Headlines should sound familiar: chance of scattered showers for Monday, likely to start at 5:30 on Parmenter Ave, and traveling 34 miles west over portions of the Horribly Hilly Hundreds course.  Looks like I will be forced into early retirement, spending every Monday on vacation so that the Drafters may ride without rain. Sacrifices must be made.

This is a new route for the Drafters, so be sure to download the Garmin link or print the map to ensure safe travels.  We did a recon mission 3 weeks ago and discovered that several of the roads had received fresh gravel.  It should be settled by now, but use caution on the descents.  There is an easy cut off for a shorter 20 mile route by simply riding through Cross Plaines and heading back home.  If you choose to ride the entire 34 mile route, you will be treated to several beautiful and challenging roads, including Union Valley, Vermont Church, Moen Valley.

Reminder that wheels up is promptly at 5:30 and bring a light.  We are losing daylight, so routes will continue to get shorter until we only have time to drink beer.

Garmin Link to West HHH Route (note time not accurate as it includes 30min helping an IM chick change her flat tire).

Last call for jersey orders is August 31.  The quality is the best of any jersey I own. We stopped into Hincapie Sportswear last week while in SC.  My agenda was to see George, but missing that opportunity, I settled for sealing a deal for jerseys next year.  They fit a bit snug.  Great for showing off guns, but unfortunately, also my post-vacation gut.  Here’s the skinny:

NEW TEAM MEMBERS WITH EXISTING HINCAPIE TEAM CENTER ACCOUNT:
Click the link below to go to the Hincapie Team Center home page. Log in to your account, and then use the drop-down menu at the top right-hand corner of the screen to select Account. Scroll down to My Teams and enter the access code provided below. This will link your account to our team order.
After you have done this, click Home at the top of the screen and click New Order begin your product selection.
RETURNING TEAM MEMBERS WITH EXISTING HINCAPIE TEAM CENTER ACCOUNT:
Click the link below to go to the Hincapie Team Center home page. Log in to your account and click New Order begin your product selection.
TEAM CENTER LINK: https://teamcenter.hincapie.com/
Access Code: BrickOsDrafters
Seth Withers
Custom Inside Sales | Hincapie Sportswear
Main: 864-400-3040 | Direct: 864-400-3051 | Fax: 864-298-2616
45 Pete Hollis Blvd. | Greenville, SC | 29601
swithers@hincapiesports.com | http://www.hincapie.com

In an effort to remain true to my scientific training, I must go on vacation (again) next week.  It would appear that my former precipitation hypothesis has been challenged.  I showed up Monday and it failed to rain.  Therefore, in order to rigorously test the BrickO= rain hypothesis, I will be absent for the Riley Tavern Route on Monday.  Jim and Matt will be your tour guides.

Due to the rapidly disappearing daylight, routes will become shorter.  Sigh.  The Riley Route is approximately 25 miles.

Jersey update: they arrived today and look spectacular.  If anyone is interested in placing an additional order, I think Hincapie Sportswear will honor the current pricing through Aug 31.  Shoot me an email if you are interested.

Newbie update: Welcome Kaiya and Tom to the illustrious ranks of Drafter.  Apparently, Tom has another ranking… that of Cat 2 racer.  He was humble and tried to hide his quadzilla legs beneath bike shorts, but after the first climb, his secret was out.  Allegedly, Kevin baited him to sprint up the hill, but I think he is incapable of generating less than 500 Watts.  Just a guess, since I don’t have a power tap (not that power tap training was a topic of heated discussion over drafts and dinner).   Kaiya was so exhilarated by the riding experience that she purportedly stayed up until 1am, ordering new bike shorts and shoes (borrowing Tom’s pair 2 sizes too big with 10 years of wear warrants an upgrade, I think).  Welcome to the Draft.

Oops… I forgot to attach the cue sheet (see link below).  I rode a recon mission this morning and found that our route has one minor inconvenience (aside from a few hills).  Warming: there are two short patches of gravel on County Line Road, just before 113. There is a generous bike lane on 113 into Lodi.  The ride is splendid.

Dane And Lodi

It looks like we have discovered an antidote for the Monday Precipitation Phenomenon.  I just have to go on vacation!  I can live with that.  After a week at the cabin, I have lost most of my biking fitness and all of my biking tan, but my enthusiasm for dark beer survived and is ready to go this Monday.

The ride is a gorgeous hybrid between our Insane Dane route through the Viaduct and Lodi, including the Canning Company and Lodi Marsh State Natural Area. The full route is 40 miles.  There is a 30 mile cut off point and it is 20 miles out to Dane and back.

Garmin Link to Dane Lodi Route

Ride responsibly,

BrickO

The Sports world was shocked to learn of a weather scandal targeting BrickO’s Drafters.  For the 5th consecutive week, rain clouds closed in and drenched the cyclists, who are considering changing their name to The Rainmakers.  It is unclear who is responsible for the conspiracy against the cycling group.  The Drafter’s welcomed a new rider last evening, Counselor Liz (yes, we now have two Counselor Lizs), who has promised to lead the investigation.  We wish Liz godspeed as the forecast for next week is as follows:

In other sports news, it appears the XY representatives from the Drafters also deserve some kudos.  Well acclimated to rain and hurricane like conditions inherent to Monday rides , Gary, Frank and JB ferociously battled their way to the finish line of the Door County Half Ironman.  JB landed on the podium, as did Frank’s teen offspring (way to go, Mal).  It was heard tell that Gary had painted his bike fuchsia as part of a feng shui movement.  Going back a few weeks, Donna qualified for Boston (easily).  She is grateful to dominate a sport that does not require clipping in and out of pedals.   Congrats to all the Drafters.

