will be announced on GroupMe.
NO RIDE JULY 5. Enjoy your independence.
Draft responsibly,
BrickO
Sweet 16. That was the number of Drafters who attacked Spring Valley.
Surly bolted to the front on Schneider Road, holding a blistering pace to see if BrickO’s slow legs could be mirrored by her tongue. No such luck. With temperatures below 70 degrees, the only hot air was that coming out of her mouth, regaling in stories of the Race Across the West.
Footer looked lightening fast on her new Cervelo. Looks can be deceiving. “I’m still last. But my friends waited for me.” Tis’ the Drafter code.
There was a Drone Master sighting! A flash of green with a full beard climbed in the other lane as the Drafters sped down Enchanted Valley on the return route. BrickO: You look good in that new kit. Drone Master: Yeah, I do. He’s a humble one.
Granny, new to the Draft last week and fairly new to cycling, was issued a Drafter handle based on her tendency to stay in the small chainring. Pretty sure that with a little coaching and a bike less than 40 pounds, her Drafter handle will soon morph into Grannyzilla.
Granny isn’t the only one in Beast mode. Belle has been taking charge on the criterium front. Check her out this Wed, Sat and Sunday at Tour of America’s Dairyland (ToAD)!
And check out the sweet cake she brought for the Sweet 16 to enjoy, paying special attention to the green filling and sprinkles. Rounding out our diet with a fresh batch of cookies from Cookie Monster, the Drafters were not in caloric deficit by night’s end.
The other 3 members of Spoke’N Four were Drafting elsewhere, Romeo and Skipper in Colorado. I’m sure BrickO will save her teammates a slice of cake….
In celebration of Cannibal’s BD tomorrow and Flash’s on Monday, we will ride Pleasant Getting Old. This is a longish ride including scenic Pleasant Valley and Old Indian. The short pour option cuts off the western most lollipop. If possible, let’s bring the two groups a little closer together and start at 4:45 and 5PM.
Draft responsibly,
BrickO
19 Drafters set out to conquer Back in Black. Squirrel was back for round two, and brought his wife, Granny. She isn’t old, but refuses to shift into the big chain ring. Welcome!
Octane had a full tank of gas, fully recovered from his surgery and able to lift heavy trees with both hands. We are happy to have him back in the saddle.
Our Drafter family is really growing. Check out these two in the Diapers and Pull Ups Drafter team (green helmets required). And a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SMILEY RILEY, who moved up to the 3 year old age group this week.
A few years beyond 3…. HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week to Cannibal (Wednesday) and Flash (next Monday).
Looking for a challenge this week? Sign up to do the Virtual Ride for Mental Health, which includes a Hincapie jersey. If there is interest, we can organize a group ride Thur June 24.
Keep an eye out for your HINCAPIE ORDERS, which are scheduled to be sent FedEx on June 27. If you won’t be home to sign for the package, please be sure to modify your delivery.
A huge thanks to all of the Drafters for the support extended during our Race Across the West. The Spoke’N Four (down to 3 for a spell) needed every good vibe sent during our 930 mile adventure from Oceanside to Durango. The highs reached 125, with lows never below 90. It was brutal, and by far the most exhilarating adventure to date. Our team included 4 racers and 6 crew. The finish would not have been possible with any other combination of people. It was magical. Many of you have generously offered to host a celebration, which is appreciated and will happen. There is rumor of cake this week. We will have another celebration when the Spoke’N Four are in full FOURCE. Skipper and Romeo are still in CO vacationing. Here are a few photos to share, but they don’t do it justice.
