My apologies, but the Drafter ride for Memorial Day is off.  I do hope you all have taken advantage of some glorious riding conditions this holiday weekend, and drafted responsibly.

BrickO

The Enchanted Valley-Spring Valley loop was taking names on Monday night- 14 to be exact.  2000 feet of vertical climb over 38 miles claimed the glucose of many Drafters.  No worries if you felt defeated or deflated… we will have another opportunity to ride this route again in mid-June.  Promise.  It’s a good thing we aren’t in Salem during Witch Hunt times, as Tall Tim was pointing a finger and chanting, “Evil Woman”.  And it wasn’t at his finance, who rode Disenchanted Valley Road twice looking for her glucose deprived mate. Interesting that so many riders became disoriented and rode off course, and yet, nobody ran into Feng Shui Master Slow Cow who mysteriously (read: illegally?) arrived at the Free House, less thirsty and glucose depleted than the rest of us.  Hmmm.

A special shout out to Quinoa, who bravely embarked on Disenchanted Valley alone.  She estimated the vertical climb of that ghastly hill after County P and selflessly turned back to save a table at the Free House, suspecting that her fellow Drafters would return wounded and in need of drink.  True that.

Next Monday is Memorial Day and the Free House will be closed.  Several folks have expressed interest in a longer excursion, and since the holiday will prevent work from getting in the way of riding, I propose we leave at 3pm from our house.  The Rock of Gibraltar is a moderate 60 mile loop.  Captain McD argued that nothing good happens after 50 miles, so I have accommodated him with an alternate route home that meets his mileage criteria.  His bride has made clear her feelings on taking shortcuts.  It’s your ride, Cap.  Please feel free to bring beverages and snacks for a post-ride refueling session at the house.  This will be low key and informal (as if I know or am competent in any other mode of hospitality) and will not involve the stove or grill- the microwave is fully operational.  Please shoot me an email or comment on the blog ONLY if you PLAN TO ATTEND, so I can be sure to have enough clean fine paper plates and plastic silverware.  Text/call/email if you need our address/directions.

Garmin link to Captain’s 50

Draft Responsibly,

BrickO

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

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

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

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

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

Garmin Spring Valley Loop

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

Draft Responsibly,

BrickO

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

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

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

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

Fish and Crystal Lake Garmin

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

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

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

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

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

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

Oh! Boy, drafting to Lodi again.

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

Lodi Marsh 40 Garmin

Wheels up at 5:30 sharp.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

18 cyclists came out to play,

20mph winds couldn’t keep them way.

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

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

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

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

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

Please see Exhibit A, entered into evidence.

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

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

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

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

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

Draft Responsibly,

BrickO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Draft Responsibly,

BrickO

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

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

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

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

Indian Lake Garmin

Draft Responsibly,

BrickO

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

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

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

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

BrickO