Savage Hill Stage Race - Savage Chicken

September 5, 2004

Rider		Team	Place	Field
	Joe Niccum	Savage Hill Cycling Team Archive	1st	Masters
-	Mitch Tallan	Savage Hill Cycling Team Archive	Field	Cat 3-4
	Jay Truesdell	Savage Hill Cycling Team Archive	Field	Cat 3-4
	Will Koehler	Savage Hill Cycling Team Archive	Field	Cat 3-4
-	Amy Rees	Savage Hill Cycling Team Archive	Support	Support
-	Mark Bell 1953-2009	Savage Hill Cycling Team Archive	Support	Support
-	Jon Schaer	Savage Hill Cycling Team Archive	Support	Support

Joe Niccum

The Chicken is a really tough course. The hills are steep and the flats are long.

We (Heroes) were very active today. Brett was going for KOM bonuses and I was blocking and harrassing the Yellow jersey. We were all grouped together high in the standings so we had plenty of options. By the end of the day two of us dropped out. Lake Effect Masters really kept the field together. They would fade on the climbs and then come back on the downhill and flats.

Brett tried staying away after the last climb and he nearly did. Lake effect closed the gap which set the finish up for a sprint. I took advantage and sprinted clean down the left side to win. The time bonus wasn't enough at 15s. Brett picked up 11s on the KOM side. An inch closer and still a mile away. We still had a lot of fight left.

Notable events: Yellow jersey dropped his chain on the 1st time up Savage Hill, he came back with another bike. On the last lap, I noticed that he had his original bike back under him. (now how did that happen?)

Will Koehler

- I couldn't believe how fast this stage started out. Do people know what's coming up?
- I couldn't believe how slow the 2nd loop was. Obviously everyone learned.
- Race pace up Chicken Coop is 5.5mph.
- Race pace down the Carpenter Rd descent is 114mph (no really, that's what my computer said)
- I'll never get that %*#(&@ chicken dance song out of my head.
- If you break your chain on Savage Hill, please don't turn your bike sideways in the middle of the pack
- No matter how far back you think you are, keep racing.
- I took the sprint in the 2nd group for 35th place. I've never won a group sprint before...EVER

Jay Truesdell

I was happy with my ride today, thrilled to catch the main group after the 1st major climbs. Because I live where I do, in Bremen, I don't have the opportunity to ride with others often if at all, so I wasn't sure how I was going to do in this race. I was pleased to discover that I'm not really too far off the mark right now. Lots of work to do, but I know where I stand. Didn't have to WALK either so that made my day too : ) Thanks to all those yelling encouragement I appreciate it lots.