SavageMan Triathlon 70.0 : Official Thread (Page 4)

Where are you getting that forecast from?  Accuweather has it at a low of 50 and a high of 68 for McHenry, MD. 

If that's true and it's in the 40s in the morning, how are you guys/gals preparing for that?  It'll by far be the coldest race I've ever done considering I've been training in the 80/90s all summer.  The pre-race email that went out yesterday mentioned hats/gloves. 

How about the water?  I'm definitely bringing my full sleeve but should I look into a neoprene cap?

Accuweather always runs high. weather.com is most accurate of online forecasts.

Water will be nice.  Upper 60s and will feel warm compared to morning air.

If I were doing the 70.0, I would dry off in transition and put on a dry top, long fingered gloves, arm warmers.  Maybe a vest, maybe not depending on actual morning temps.  Hats and gloves are for the pre-race 6-7am cold.  First year folks had frost on their windshields in the morning.  Won't be that cold this year.

The whole stretch of 4 street blocks counts.  No sitting around and resting before making the final summit.

The Wall spotters may not catch you resting down the hill further, as they are marking down folks that ride by clear at the top, but the video cameras are watching.

What's cheating?

Going off course to let your legs recover so you can get up the Wall.  It's one thing to zig and zag your way up the bottom four blocks so your legs can be as fresh as possible when you hit the final block.  It's another to go down a side street to let the legs recover and come back on course again at the base of the final block.

I'm not a stickler for rules and fine print.  But the intent of the Wall and the bricks is to ride straight up the hill and the whole hill "cleanly".  And that includes wandering off midway up to rest.

I see what you're saying. 

I'm probably not describing it well, and am certainly not saying you should or I did go off the course.  My strategy last year was to go up the left side while it was still paved, then turn right and go parallel for a second or two right before the "Pain is temporary, a brick last forever" sign and the little gremlin.  Unfortunately, a spectator almost knocked me off my bike there, but that's a different issue.  Then I went up the right side of the wall where the pavement seems to be better. 

If that's cheating then, well, I'm glad the peeps in the devil outfits didn't think so last year! 

Sbrdave - Thanks for the wx report - that's great help for those of us who still haven't packed yet!  We all need to come back and post our Wall videos, successful or not, after Sunday!  You'll get mine either way.

Ryan #174

The Wall is looking U-G-L-Y.  Really big divots.  It's gonna be carnage.  Not sure how/why it's so much worse than year's past, but I think old asphalt patches are coming loose and then when the town cleans the road for race weekend it all comes up.

Gonna make for some good videos for sure!

What is the latest time can athletes arrive on Saturday?  It seems to be Mandatory Athlete Briefing at 4:15pm, but nothing before that.... I am not missing anything, am I?

It is unlikely, but is there any way to be briefed online?

Thanks.