Jersey update: for those of you who ordered jerseys, they are scheduled to be shipped on July 24, arriving 3-6 days thereafter.

Indian Lake Route July 27: The time has come to hand over the reigns.  Matt out climbed me on every hill last night and therefore has been charged with leading the ride next week while I lick my battle wounds up north at the cabin, with a bit of whiskey to take away the sting.  It is roughy a 30mile route.  If you cut off the top loop (stay on Martinsonville instead of taking Indian Lake Rd), you can lop off 10miles.  Sully and Liz will be golfing and therefore the bike path tour will not be guided.  Feel free to ride at your own risk (the risk being the temptation to stop at the Missouri Tavern).

Draft responsibly always, but especially while I am gone,

BrickO

A HUGE VICTORY for three Drafters.  K2 WON the Ice Age Trail marathon in the Northern Kettle Moraine Forest on Saturday.  The course became a bit more technical thanks to the morning shower and the humidity was not trivial.  Despite these environmental challenges, K2 finished in the alpha female spot.

Dan-yelly and Ice Queen (who as you recall appeared in the Beg Legs edition of the Drafter Magazine) persevered in the Door County Half Ironman.  There is nothing “half” about these two women.

The agony of defeat was BrickO’s.  Doing her community duty riding for the Girls and Boys Club Saturday, she had an argument with her derailleur and lost.  Donations can be made to the Defeated Derailleur Fund.  Speaking of defeat… we are on target for RAIN at 5:30.  What the… ???

We snuck in 15 dry miles last week, and enjoyed the storm safely from our table inside the Free House.  We welcomed two new Drafters, Sarah and Sheila, hereby known as the S Factor, given the storm that ensued.  As I contemplated our string of bad luck with rain on Monday nights shortening our ride, I started to obsess over the odds for a THIRD STRIKE next Monday night.  I found comfort in the words of the great Babe Ruth:

“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”  And, “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game”.

Babe must have had the foresight to sooth my next angst:

“Sometimes when I reflect on all the beer I drink, I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. I think, ‘It is better to drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.”

Let’s hope third time with the Viaduct route is a charm. The 20 mile short cut is to Dane and Back.  Sully will lead the bike path charge around 5:45.

Best of luck to Drafters Dan-yelly and Jackie on their Door County Half Ironman and to K2 on her marathon this weekend!  Kick some butt, Ladies.

The forecast threatened rain but 14 brave Drafters, including newbies Tom and Brad, decided to ride. We definitely felt better with a Cardiologist at our side.

Cut the route short was the plan agreed to by all.  We convened back at the Free House dry and before night fall.  2 Drafters headed home, the remaining dozen engaged in conversations which made for an interesting sound bite.  QUIZ: Which of the following absurd ideas was discussed that night?

A) A Drafter from Ragina (rə-ˈjī-nə) was asked to retire her hockey skates and pads in exchange for fish net stockings and roller skates. Badger to Mad Rollin’ Dolls transformation would be a sight.

B) Three Drafters conjured up a plan to travel Down Under to do a cross country ski marathon race this month.  Training is apparently optional, unless they anticipate Z’ forecast for snow tonight?

C) A Drafter suffered near suffocation when she found her nose buried deep in the bosom of the waitress.  Keeping her cool, she regained her composure and said the Spotted Cow selection was alright.

D) All of these conversations occurred at a volume just below exploding dynamite, which gave the other patrons in the Free House some excite.

The correct answer is D.  Thanks to all who make it out to ride on Monday nights.  A group that enjoys riding hard and laughing harder, drafting responsibly on the bike and at the tap, is a group I am proud to be a part of.

The ride for July 13th will be (pending rain) the Insane Dane ride posted for last week.  It is relatively short (30ish miles).  The 20 mile option is an out and back to Dane.

Draft responsibly,

BrickO

Sometimes it is nice to live with a pilot who has access to really cool radar.  I mean, it is nice to live with him all the time, but when it comes to weather related ride issues, it is REALLY nice. The radar shows RAIN but I think if we leave promptly at 5:30pm (read: we will not wait for stragglers), and shorter the ride to an hour, we might stay dry.

This map shows a longer loop on Kurt.  We will go right on Hyer, which cuts off even more miles.  Never mind that the cue sheet says Left on Kurt.  It should say right, but we are going right well before it says to go left.  Got it?

We ended June with a bang… literally.  13 is my lucky number, but somehow, only 1 of the 13 riders on the Roxbury route last Monday made it home dry and it wasn’t me.  Kudos to Jim for the fastest (and driest) split.  For the rest of us, we were riders on the storm for the last few miles home.  I think we all agree (although no vote was cast) that the route was well worth the wet finish.

13 wasn’t lucky with respect to weather, but it was lucky in bringing an old friend and new rider to bump us up from a dozen.  Welcome outstanding racquetball player (we are going back a few years), accomplished Ironman and overall amazing woman, Karen D to the Drafters.

Tomorrow we hope to ride north through Dane and then head east through the circa 1880 Viaduct towards Wanuakee.  A spectacular ride and much less challenging than Roxbury.  Many shortcuts are available.  Out and back to Dane is 20 miles.  Sully will be leading the bike path charge at 6pm.  The weather is threatening to be nasty.  Anybody up for riding Tue if we have to cancel?

Insane Dane Garmin Link