Spring Valley
Apologies to Annie Lenox and the Eurythmics.
here comes the rain again
falling on my helmet on a Mon-day
falling on my head like a new emotion
i want to ride in the open wind
i want to talk like Drafters do
want to dive into your paceline
is it raining with you?
The weather turned just as the clock struck Drafter hour, scaring away all of the D Team and shrinking the A & B teams to 16. The A Team held fast, and rode even faster. While Mother Nature only spit a few drops, her roar created some serious head wind as the Drafters headed north.
The B Team started as 6 before deciding to challenge the notion of strength in numbers. And then there were 3. Spoiler: there IS strength in numbers. Knievel was awarded the Drafter Green Heart, a medal reserved for those who go above and beyond the call of duty, as he accompanied Shaq on the Lodi tour. Shaq had the route locked and loaded, but when the D Team failed to show, she put on her big person pants and set out with the B Team. Z Wrecks doubled back to help patrol the wind, while BrickO, Captain Joe and Squeak battled on.
The B team made their about face turn in Lodi, getting the exact coordinates of the A Team as they rapidly made their way to the front line. Knowing they had the Rock of Ages "Gunter Glieben Glauten Globen" ahead, better known in the cycling world as "Bitney, Buethin, Brererton", the B team made one last charge up Bitney Rd before being overtaken.
BrickO saw Squeak falling behind. Adhering to the Drafter Code, she went back for her teammate. After pulling her back up to the rest of the B Team, BrickO discovered that she had failed miserably. Mistaking Cujo for Squeak, BrickO had only hastened the advancement of the A Team. Deception was Cujo's super power, starting early with a text noting that she was going to be late due to heavy traffic in downtown Middleton. That's what happens when your Google Map is set on bike mode.
The A Team, led by Vintage, rocked on and up Bluethin. Missing from the band was front man, Cannibal. He joined Knievel in earning the Drafter Green Heart, helping Velo keep the beat. Cannibal faced a conundrum when he came upon Squeak, who had played her heart out early in the Draft and was facing the music. The Clash of the Drafter Code: Should I stay or should I go now? If I go, there will be trouble. And if I stay there will be double. Come on and let me know. Should I stay or should I go?
To give the reader some idea of how fast the A Team was traveling with the tail wind, Keez outpaced a "Baltimore Oreo". You know, "the rare orange bird." Keez also outpaced her chain, dropping it before the climb on Lodi-Springfield. Seizing the opportunity to make up some time on the 15min gap, BrickO mercilessly (not proudly) left her offspring to tend to the mechanical as she prodded LuLu and Vintage to pull her home. There are strength in numbers, but it is definitely limited.
Both teams were reunited back at base camp, where they enjoyed a roaring fire and frosty beverages. Octane brought a limited supply of his famous brownies, which were evenly distributed once enough Drafters went home. Cannibal and Velo regaled us with stories of the 12 rounds they went in the ring, drafting against the wind.
The Drafters were joined by celebrities Thing 1 and Granny, who earned their place around the back yard fire pit with tremendous cycling feats. Thing 1, unable to participate in the Horribly Hilly Hundreds this coming Saturday, set out to conquer the 200k (plus) earlier in the day, fully unsupported. Granny destroyed the Des Moines 70.3 on Sunday, earning herself a spot at the World Championship in Finland alongside Drafter teammate Squeak. Imagine what she would have done on a TT bike??? Once she figured out how to change out of the granny gear, it was game over for the other competitors. Congrats to Coach Midas on another golden touch.
In other celebrity news, Coach Arms was interviewed on the front lawn. Of the WHITE HOUSE!!! Wisconsin now holds the most national titles (7) in all of NCAA women's ice hockey. Humbled by the honor, the Canadian gave an exclusive interview to our Drafter Blog reporter. "I'm geeking out and I'm not even American!" Apparently, the Wisconsin State Journal was granted a separate (second) interview.
Nearly as prestigious as being honored on the front lawn of the White House, a handful of Drafters raised money for the MACC Fund by participating in the Trek 100. A fun day was had by all (Nemo, Booker J, Z Wrecks, Vilks, Pit Stop, BrickO, Pepe, Duracell & Speedy Family).
The route for Monday, June 19th will be Spring Valley, as a nice reminder to those who just suffered through the Horribly Hilly Hundreds. There is a short pour option to take the Pine Rd cut off. Choose wisely. Departures will be at 5, 5:15 and 5:30PM from Middleton Hills.
