Posted by Steve on October 20, 2001 at 22:15:16:
Took the Savage for a ride in the beautiful Virginia countryside today. Went west on Route 50 through Aldee where an apple festival and crafts fair was being held. Then took a right on the Snickervilles Turnpike and headed for Blumont. Although it's called a turnpike, it's just a rural road with lots of interesting twists and turns. The turnpike follows the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains and the colors were glorious. Near the end of the turnpike you have to make a very sharp uphill U-turn (a step-like uphill, not a gradual grade). The only way to make it is to setup on the outside and turn sharply. You can't get too wide as traffic could be coming but you can't see it. Lots of bikes have gone down there. I love and hate that turn at the same time. I love the challenge but I hate the notion that I rarely make it cleanly. Then headed east on Route 7 and checked out Leesburg before heading home.
The Savage performed great throughout. My new flat bars completely eliminated the backache that the upright seating position with the pullbacks had caused. The seat comfort also improved. Instead of the usual thirty minutes, my rear didn't start complaining until about two hours into the ride.