Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

near Hounslow

Near Chobham would be more accurate

Out of my territory :-)

That said, if the dates work I may try to make the trip. Do we know when it's likely to be?

Do we know when it's likely to be?

October 15^th

Thanks for the info. I'll look into those and hopefully race a couple soon.

Sleep: We'll see, but lack of focus (e.g. not strictly racing) will mean it may be better to have a quick catnap rather than riding slowly for several hours.

Only just started using gels for running and get on with them ok, but no idea about anything longer than a few hours. I'll gel myself up on the Ditchling Devil and see how that goes (pop, splutter, pabloosh probably). It's a first go at the 24 so I'm happy to make a bunch of mistakes and learn, but for this first one I'll stick with what I know generally works for me on long rides (a cafe or petrol station forecourt feed every 6 hours or so and some on bike snacking in between).

Fixed: Because I rode PBP and LEL fixed along with most of my other Audaxes and it's what I associate most with long distance riding. I chickened out on a few with gears (K&SW 600, Elenith first time, Midlander Super Grimpeur). Have a perfectly serviceable Wilier Izoard which I'll be using for the Ironman. Using fixed I'm always in the right/wrong (delete as applicable) gear so I have less to think about.

Lack of spares because I'll be coming up on the train so I won't have a car full of spare wheels/etc. It'll be whatever I can fit in a large rucksack.

Managed to get a pic of me racing at the weekend. Would really appreciate your thoughts on position etc. Just after the turn on a 10, so prob quite representative of my actual on bike position.

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I'm surprised you can type this. Didn't your team gut you at the finish?

Ever lost a race by the same amount of time you spent stopped? I have.
You will ride slower, but the trick is not to slow too much. Focus.

It's your first, so you may as well push the boat out and leave some 'audax' behind.

Mersey Roads is probably a good course for fixed anyway, it's a lot flatter than the Sussex course so you won't get so many big speed changes.

First 24? I agree with @hippy -go large or go home.

More seriously, I would have thought any perceived benefit of a cat nap would be offset by feeling drowsy afterwards and taking time to get back up to speed. Redbull, pro plus, gels and general enthusiasm/adrenaline should all keep you up.

Someone said there's a course change this year? Is it going to impact your race at all?

Nice dead-turn Open 10 being held by my club at the end of May if anyone fancies a trip to Llandovery:

https://cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/11777

We're also holding a road race on the Sunday & a 25 TT on the Bank Holiday Monday, if anyone fancies making a weekend of it:

https://cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/11823

Ive been to Llandovery. 100 or 12hr hmm ??

Weekend camping available at Llandovery RFC, across the road from the startline of the 10.

It's only the 2nd time I've dropped a chain since moving to a 1x setup, but having it happen in a race is annoying especially when my legs were obviously feeling good.

I might need to invest in a chain catcher of some kind. Wasn't there some guy on TTF who was trying to design and 3d print a low profile chain catcher that would be more aero than using an old FD? I'm going to have a derailleur on there then it may as well be cabled up!

Yeah he ain't the only one

Welcome to my world. I don't trust 1x11 without a FD - dropped chain in training once, National champs and an early season 10. I have an Ultegra FD on it now and it's been sweet.

I have two old Campag deraillers you're welcome to bodge up if you want. They're from @Scilly.Suffolk but I ended up using an Ultegra FD from Scherrit.

Are you making a chain guide? Can I have one? Pretty please?

Me too... do you have an expected timeline? Also, Aerocoach saddles??

@hippy thanks for the offer, but I have a couple spare already... Removing the FD was a large part of my motivation when moving to 1x, so if I don't see the point of refitting the FD without adding the cables back on too.

I've just started making one out of ali and carbon plate. Trying to work out an easy way of making small aerofoil sections out of aluminium bar. Easy being 'not using a file'. Failing.

Cabled der. is smaller than Di2 der and you lose the small chainring so much of the benefit is there. I can't lose the hanger anyway so it was never going to be perfect.

Sure, if you have three races of 20:00 you might be annoyed with using a FD, but it's better than having three races of 26min because you've had to pull the chain back on...

Does Dremel count?

I might Dremel the FD but it seems a shame to ruin a perfectly fine FD.

Thinking more milling machine than Dremel. Bit more of a precision tool.

Are you doubting hippy's hand eye coordination??

Are you calling me shaky?

I've only seen what is on the ttf. Sounds like roadworks and lights might be taking the far turn of the night section out of action. So, we could lose that bumpy Roubaix style bit. Shame as it both wakes you up, and gives you something to moan to other riders about.

"bumpy this bit, innit?"
"yer, bumpy"
"we must be mad"
"yer, mad"