RidewithGPS link Drafters | Spring Valley
SHORT POUR: RidewithGPS link Drafters | Pine Loop
IN DIRTY NEWS: the Dirty Draft will begin Tue, June 20 at 5PM at the East Chalet at Blackhawk. There is a separate GroupMe for dirty announcements. Contact BrickO if you would like to be added.
Draft responsibly,
BrickO
Rock of Ages
… It's just another Drafter Monday (Woah, woah)
I’m glad it’s not Sunday (Woah, woah)
'Cause this is my fun day (Woah, woah, woah, woah)
My I don't have to run day (Woah, woah)
It's just another Drafter Monday
29 Drafters were present for the inaugural Crossroads Coffeehouse ride. Shout out to Katy and her fabulous staff for hosting the Draft. Pizza, beer and ice cream- the perfect post-draft trifecta for recovery.
There was a fairly even distribution of Drafters amongst the A, B for Bad Ass and D for Determined divisions. The D team had a dirty dozen until Duracell was drafted by the B team. It was great to see Cookie Monster back on the bike after completing her PhD marathon. Wampus quietly made her 2023 Drafter debut. She may have lost her voice, but her quads were not to be silenced. The Drafters welcomed a Newbie, Presley. Check out those blue suede shoes! It was only after the ceremonial Drafter handle dedication that Presley revealed her birth name, Lisa Marie. True dat'.
Inspired by seeing Elvis back in the building, Duracell danced his way into the B group to strike a pose. Good to have Captain Joe back from his 3 week junket in Alaska. Another 2023 Drafter debut was made by Mario. Congrats to Mario on admission to medical school at UW!
Octane and Queenie celebrated NEW BIKE DAY! Word on the B Street is that "YEE HAWs" reverberated off the climbs as Octane and Queenie left a trial of dust up each climb, taking command of their shiny new steeds. These bikes belonged to a good friend and wonderful man who left the planet too early. We will draft responsibly in his honor, savoring each pedal stroke. A new Cervelo for Queenie meant a new Trek for his son, Mario. Bikes are the gift that keeps giving.
11 members of the A Team gathered to discuss pre-draft strategy. Granny offered a preemptive mea culpa for not taking a turn at the front on the line. Coach Midas gave her sound advice to draft responsibly as she tapers for her upcoming 70.3. Keez extends a comforting hug as she calculates how many uncontested QOMs await.
The night and the route couldn't have been more gorgeous. D4 was a good move for Footer, Pipes, Cookie Monster and Daisy as they advanced across the board.
Strava doesn't tell the whole story, but it tells A story. This story is one filled with Drafter (and Momma) pride. 5 of the 7 women on the leaderboard are Drafters (Karen P and Brenna G are welcome to enlist). Draft responsibly. Kudos to Coach Midas for having Granny share top billing on her taper..... Nothing like a little competitive spirit to forget what the teacher said. BrickO's response to being bumped, "I just want you to know that even though you tried to terminate me, revenge is not an idea we promote on my planet."
The A team huddled around Squirrel as he suffered an identity crisis as he disobeyed the sign. Never leaving his wing man or crossing the center line, Squirrel empathized with the agile tree-dwelling bushy tail rodents but held fast to drafting responsibly.
LuLu and Vintage went nuts over Squirrel's evolution. After climbing the freshly pea-graveled Moyer Rd, they decided to see what they had under the hood. Buzz Lightyear was on sight. Nothing like adding a short 25%ish grade challenge to the existing 2293 feet of climb.
In a hypoxic state, LuLu asked "WTF were we thinking? It was fun though." The medical physicist deferred to his colleague, Vintage, to explain the theory.
Granny may need some tutoring from the Drafter scientific cohort. It appears her snot rocket velocity calculation is a bit off. Medical school as it applies to this crucial equation: "Years of Academy training wasted."
Climbing to infinity and beyond works up an appetite. Crossroads Coffeehouse didn't disappoint with pizza, beer and ice cream (not always in that order).
RACE REVIEW: Vintage competed in the WORS Battle of Camrock, placing top 10 (5th to be specific). In a post-race interview conducted by Skipper, Vintage gasped, "My eyeballs could have been sucked from their sockets!" But they weren't.
To those souls who endured the mud bath affectionally knows as Unbound, may the force be with you. "My bike has crash landed here by mistake."
The buzz for next week is this: back to Middleton Hills for 5, 5:15 and 5:30PM departures times, to infinity and Lodi.
RidewithGPS link Drafters | Rock of Ages Plus Lodi
There is a short pour option of 31 miles, riding just shy of Lodi and avoiding the hilly rock of ages section.
RidewithGPS link Drafters | Shy of Lodi Short Pour
Draft responsibly,
BrickO