Start in Oceanside, Tue June 15 at 12:18PM. Finish in Durango, 11:09PM. Skipper, Vilks, BrickO and Romeo. Crew: Joey, Sully, Keez, Chief, Kipp and JackO. Joey is a recent (as of Friday just before he flew to CA) ISU graduate in Dietetics, starting graduate school in Sports Nutrition. He kept us well fueled, and also served as bike mechanic and photographer (credited with most of the photos below). He had Skipper’s nutrition dialed in with an unorthodox cocktail of beef jerky & peanut butter M&Ms. Vilks developed a crush on Joey early in the race and we had to keep them separated. Sully provided excellent medical care, navigation and kept every one awake at night. She was also quite proficient at assembling the pop up tent for emergency bathroom needs. My favorite quote from Sully, “Fanny pack on. Shit just got real.” Keez was my rock. Finishing the race was spectacular, but pails in comparison to sharing the experience with her, and watching her take command of food prep (before and during the race), navigation and communicating with “Van 2” during bike swaps. Chief gets more credit than I can give on a blog. The estimate for her hours of prep would be conservative at 500. She slept less than anyone over 60 hours. We calculated maybe 60 min, total. When I had a mechanical and emotional break down a day before the race, Chief asked what image I used to calm my mind. I told her that I recall the memories of my Grandma Jean bringing me raspberries from the garden. Later that day, I had a pail of raspberries waiting for me. Vilk’s cousin, Kipp, was a late addition. Admitting to not reading a single page of the 300 plus page manual, he stepped up and crushed it. The only thing we lost along the route was one of Kipp’s shoes. RIP. JackO was our California connection. A former professional bike racer, he served as mechanic, driver and unflappable force… and also drove one of the vans back to CA from CO solo. What started as 20min transitions times for bike swaps ended with 2min Formula 1 pit stops. What a team.
A huge shout out to many others who supported us along the way: Trek, Hincapie Sportswear, SweatVac, Rocky’s Custom Bikes and Colin at Cronometro who took my frantic call about my brakes not working.
Speaking of Formula 1 racing…. this former F1 engineer and Drafter from afar finished her first Ironman and Ride Across the Rockies, also in soaring temperatures. Congrats Formula 1! She will be at the Hincapie Gran Fondo in Greenville in October. There is a FREE ENTRY to the Drafter who donates the greatest $ to JRDF at the Lake Ripley Ride July 31 or raises the most money for Boys and Girls Club Ride July 17. Be sure to sign up on BrickO’s Drafters team to qualify.
It looks like spring is back with temperatures below 90. Seems like a good time to ride “Spring Valley”.
Short pour option: turn left on Pine from Spring Valley, left on KP and proceed along full strength route.
Draft responsibly,
BrickO
Full Circle. That was the theme at the Monday night Draft, which enlisted 2 Newbies, Squirrel and Thor, for a respectable line up of 22 Drafters.
Drafter beginnings weren’t intentional. In fact, it is fair to say that BrickO had the brakes on when it came to biking. Every Saturday during their weekly racquetball duel, Sully kept planting, cultivating and watering the seed. When she switched from water to beer, the seed grew and BrickO decided to give biking a roll. Complaints were loud and plentiful on their first road trip, but Sully was not deterred or discouraged in her recruitment efforts. Epic success. Quickly indoctrinated into the college of n+1, BrickO’s college commuter bike gained a sibling. A motorcycle was sold in order to buy a gently used Kestrel from Herkert (Drafter handle Thor), a fellow racquetball player and bike racer (amongst other athletic successes). The circle was complete on Monday night when both Thor enlisted in the Draft and Sully watered the seeds.
The B for Badass Team was in full strength… after a short recess to allow time for Special K to arrive. Don’t judge. The Garanimals trend set by Pipes last week seems to have taken hold. Mix and match your Drafter kits responsibly.
Cookie Monster was off to a slow start, which she attributed to 2 months of battling a bug and chasing after a very spirited and recently mobile daughter. Waiting until the busiest road to pull over and head back, she realized her rear brake had been on (with her second doctorate near complete, you’d think….). Squeak continued to experience brake issues (hence her Drafter handle), which served her better than Cookie Monster. A deer crossing the road had ample warning when Squeak hit the brakes. She is currently seeking a patent for her deer horn device.
Our two Newbies demonstrated slightly different riding styles. Why did the Squirrel cross the road? No idea. But this Squirrel is no ordinary rodent. He and Z Wrecks diverted from the main course to climb Cleveland Rd, and with a powerful combination of rodent and dinosaur teamwork, caught back up to the the rest of the Badasses.
