Savageman...R U Savage Enough?

Triathlon Forum
1

I’m officially in the race. I pre-rode the course yesterday and did about 100 miles of other riding out in that area over the weekend. This course is about as beautiful as possible, and it is about as difficult as possible. If you are looking for a true end of season challenge, then I suggest doing this race. Its hard to do the course justice by simply describing it here in the forum. Check out the course by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

Savageman goes back to triathlon’s roots. All finishers will have a true sense of accomplishment, and the race will be a true test of one’s fitness, without all of the pomp and circumstance that has taken over the sport of triathlon.

I highly suggest participants pre-ride the course, if possible. The descents are fairly technical, the back half of the course is just as hard (if not harder) than the first, and the first half includes the 6+ mile climb! While lots of the hype surrounding the race focuses on the bike course, the run course is equally hard.

Anyone who can go within an hour of their PR for a flat 70.3 distance race will have had an amazing day!

I hope to see many slowtwitchers out there.

Oh yeah, and this course is the brain-child of the STer who cycled the entire TDF route this summer (with a broken collar bone). He is always looking for epic tests of fitness, and Savageman is what he considers the ultimate test in the half-iron distance type race. Support a fellow STer, and sign-up for SAVAGEMAN.

www.savagemantri.org

2

it is very sad for me that this event is the week after SoS. even though i did Harriman and Triple-T back to back, i think I learnt my lesson, and I don’t want to repeat that kind of race stacking. The two events have much of the same appeal (though the savage seems likely to be tougher), are about equidistant from my home, and I have to miss of them …

3

I have to echo Flanagan’s comments. I was out there riding this past weekend as well and it is just an awesome place to ride bikes. I am definitely looking forward to the race — though I am worried about how the legs are gonna stand up to the run course, but hey the whole point is to be challenged, right?

A lot of people complain about drafting and I just don’t see how that can possibly be an issue at Savageman. I would say that there are less than 15 miles where drafting could really even conceivably occur. Add in all that climbing and descending and people will definitely be split up on the course.

There are some really good cue sheets on bikely that people can access if looking for a weekend training camp in anticipation of Savageman. I would think anyone one of them coupled with a Savageman preview would be a great training weekend.

Let’s see everyone from ST step and try to conquer the bike course and see how many people can go sub 3 on the bike course. I don’t have much experience at HIM distance , but I would have to figure that a 2:15- 2:20 at a course like Eagleman is similar to a sub-3 at Savageman.

4

People draft in Embrun…so I guess you can draft anywhere if you really want to.

5

I can’t make it this year but a crew of us are making it in '08. Should we be on our tri-bikes or a road bike with shorties?

6

I’m in and plan to pre-ride the course this weekend. I’ve never ever done that before in my 20+ years in triathlon, but this course is different. I picked up a 12-27 cassette to pop on and I’m a good climber (<120 lbs).

7

I put a 12-27 on there, and I was using it quite a bit. Even still there were a many climbs of 1-3 miles in the region this past weekend where I was at roughly 4.9 W/Kg yet still in the low 70s for cadence. I honestly think a compact with a 25 wouldn’t be a stretch out there. Most people would benefit from compact cranks and a 27 or a triple.

8

I can’t make it this year but a crew of us are making it in '08. Should we be on our tri-bikes or a road bike with shorties?
I’m leaving the P3C at home and bringing the road bike with clip-ons. As much as I love my tri-bike, I would not want it for this course!

9

I’m the brainchild of this bad boy and devised the course after years of riding out in them there hills, but was smart enough to hand off directorial control to a real outfit so it can be put on right, and I think it will be. It looks like the race will sell out, or come close to selling out (1st year permits by county and state park are 350), which seems a-ok to me for a first year race in a pretty remote location and such an extreme test. I expect this race will generate a cult following, and if it stays at 350 (realistically I think the course can handle maybe 600) in future years it will sell out rapidly. There will be quite a buzz about after the stories of epic suffering and bigtime blowups come to fruition. Expect to see some “embarassing” times by some very fast people. And, indeed, there are some very fast people coming. http://www.savagemantri.org/AthleteBios.html is a start, but there are a few more keeping a low profile…

Strong riders like Flanagan and zdesmond and davidc could certainly make do with standard gearing, 39x23. But, 39x25 would be appreciated and if you like to spin then 39x27. If you’re not strong or are carrying a few extra lbs, you will want a triple or compacts. Whatever gearing you choose, if you’re going to attack this course you’re going to suffer.

It’s a great final strength builder for Kona and many are using it for that. Personally, I believe hills make you strong and that benefits you for flat stuff as well, so I think it’s good prep for Clearwater as well, but some disagree with me on that. This race is everything that Clearwater is not, though. Beautiful venue, stunning course, hills, not commercialized, no concerns about drafting, racing to challenge yourself and beat the course, not set a PR or win a slot somewhere. It’s back to the purity of triathlon where you conquer the course, sit around afterwards drinking a beer, brag you are a SavageMan - and you will have deserved it!

I rode with Flanagan and zdesmond this weekend, and we hit it pretty hard. Definitely not race hard, but a strong effort. We rolled in with a whopping 16.9mph and 3:20 on the clock. Keep in mind Flanagan is a 2:12 HIM guy and zdesmond is strong as an ox. I’m not in high-intensity effort race shape now, but when I am I’m a 2:20 HIM, 5:20 IMLP type, and I have to admit I don’t think I could take 20 minutes off my ride from this weekend. I’m guessing very few sub 3hr splits will be seen, and most that do are going to pay on the run.

Yes, people can draft anywhere, but there are not many opportunities on this course. You could in the rolling first 6 miles and last 8 miles, but from miles 6-48 it’s pretty much all climbing or descending and much of it steep. Those who have pre-ridden this course have a huge advantage.

Some people have pre-ridden the course have written up their course reviews on the SavageMan forums: http://www.createforum.com/savageman.

This one’s gonna become a cult classic. A road (mostly) triathlon version of Survival of the Shawangunks, or a single event version of Triple-T. There’s only one chance to do the first one. Don’t miss out!

10

Rode the course today on my P3C. Glad I put the 12x27 on. I didn’t use the 27 all that much, but I did use it. Probably could use a 11 for some of the descents when racing. I took the descents pretty easy today. You could certainly get yourself into big trouble if your brakes aren’t working well. Got me thinking if I really want to ride a disk or not. I did make it up the wall without falling off. Wasn’t so bad. Was putting out 6.4w/kg going over the closed block.

If it’s hot race day there are going to be some shattered people. Weaker cyclists could certainly benefit from a triple or compact crankset. With more than 1300ft of climbing on the run it should be an epic day.

11

you know, i presume, that 6.4W/kg puts you up in Lance territory? how long did you generate that for?

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1 block, a little over 1 minute, going over the closed road. I’ve read/heard it hits 25% and possibly 31% gradient.

http://www.savagemantri.org/Westernport_Wall.html

13

yeah, i know the climb. ok, assuming you’re a typical lightweight bike climber, 6.4W/kg for 1 minute isn’t Lance territory :slight_smile: But good luck on that course … I wish so much I could be there, but indury prevents it.