Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

You're making the incorrect assumption that being stretched out past the '3cm rule' makes you faster.

If not, why do people do it?

I do it for comfort

^^?
I get different strokes for different folks and all that, but as one of the hallmarks of an aero-tested 'fingerprint' seems to be to place a riders elbow further forward than what was legal, for a layman, it's reasonable to assume that those positions are more efficient.
Might not be outright faster right away, but once that rider has trained and adjusted, it's highly likely they'll be faster in the end.

Some people will test faster, some slower.

Whether or not the people in breach of the rule are faster in that position is unknown to us and may very well be unknown to them.

Bobridge beat Boardman's "unbeatable" pursuit time using a normal position vs. Boardman's superman position.

"hallmarks of an aero-tested 'fingerprint' seems to be to place a riders elbow further forward than what was legal"

Where are you getting this data from? I've only heard of one rider getting warned about the 3cm after the rule change and his position was hardly a Superman.

"highly likely they'll be faster" Massive assumption.

Flip it on its head then - why should taller riders be at a disadvantage to shorter ones?

• Fair play to him; he was an exceptional athlete.
  
• Google image search 'drag2zero position' and tell me where their sponsored riders' elbows are in relation to the suspended rule.
  
• Agreed an assumption, but reasonable given above.
  
• They aren't. Nothing is stopping one from them buying or building a frame that fits. UCI rules did discriminate but they then added +5cm extension morphological exemption. Not ideal for really tall riders, but any further would allow usually tall riders an advantage.
  

Yes he is.

Your Google image search is biased for people discussing a single team's position.
Apart from it likely to bring back everyone talking about them in relation to the 3cm rule, there's the fact it's likely they were all fitted by a single person.
So, google image search "CTT time trial position" or something more generic and try again.
Further, two of their fastest ever riders are quite clearly 3cm legal.

No, because you're biased in your collection of 'evidence'. If breaking the 3cm rule was so fast then everyone would've already been doing it (since there was never a penalty) and no one would be arguing about it.

They are. Rule change, existing bike fit problem. We can't all go out and set ourselves up again. Believe the press and 80% of UCI riders were applying for morph exemptions so goes to show what a farce their position rules were.

Yeah but I find indoor training a lot more efficient time-wise (It takes me a good 30 minutes of riding to get any traffic clear route)

Yeah I normally drop about 10% in power in door so will factor in mind. Yeah your setback is a lot further back than both mine. My current set back is 70mm on Road and 55mm on TT.

I'm going to experiment with pushing it back 5mm now. I've spent 3 months recovering from PFPS due to v.weak glutes so hopefully a further back position will recruit them more.

Good luck for the 25 (assuming you are competing)

;-)

Yeah it makes sense to ride indoors then.

Maybe work on some glute and posterior chain activation exercises to help.
And thanks, I am! Should be good. See you there.

Nice to see some forumers at the HWCC 10.

I really need a faster 10 time, seeding slowest to fastest killed me this morning. Off 2h before last man. Pete H did a huge ride.

What was it? 18 I'm guessing.

Yeah, not sure exact time, I think 18:40 ish, strava says 18:30.

18:39 I think with Liam maybank in second with an 18:59

Rachel beat Kate by 6 seconds, going to be a different story once kate starts riding her new bike and falling off the old one!

Does that mean they both beat me?

Just!

Cheers, both (@hippy )

Slow morning on the V718, your mate was right - strong headwind on the return leg.

Still, finally broke my 20 minute duck with a 19.37. So very relieved, there were a few points last night sitting on my own in the Premier Inn Hull West wondering "what the hell am I doing here?". Rode pretty much spot on plan of 399w out and 402w back.

My minute man told me I should definitely try out 180mm cranks given my leg length. Didn't have the heart to say I had another few months of testing before selling all my stuff and getting fat.

Are you shaped like a brick?

Hah, yes. Did I mention it was windy?

Can still be fast in the wind.

But 400W is big money.

Nice ride either way, glad you well exceeded your target of sub 20!

True dat. My positional expertise has extended as far as the David Millar tenet "if you look fast, you're probably fast". If I was able to commit to TT'ing long term I'd definitely get it looked at.

Although now you can just stick your elbows out in line with the front axle, should be able to dig a few more seconds out..

I'm just jealous I can't do 400W :(

Good stuff! Glad it was worthwhile in the end.

Come to me when you're selling your TT stuff...

I can do 400w.