Why did Thor put the hammer down? To bring the thunder. Holy crap. Cleveland Road tested mortal strength, but clearly Norse Gods are immune. The lead group could hear the thunder as Thor dropped the hammer and sped away, leaving us to ponder our mortal dust. Gopher and LuLu somehow managed to avoid Cleveland Hill until now, as noted in the Strava title “What??? A New Hill??!!”
Turns out that hammers and gavels were issued along with diplomas in the 80s at Middleton High School.
Thor may have dropped the hammer on Cleveland Road, but Badger with her short legs designed for digging and fearless attitude charged the hill. But first… she circled the ground contemplating the challenge. Badgers are known for attacking competitors with far greater size and strength, and so she went for it (attacking the hill from a dead stand still), taking Columbus and Daisy with her!
Two Drafters weren’t in the starting line up, but get credit for riding the course. Tick Tock noted for the record that he opted out of climbing Cleveland Rd & Deer Run Rd not because he doesn’t like a challenge, but because it is a dead end. If not diplomatic, forever pragmatic, “I’m not climbing a f’in hill to nowhere.”
Skipper road the route backwards due to a late start (guess the Drafters only wait for Special K), but came through with a spectacular Wisco photo.
Backyard drafting was at its finest, featuring drinking beer grasped between two toes. Dr. Wampus wasn’t there to assess the foot and ankle mechanics required for such a feat, but we hope she makes a debut soon.
Ninja couldn’t join the Draft, but sent dirty bike porn from an undisclosed location.
The route for Monday, June 14 will include the infamous Black Hill, hence the route name Back In Black. But you should Draft in green. Last call for Hincapie Drafter gear, including “guns” jerseys. Store closes June 12. Smoke em’ if ya got em’. https://order.hincapiecustom.com/BRICKOS2021
RidewithGPS link Back in Black
Reminder: Drafter Yoga with Pipes begins Tuesday, June 29, 7AM at Indoorance. Garanimals encouraged but not required. Let the record reflect that some participants may barter with Pipes, Special K is paying the full $100 for 12 sessions.
Draft responsibly,
BrickO
A quick note on the route for Monday, Formidable Festge. There is an optional “thumb” (#9 in the photo below) in the route, a right turn off Timber lane onto Cleveland Road and up Deer Run Road, and then a U-turn back to the beginning (Timber becomes Old Sauk Pass). This little thumb will add 2 considerable climbs.
CAUTION: As of yesterday, the stretch of KP headed east along the new Scenic Valley development had been repaved. The stretch heading west (our direction) was down to one lane, with enough room for a car or a bike but not both. If anyone happens to ride along KP this weekend and finds it unfit for Drafting, please give a shout out in GroupMe and I will post a new route.
Baby, it’s hot. Hincapie will be adding sleeveless Drafter jerseys to the store, hopefully Monday. The store is already open for reorders until June 13, so feel free to order a “cool” jersey.
Hincapie Link to 2021 Cool Jersey
The Dirty Draft had the Usual Suspects. BrickO, Columbus, Footer, Stout, LuLu, and the Squeaky 5 had some fun at Blackhawk, and acted as first responders to a crash. Draft responsibly. Speedy and her spirited kiddos were there shredding, and Speedy even got Coach Arms off the ice and onto the dirt!
This photo of the original Draft in 2013 resurfaced. A humble beginning and a solid foundation from which to build a family of 129 Drafters.
The strength of a multi-generation Drafter family is summed up in these photos, celebrating Footer’s new kitchen (a 6 month endeavor) and Baby Monster’s first Draft.
Tobacco City Boy, one of our founding fathers in the picture above, has 3 kiddos under 5, which prevents him from Drafting on Monday nights. But he still proudly wears the ORIGINAL Drafter jersey and rides roads near and dear to my heart.
It looks like the Drafters are going to be well represented at the Hincapie Gran Fondo in Greenville on Oct 23. Register with code SBRICKSON for 20% off and get this cool jersey:
Lot’s of road rides on the calendar- but has anybody heard of the Tour de Chequamegon?
