Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

well a top 10 has just made my day!

Now all I care about is a 49, the 10, 50 and 100mi records...

This sport is fucking miserable. Endless disappointment fueled by fleeting joy.

Well I did my first time trial on Sunday. It was the H25/2 as Hippy and Ed have been discussing. In my novice eagerness to not miss my start I arrived about 15 minutes before I was off and managed to get pretty hypothermic! It was so cold!

I saw lots of others had left jackets with the starters, so that's a lesson learnt.

Thanks to Tester and Hippy for the first time advice and on taping distances/turns to my stem - useful given I wasn't overfamiliar with the course or racing, but the marshals were great.

I paced it totally wrong, I think I was so worried about going out too hard that I undercooked the whole thing and then had a mental last few miles when I realised.

Ended up with a 56:06. Excited that there is and basically never ending project ahead of trying new kit/equipment/positions.

On the subject of drafting, I looked around when getting back onto the dual carriageway for the last stretch and there were three guys right on my tail that i'd overtaken! I've no idea what the rules are, but I was only interested in my time so it didn't bother me to tow them to the finish.

Also the cake and coffee was ace, and lots of lovely people very generous with tips and info. Good fun all round!

Drafting is cheating. Lazy pricks.

Good time 56. You can be pleased with that!

Great result Ed! Looking at that result list, I think I saw your name on the top tube of a Felt I was admiring in HQ. That thing is a beast! Lovely bike. How is the FLO disc? I'd love a disc but they are bloody expensive - the FLOs seem quite good value if they perform well.

Thanks Skinny! Nothing to compare the time to but happy for a first bash. Trying a 10 next, but I think it might be too short for me.

yep that's my bike, the Flo seems to do the trick, its not exactly lightweight but my understanding is that aerodynamics are more important that weight for all but the hilliest of courses, so a worthwhile sacrifice in the name of saving a bunch of cash, they are good value if you can get them through customs without paying, which I failed at, but still a lot cheaper than most of the other wide rim disc options.

that's a cracking time for yesterday!

Internetz bike fit please!

Well, Not I'm exactly looking for a bike fit, nor a position critique, but am curious as to what helmet other than a Selector would fit better and suit my position more. There seems to be an awful lot of helmet above me. My head isn't shaped like The Mekon, so wondering if there's something else that fit better.

That's as low as I can go by the way without losing the ability to put out my (measly) power over a length of time, and without getting cramps in my hips and abs.

Thanks in advance!!

Wasp?

Well I did my first time trial on Sunday

Ended up with a 56:06

unsubscribes and gives up...

In my novice eagerness to not miss my start I arrived about 15 minutes before I was off and managed to get pretty hypothermic! It was so cold!
I saw lots of others had left jackets with the starters, so that's a lesson learnt.

If it makes you feel better, I was there too early as well, but it's better than being late (done that too). I also elected not to bother with a jacket, gloves, etc.

name on the top tube of a Felt

DTM.

Was thinking the same.....

I know, I bought a packet of them in a fit of over excitement several years ago, it helps in case I ever forget, and I may as well use them now, I never got round to putting one on my Brompton though, or any of my training bikes...

Great thanks - seems like a good option for the dosh.

Ha! Sorry I didn't mean to make it sound like I'd decided in the pub on Saturday night to have a crack at a tt! I've been training pretty hard over the winter. I think the fitness is pretty good, I just have absolutely no idea on aerodynamics, so doing as much reading as possible there.

I was there about 10 minutes early, but needed some time to remove leg warmers and to have my number repinned as my club mate did a sh1t job the first time round!

I went winter gloves and a base layer under the skinsuit and a buff underneath my TT helmet, as much to absorb sweat as anything else, but it was too cold for any of that nonesense, so cold in fact that the grippers on my skinsuit didn't actually grip so I was gunning for the fosterman short shorts look...

I have built-in insulation.

That is definitely an option.

@frank9755 any idea on when the start sheet for your clubs event is coming out? Have the receipt from CTT for entering so deffo did that bit but haven't seen anything for it yet!

Gary, the organiser, says that he'll get it out later today.

On the subject of drafting, I looked around when getting back onto the dual carriageway for the last stretch and there were three guys right on my tail that i'd overtaken! I've no idea what the rules are ...

Drafting also gives a small benefit to the person being drafted.

DQ-ing yourself is the honourable thing to do.

Wheels suckers are the lowest of bottom feeders.

Next time, walk in to the village hall, climb up on your stool and inform the wheel sucker (in a loud voice for all to hear) that next time he wants to stick his wheel up yours, he can at least ask you before, so you could kindly tell him to fuck off and brake his own wind.

I don't think there's any question of 'making' teenagers acquire special bikes; I don't imagine for a moment that very young people are likely to be interested in this proposal.

The question is - would anyone be interested? And it seems that one or two have at least some enthusiasm for this project.

We're only talking about club records, We don't need to be too scientific about things - there's no standard engraved on stone tablets. To make this work it's just necessary to understand the spirit of what's intended. In our case, if there's a dispute, it would be up to our committee to adjudicate on the machine in question.

Just to cover some small details: while it might be interesting to specify that riders should wear alpaca jackets* since, to my knowledge, none exist in wearable condition this is a non starter. Similarly, we do not intend to insist on toeclips and straps, because of the difficulty of finding suitable shoes to go with them. The main thing is practicality.

• Alpaca fabric is currently available - if there's anyone determined/mad enough to go the whole hog and try to equal Frank Southall it's just necessary to find a tailor!
  

The question is - would anyone be interested?

To engage the maximum number of participants, put up as few hurdles as possible. Limiting the gear to 72" is already a barrier to entry, especially if single chainrings make a comeback and people start riding TT bikes with a bottom gear of >72" again :-)

Spot the guy who's lost more sprints than he cares for. :P

@Greenbank Coggan had some data on it...
http://www.trainingandracingwithapowermeter.com/2010/04/does-drafting-benefit-leading-rider_23.html