There are some sections particularly in the last 3rd of the bike course where you can make significant time with aero gear. Most of the ride up to the wall (which is about 1/3 of the way in) is downhill, although in much of the early part your speed is limited by steep turns and road conditions.
Why are people wearing aero helmets for this race???So they can go faster.
Here’s a spectator’s video that’s got some pretty good carnage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtZ-tMjbqDo]
That’s me in the white long sleeve from 3:50 - 4:00.
So they can go faster.
You are so smart…
This race has almost 7000 ft of climbing. Its a very, VERY hard bike course! That is why you see a ton of road bikes over tri bikes on it. An aero helmet will not do much for you on this course besides make you hot due to less ventilation.
So actually, it would slow you down due to being hotter.
So actually, it would slow you down due to being hotter.
Funny.
That completely depends on the person and considering the weather in Maryland this week, I doubt anyone was fearing overheating BC of helmet vents.
So they can go faster.
You are so smart…
This race has almost 7000 ft of climbing. Its a very, VERY hard bike course! That is why you see a ton of road bikes over tri bikes on it. An aero helmet will not do much for you on this course besides make you hot due to less ventilation.
So actually, it would slow you down due to being hotter.
Maybe, if the entire course were climbing and extremely technical descents. But, the first 18 miles are mostly downhill with some stretches where you can gain some time with a good aero set up, and after mile 40, the hills ease up a lot, and the pace picks up.
Overheating wasn’t a problem yesterday. Staying warm was. It was about 50 degrees at the start, and I’m not sure if the temp ever broke 70.
Just click this user’s name and you’ll see all the video starting with the first rider.
I found me suffering at the :12 mark of that one. Good to have an electronic memento to go with the brick. 
Was Dave Scott riding a Cannondale? That’s news to me if he switched over from LOOK.
So they can go faster.
You are so smart…
This race has almost 7000 ft of climbing. Its a very, VERY hard bike course! That is why you see a ton of road bikes over tri bikes on it. An aero helmet will not do much for you on this course besides make you hot due to less ventilation.
So actually, it would slow you down due to being hotter.
I beat all but 4 of those riders on my P4, with aero brain bucket. Ditto for the Big Climb from Westernport up to the top of Big Savage.
The 4 doodes who biked faster than me? Aero bikes, aero hemlets.
There are quite a few places where being aero is faster - INCLUDING the Big Climb split, since there are a few nice descents mixed in w/ the soul-crushing climbing.
Certainly the whole way from the bottom of the first tricky descent to Westernport, and much of the last 11+ miles after Maynardier (sp?) Ridge.
Don’t let reality interfere with your opinions and myths however.
Just click this user’s name and you’ll see all the video starting with the first rider.
I found me suffering at the :12 mark of that one. Good to have an electronic memento to go with the brick.
Nice! Well done you made it look easy… to suffer that is. Savageman has been on my bucket list since I heard about it last year!
Good point. I eoulda been pissed if she messed up my attempt. There was no way she should have even attempted it.
My goal in life is to never walk up a hill when I have my bike. I did this race a f ew years ago and got my brick. Also did so on a standard sized double crank with 12-27 on back
LOL!!!
yeah guys, who got too hot out there in their aero helmet?
So they can go faster.
You are so smart…
This race has almost 7000 ft of climbing. Its a very, VERY hard bike course! That is why you see a ton of road bikes over tri bikes on it. An aero helmet will not do much for you on this course besides make you hot due to less ventilation.
So actually, it would slow you down due to being hotter.
Good point. I eoulda been pissed if she messed up my attempt. There was no way she should have even attempted it.
What are you talking about? Why should someone not attempt something? Who’s to say she wouldn’t make it 1 time out of 100 and thus should give it a go on raceday? And, part of making it up the Wall is to avoid putting yourself into a position where you might be taken out by another rider. So, whoever got “messed up” by her attempt had not properly taken the prior 4 blocks of the climb to properly position himself safely. There is plenty of time to assess your surroundings, evaluate the riders around you, and speed up or slow down to have yourself in position for a clear run at the base of it.
You people who look down at Team N’ Training types and the 16 hour Ironman finishers piss me off. Stick to your draftfests (where it is always someone else who is doing the drafting), and stay away from SavageMan.
I got passed by a TNTer at savageman on the run.
Dave something was his name.
Nice guy!
…and I think he is going to be 58 in January. 1:34 split. OK.
…and I think he is going to be 58 in January. 1:34 split. OK.
yeah not bad
lol
THE MAN
Thanks Kyle and the crew !!!
I can’t wait 2012 for brick #6
With even more Canadians !!
Do you know if there’s any shots of the wall from the base of the hill or rounding the corner?
that’s outstanding…
I only have one question. Is “gonna fly now” played on repeat from the first to the last person going up the wall?? I’m thinking I should do that while I’m at work.
the western wall: “what started out as a joke, has turned into a disaster” rocky IV