Check it out: http://www.ridefyxation.com/the-ride
Draft responsibly,
BrickO
A note from our fearless Pipes:
Hi Fellow Drafters,Many of you hopefully know that we are excited to be able to offer yoga once again – this time at Indoorance – a country club for endurance athletes. If you were with us before (at the VFW), the class format will be similar with a very simple (not necessarily easy) practice to help open what is closed and stretch what is tight. If you have not practiced yoga in a while, no worries. We will start again with the basics.
With the mask mandate expiring soon, we will await further instruction from Indoorance on their preferences regarding a mask policy. Most likely, masks will be optional for practice – not required.
Who: Drafters and any Drafter FriendsWhat: It will be a fundamental yoga class geared toward recovery, flexibility, and mobility for cyclists – and anyone else that finds themselves primarily in the sagittal plane When: Tuesday mornings 7am-7:50am The first package will be 8 weeks long, beginning June 29-August 17
Where: Indoorance Athletic Club located at 4253 West Beltline Hwy in Madison on the opposite side of the beltline from Badger Tavern Why: Because like brussel sprouts, it’s good for you.
There are showers!! And there’s WiFi. AND THERE’S COFFEE!
Cost: You can purchase all 8 weeks in advance for $100 (That’s $12.50 per session)If, since it’s summer, you don’t think you can make 8, but you think you can make 5, you can purchase a 5 class pass for $75 (That’s $15/class); (This can be shared with friends, fellow Drafters or family)You can also drop in for $18/classCash, Venmo (@Karen-Rigsby-2) or checks are accepted Thank you.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. My cell is 608.239.5369. You can also reply to this email with any clarifying questions: karenkraftrigsby@gmail.com
I am excited at the possibility of seeing you all on your mat. Helmets are optional.
Grateful for this opportunity and for Indoorance’s vision,
Karen aka Pipes aka Bambi aka Unicycle aka Krafty
And a quick update on Hincapie 2021 Drafter gear: the store has reopened until June 12. This is the LAST opportunity to order gear for the season. If you have gear that doesn’t fit, please let me know so that I can help find a suitable Drafter to love it. A kit is only happy when worn and worn out.
Here is the link: https://order.hincapiecustom.com/BRICKOS2021
Draft responsibly,
BrickO
We experienced record high Drafter Lodi Canning Co. attendance! The order included three “shots”, one short pour, and the rest full strength drafts for a total of 27, including one newbie, Vi-King!! Donning a STOTON Cycling jersey, we welcome this Vi-King from the Norwegian Ghetto (said with love, as one of them).
Retro is definitely in!
Rimshot picks up a metal shard in the driveway, threatening to flat before take up. Perhaps it was the GroupMe challenge Cannibal posted hours before about Rimshot bringing us home in the headwind. 27 strong, we are (eventually) dressed and off.
It should be noted that this is the only proof, and coincidently the only instance, whereby BrickO took a pull. The Big Kids invited her to the table, and she really wanted to behave up to their standards. However, after one pull, she fell off her booster seat and had to pedal quietly for the rest of the Draft sucking on a wheel. There is rumor of QOMs being acquired, but according to Drafter Bylaw 13.13.13.ABC, no Drafter shall claim QOM or any other measure of success if not able to pull his or her own weight. Skipper, Cannibal, Blurple and Vilks… thanks for the wheels. Looks like I best put my training wheels back on.
Shortly after this photo was taken, Busch Latte dropped a chain on Meek Rd, one of the steeper climbs, and disappeared from future photos until later in the Draft.
Loose Screw’s first Draft of the season and he performs some sort of David Copperfield disappearing act. Stymied by the construction, his secret short cut was revealed.
DRAFTER LOST AND FOUND: out team Physical Therapists and Biomechanists have been contemplating the counter-forces required to keep the avid cyclist upright. With a monster posterior chain comes the counter balance requirement. Anybody drop this out of their bibs?
The Wednesday Dirty Draft was small but mighty. Great to see LuLu, Vintage, Air Bourne Company, Speedy and her off spring out getting dirty.
