Savageman HIM : Official Thread (Page 9)

USAT referees take note, but I will be crossing the yellow and riding on the far LEFT side of the rode on those patches!  I know technically taboo, but one good thing about SM is how spread out things are on the bike (especially after cresting something like Big Savage).  Do all of them have good visibility for oncoming traffic?

I think that's against the rules.

 

The only thing at the top last week were 2 deer and some wild turkey.
Descending Savage in the left lane you can see a good way off and there's little traffic...I was able to ride through the patches at 30-35 with-out expletives....


great pic

I was able to apply some HALT to the face of that Rothweiler on Westernport Rd.  He came silently from the front yard and was growling nicely until he was about 5' away from me.  Then I gave him my greeting from a spray can, which quickly sent him back to the yard.  Apparently he got the message because I stopped and waited for Mike to get past the yard in the event that i would have to spray the dog again.  But he never came out after Mike. 
And yes, as Mike said, IT POURED.  Which made for a cold ride down the back of Big Savage.  
The first time I rode the course back on Father's Day weekend it was a total suckfest.  But riding it again this past Saturday was much more "enjoyable" in part because I think being familiar with all that lies ahead helps to ease my mind.  Having someone else to talk to along the way is nice to.  4 hours of silence can get a little boring.
We picked up a nice little black lab pup on Miller Rd as soon as you start to go up the hill.  that little thing followed us THE WHOLE WAY to the top and across until we started to decend, and she still kept running as hard as she could to keep up.  that poor thing was with us for probably 2 miles!!
anyways, we did it.  there was no crying, walking, swearing, or worse.

That lab pup was cute!  She was running along beside me up Miller.  She would take off running ahead toward you but then stop and look back at me.  I didn't want to disappoint her so I kept chugging along.  Her face just seemed to express, "dude, are you coming?"  LOL

I have a question about the power lines.  I'm wondering if it was just because of the rain or if it is always the case but those things were cracking and popping.  When you rode under them, I mentioned to Jason that the air felt like I just pulled a big wool sweater off of a collie. 

I hate to say it, but I'm quite glad for those spraying the dogs... they'll learn cyclists aren't worth chasing, and since I likely won't be carrying halt on my ride, when I point my gel at them in a "I'm gonna spray you motion" maybe they'll think twice before biting my leg off

LOL...the black lab pup at the beginning of Miller...She came after me Monday..I was a sucker and stopped. She positioned for a belly rub. I obliged and told her to scoot. She followed me up Miller. I yelled for her to go home several times....

Pector...in my experience the lines crackle rain or shine but its more in the rain

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all that snapping from the power lines, i thought they would arc due to the rain and weld my bike frame to the macadam.


Edited by wabash 2010-08-16 2:53 PM

That looks nasty. Can you find a solution prior to Saturday? I'll be riding the course on the 21st

I won't lie.. she could have taken me easily.  I do think her tongue was hanging further out of her mouth though.

I'm feeling better about hitting the course again already.  The bike is in the shop getting better gearing (something they call the "fat boy special" and they will true up my rear wheel so it won't rub the brakes going up the hills. 

Good luck Brad!  Be sure to enjoy the first 18 miles because you surely won't enjoy the rest of it.  Also, keep an eye out for those cool orange lizards. 

I've been chicked never dogged. 

Did you take it to World Cup Ski & Cycle.  I was in a few day ago and Lee told me there is someone else in the local area doing Savageman.  Though it might be you.

Edited by tasr 2010-08-16 5:14 PM

No, I actually took it to Holmes since that is where I got it.  They will true up the rear wheel for free. 

Does anyone have a current garmin file for the present course?  I'd like to just obey the garmin and not worry about where I am given the lack of road signs, but a quick check of mapmyride seems to have either the old course or seems to start somehwere besides the transition area.

Kyle, were you able to mark the course like you hoped (weather dependent)?

I'll be riding this Friday EARLY (planning to leave home in the Baltimore area around 4:00ish) - I'll try not to crash on Spring Lick on this ride like I did the last time I rode the course in prep for the race.

Anybody up for riding the course on Saturday morning ride? I'll be out there alone if I have to.

How's the signage?

Course is freshly marked.  Garmin file is available for download from the SavageMan 70.0 bike course page.

Yes, don't crash, please.  That first sharp turn on Spring Lick where you want down years ago is where the fresh chip seal has been laid, and there is still enough loose gravel to make it sketchy.  So, chill out on that descent.  It is highly unlikely some attractive blonde will roll through a few minutes later to pull you out of the ditch again. 

Good memory... of good memories!

Great, Thanks!

Does that GPS route go around the Westernport Wall? Seems that way...