Aug 23 Cannibal Special
As Joe Cocker predicted, the Drafters Came Together
Here come old Cannibal, he come grooving up slowly
He got gin-gin garden drink, he one holy Drafter
He got quads down to his knee
Got to be a Drafter he just aimin’ to please
He wear no green shine, he got purple road ride
He got ruby red bike shoes, he shoot watt-wattola
He say "I know you, you know me"
One thing I can tell you is you got to drink free
Come together right now over me
He bag fresh produce, he got arugula
He got red solocup, he one cocktail master
He got quads down below his knee
Hold you in his slip stream you can feel his back breeze
Come together right now over me
He roller-crusher, he got every Strava
He got muddy water, he one cocktail maker
He say "One and one and one is three"
Got to be good-looking cos he's so hard to see
Come together right now over me
Oh
Come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah oh
Come together
Yeah come together
23 Drafters turned out in fairly equal distributions for an Epic Ride. Or maybe it was for the long awaited Garden Party, with Cannibal's famous arugula and gin drinks? We even had a Newbie all the way from Green Bay show up for the Garden Party. Welcome to our Garden, Eden.
Vintage suffered some flat tire issues over the weekend. His spirit a bit wounded, he rode with a very not-aerodynamic bag on his handlebars, assumed to hold spare tires. When questioned, he admitted it was full of Charmin. Not sure if that's to wipe tears or other? It would have been more practical to fill it with tubes and a tire, as he double flatted before we were out of town.
The Drafter Code required waiting for Vintage. The code does not specify helping, just waiting. LuLu dutifully took on that role for flat #1. Flat #2 ended any grandiose thoughts of a Garden Drink finish.
The Epic Loop was a bit confusing for some. Granted, we all were a bit uneasy riding by castles, dinosaurs, Hogwarts, and what appeared to be a dining facility in a prehistoric cave. But Eden was sure that it was a trick to keep Newbies circling about, endlessly. No trick. Just a little on going struggle with RidewithGPS, the program that notes "Turn left" and leaves you guessing where. Along with BrickO doing recon and making several wrong turns for our cartographer, Columbus, to reconcile.
Once the Drafters escaped the Epic Loop, the A Team continued to hang together. Busch Latte tensed up when he heard his Strava segment alert. Cannibal's alarm didn't sound for some reason, so there was no need to bust a move. Sometimes the win is remaining a cohesive whole.
Cannibal needed to save his energy on the ride in order to make enough drinks for all 23 Drafters. It might be the first time in history that EVERY Drafter stayed for beverages.
Tennille rode over (on flat tires) to share a garden drink with Captain. Dan-yelly rode for the first time this season (and first time post baby #3). Garden drinks bring out the green in all of us.
In Drafter news, we are sad to say goodbye to Drone Master, who will be moving to California over Labor Day weekend. He plans to Draft responsibly in the sunny state, and hopefully one or two more times with us on Monday night.
Happy Birthday to our Tobacco City Boy (Friday Aug 20)! Happy New House to LuLu and Columbus. We expect a lawn warming party this fall.
Congratulations to Belle on her Steamboat Gravel race. She crushed it. As did Bomber, who supported Belle through the race. Sometimes, racing is the easier role.
Drafter Yoga was a huge success. Thanks to Pipes for keeping it real. Look for more of the same in September. Contact BrickO or Pipes for more details if you are someone you love needs to be more flexible.
The Draft next week will depart from Cannibal's house. See GroupMe for address, or text me.
Looking ahead, we will Draft on Aug 30 but not the following Monday as it is Labor Day. If you are looking for a group ride that weekend, check out the Wright Stuff Century on Sunday Sept 5.
Lastly, there were a few stragglers who missed the Hincapie Store deadline for Drafter gear. It is open until Aug 22. Link to Hincapie Store here.
Draft responsibly,
BrickO
Aug 16: Epic Loop
It's just another magic Monday (Woah, woah)
Glad it's not Sunday (Woah, woah)
'Cause Monday's my fun day (Woah, woah, woah, woah)
My I get to Draft day (Woah, woah)
It's just another magic Monday
15 Drafters were Crystal Clear on how they wanted to spend their magic Monday. And nearly all got the memo on wearing the Hincapie Beer and Sprocket jersey!
The A team was small but mighty. Tick Tock arrived to find no one home, and not trusting that more members of the A team would show up at 5PM, set out solo. Have faith, my friend.
Crystal Lake wasn't exactly crystal clear but beautiful nonetheless.
Rimshot pulled KickA**KK, as she begins the long descent into bonk land. She's advocating for a name change to BonKK. Keez and BrickO made the turn onto Mussen Rd in Lodi, where they begin their feline rescue mission, with a little Uber help from Squirrel. If orthopedic surgery doesn't work out for Squirrel, the Human Society will definitely scoop him up.
The post-draft Draft was livelier than usual. No attempt will be made to weave a common thread through these various conversation snippets, or even give them context. GrannyZilla forgot lube. Squirrel tamed a puss. Vilks and GrannyZilla compared the effect of nightly sauna use (not together) on heat shock protein synthesis. GrannyZilla and Sully reviewed 18 holes. "When did Drafter conversations include GOLF???", rebelled Tick Tock.
The Ride Across the West reunion started with frolicking in the yard (Sully, Vilks and Chief) and ended with wine tasting, well past bedtime.
Here is your weekend recap: A few Drafters had tired legs thanks to Race Day Events bringing back the Dairyland Dare. Congrats to RDE for resurrecting a beautiful and challenging 200k!
The Dairyland Dare crew: Vilks, Z Wrecks and BrickO
Skipper did a different kind of Dare, standing in a rain soaked mosh pit at Utica Fest to hear Queenie's SuperTuesday band, followed by a tractor pull competition. Little unknown fact for most Drafters: Allice -Chalmers and Farmall tractors are in different divisions. Would't it be great if cyclists could compete in a division with matched power to mass ratios???? Brilliant.
Keez was double fisted this weekend, racing Age Group Nationals in Milwaukee on Saturday (Olympic) and Sunday (sprint). BrickO, Romeo, Pipes and Pipette were there to cheer her on.
Ninja represented the Drafters in Green Bay. They have a different flare when it comes to fueling stations.
Sandlot and LuLu have been Drafter friends on Strava, but finally drafted together during the Sunday roll. Wow. My heart be still.
Vintage and Thing One have been logging some altitude training days in CO before T1 starts medical school later this month. She'll go to some very high places in her career!
Belle and Bomber are also habitating in Colorado. Sending lots of hemoglobin love to Belle as she prepares for the Steamboat Gravel 150k on Sunday!
Please allow a retraction from the blog last week. 29 Drafters did not draft. 19 did. The secretary appears to need remedial Excel training, as she counted one Drafter 11 times.
Looking ahead to next week, Cannibal PROMISES not to bail on Garden Drinks. We will draft the Epic Loop, which is basically the Riley Tavern route (short pour) with a little extension through Epic.
Ride with GPS Link Short Pour Riley Tavern
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37118196
Any volunteers to host the Draft on Monday Aug 23? We will be getting dirty in the Blue Ridge Mountains and not able to host the post-draft draft.
Draft responsibly,
BrickO