A shout out to a few Drafters out in the wild:
Slow Cow has petitioned for a name change from Slow Cow to Care Bear. The Executive Board will convene upon Slow Cow’s return (now at mile 300) and vote on this unusual request. Check out his hiking adventures at: Adventure Guy
You too can be a winner. Sign up as a team member of BrickO’s Drafters for the MOVEBGC July 17 or/and the Lake Ripley Ride July 31 and WIN A FREE ENTRY TO THE HINCAPIE GREENVILLE GRAN FONDO on October 23. The Drafter who raises the most money for the Boys and Girls Club or/and JRDF will receive one free entry to this amazing event. Lodging may also be included, although beds are going fast. If you choose to play but don’t win, use code SBRICKSON for 20% off.
There is a virtual Ride for Mental Health on June 23-24 (or in person in NY on June 19-20). Entry is $75 and includes a Hincapie Jersey! Super value and a super cause. Consider it. Not sure of the logistics, but entertaining a group ride on those days to help stop the stigma.
Feeling blue? Go green! Several Drafters have shown remorse for not jumping on the new kit order and would like a second chance. Stout- don’t procrastinate this time. The Hincapie Store will open after Memorial Day. This will likely be the last time to order a kit in 2021, so don’t miss out. PLEASE EMAIL ME IF INTERESTED.
Also, I HAVE NEW NEVER WORN MEN’S MEDIUM VELOCITY RACE CUT, MEN’S LARGE AXIS CLUB CUT in this 2021 design, along with a WOMEN’S MEDIUM AXIS Sprocket 2020 jersey for sale (discount if you ask nicely).
For those who ordered Drifit shirts from SweatVac… they are coming soon. Supply is low and demand is high, but they will be here before the snow flies. And I can still take orders (I think).
Lastly, DRAFTER YOGA IS BACK! Or at least, it looks promising. Indoorance is a “country club for endurance athletes” located on the W Beltline Hwy near Seminole. They have a studio that may work beautifully for Drafter yoga (not that the VFW didn’t provide a fine floor to make gains). A recent poll indicates TUESDAY 7AM to be the most popular time. Pipes will be forthcoming with details. As the survey was anonymous (screwed that up, again), please email or text her if you would like to join the fun.
MEMORIAL DAY RIDE WILL BE HOSTED BY CANNIBAL. This will be a Century Ride at 6AM leaving from Fitchburg to Ja Ja Janesville and back. Expect average speed of 20mph and 3800ish feet of climbing. Group size is 8-10 and growing. See GroupMe for details.
The following week, we will return to our normal Drafting channel at 5PM from Middleton Hills to tackle the Formidable Festge on June 7.
RidewithGPS link Formidable Festge
Draft responsibly,
BrickO
An incident has been brought to the attention of BrickO’s Drafters Editorial Staff . This retraction, correction and amendment (to cover all the bases) is to rectify erroneous reporting in the blog released earlier this morning.
Let the official record show that Hit-The-Wall did indeed complete Cannibal’s Verona Route in its entirety. Protected sources provided accurate intel, but the translation to Northern WI was muddled. To be clear, the journalist’s mind might have been muddled. Too many S’mores and dark beverages.
Booker J should also be recognized as fulfilling his Drafter duties, diligently and dutifully pulling Hit-The-Wall to the Garden Party. Well done, Men. Please accept our sincerest apologies for false accusations of drafting off course.
Draft responsibly,
BrickO
Fashion. Clearly the theme of Monday’s Draft.
Vogue and GQ are in a bidding battle for an exclusive interview with the The Drafter’s Cannibal, master of Garden Drinks and Apron Fashion calendar contender. Apron stock shot up 200% after the Monday night Draft, as men and boys all over the world stripped the shelves of aprons. The careful tailoring exposes just enough quadriceps to make one wonder, “just how big is it?” Straps are tastefully adjusted to cover the chest without impeding motion required to grasp 4 Solo cups. The apron falls away to allow arm pit aeration, a functional feature for post-draft odiferous emanations. The flip flop accents the ensamble by highlighting the bike sock tan lines.
A dozen Drafters drafted the roads around Verona, although some of them off course.
Calling all Drafter fashionistas to Lodi Canning Co on Monday May 24, departing at 5PM from Middleton Hills. New Hincapie Drafter gear is encouraged. If your kit doesn’t fit the way you’d hoped, let me know. Usually, there is some swapping that can be negotiated within our Drafter family. Speaking of new.. Footer has a new Cervelo ride! She will likely leave at 5:30 and still be first to finish.
Short Pour Option:
Looking for a Drafter Team ride? Here are two:
MOVE4BGC July 17 Registration Link
Lake Ripley Ride July 31 Registration Link
Draft responsibly,
BrickO
A season high number of Drafters showed up to face the Beast of Barlow; 23 in total including 3 Short Pour riders (well done, Badger, Columbus and Daisy).
The executive decision was made to abandon the split departure times in favor of one unified group at 5PM. And you know how that story ended….
Riddle: What is always first and last?
The First Team (formerly the B team, but who can classify these 3 beasts as B unless is stands for Badass?) objected to the executive order. Footer pleaded the case: ” If we leave at 5PM, everyone will be done drinking beer and gone by the time we are back.” Objection stands.
Let’s take a closer look at the line up.
Fortunately for Vintage, Thing 1 starts Medical School at the UW this fall and will provide at home care. For a fee. After the gravel event Saturday, she was found at Ringle reviewing her anatomy.
Tick Tock made his 2021 debut. “I picked the worst effin’ ride of the year to show up!” Don’t let the Beast get you down. Keez didn’t. Coming from the plaines of Iowa, with her 53-39 chainrings and 11-25 cassette spread, she debated avoiding the Beast and riding the short pour. Her mother didn’t exactly point out the short pour turn off, nor did she introduce the Beast.
Miles past Barlow and the climb on Mineral Point, BrickO warned her cub of the upcoming climb on Braun. “So when are we going to meet the Beast?”, the cub asked innocently. “Oh, we did that already, Keez.” So much of what we dread is in our head. As evidenced by Keez then dismounting Ruby, her 15-year-old hand me down Kestrel, to walk the crest of Braun. Brains and Brawn, you CAN have both.
Vilks would argue the Beast isn’t so much in his head: “It isn’t a Drafter ride unless I set a new FTP and throw up twice in my mouth.” Busch Latte, still left wondering what happened to the motto “we are all riding together” as he got spit out the back on Airport Road, dropped his chain on the two ghastly climbs. Romeo claimed second fastest all time male to challenge the Beast. In true Drafter spirit, he didn’t know it was a segment and soft pedaled between peaks to wait for his fellow Drafters. Such a nice boy. The Beast got its claws into Z Wrecks, causing TWO flat tires. The Beast affects us all differently. Vintage made an excellent point, “Keep your friends close and your Drafters closer. Never know when you’ll need a pull.” Or help changing a flat…
6 Drafters were well prepared for the Beast as they had faced the Bear on Saturday, a 100k gravel race in Laona, WI.
LuLu’s banana chocolate chip pancakes and an assortment of home baked cookies by Gopher ensured no one left in caloric deficit. My internal organs were sorer than my quads from the jostling around on the gravel, the endo I took on the 2 mile unmanicured section of the trail, and the copious calories I stuffed in after the race. On Sunday, the Bear participants stopped to MTB at Ringle to make sure the load of laundry was worth doing.
Columbus led us out…. on foot. That Drafter can run! Columbus discovered most of Chippewa Falls, or at least 50k of it the week prior. Finishing top 10 in her first ultra distance race, in a time of 5:09:01, despite rain and hail. Hail to Columbus.
The Draft on Monday May 17 will depart from Cannibal’s house (Verona- see GroupMe for address). There is promise of garden drinks. And if Cannibal wears his apron, be sure the Drafter Team Photographer is on site. Drone Master, check your schedule for availability.
RidewithGPS link: Cannibal Ride
Download map and cue sheet:
DIRTY DRAFT: we will convene again at Blackhawk this Wed from 5-7PM. We can discuss moving to other MTB trails. It seems like most dirty drafters are coming from Middleton and on tight schedules, so I’m inclined to keep it at BH and PV until school is out and Drafters are a bit freer to roam.
Draft responsibly,
BrickO
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