Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

Plus you may be able to get the power back by training in the new position, of course that is only worth it if the new position was actually more aero. Lower is not always so.

Just received my confirmation that my entry to the National 12hr race has been accepted. Fuuuuuuuck...

Get some more armrest padding. No, more.

@cjr, get in?

But did you go faster?

Hard to tell. Rode the P881/25, on a quick morning, in a different district to what I normally compete in, against different riders, and only my first time on the course, although I have ridden the P885/25 variant years ago.

Without the ability to test properly it's a tricky scenario, that's for sure.

To put some figures against it, I rode a 10 mile s/c TT on 19th May in 23:03 at 302w. Next event was the P881/25 on 3rd June at 260w. Fitness would have been the same. Paced the first half of the race as I wanted to (approx 277w avg), couldn't hold the power in the second half, ended up with approx 242w avg for the second half.

I doubt 5mm of drop is gonna save you 40w of aero so i'd put them back up... but at the same time I can't see 5mm of drop costing you 40w of power output.

300w was the 10, 260w was the 25. Going by the 107% of FTP for a 10, in theory I should have been able to knock out the 25 in 280w, less a small amount possibly for the slightly lower front end, and a tiny bit more as the 10 was an afternoon event and the 25 a morning one, and I do 'go' better in the afternoon. So for arguments sake let's say 270w should have been easily achievable.

Either that or I am super sensitive, and once over a certain hip angle, my power just drops like a lead weight.

Could also have been the (unfamiliar) course. In the usual club/opens courses I enter, I know the roads very well, so there's no hesitation on course directions, and I know where to put the power down, where to briefly recover and where (not) to ride.

I've ridden a other version of the course, so know how to ride it. I also studied the turns all week leading up to Sunday.

That's probably the only thing I am good at, the ability to be able to pace sections depending on gradient/wind direction etc.

I'm (hopefully) back on there a week on Sunday, I think I'll just raise everything back up 5mm and see what happens.

Sadly, due to family and life stuff I don't have time to test outside of racing.

so you rode faster on the 25 (26.3 mph) than the 10 (26mph) for 40w less power, obviously the course and weather has significant impact so its not a great test, but i'd be tempted to stick with the change and see if with some adaptation you can regain some of that power.

have you looked at my windsock, it runs CDA calculations based on power and weather conditions without having to faff with aerolab, if I could get my ass in gear it could be really useful for aero testing if you create each run as a separate activity.

Gonna sell some TT kit I think , anyone after anything? Track disc, Ventus II, Omega, that sorta stuff.

c/would be tempted by ventus

Maybe the omega(s)

Yeah, I got in as well!

In all seriousness, how would you go about adding additional padding to 3T pads? Or is it just part of the 'it's really bumpy' jokes.

Remove stock pads and get some super thick foam I guess? 3T are pretty good pads though.

Mostly joking though, I've never actually had forearm issues on the A31, but some people come away with bruises.

Good to hear, did a 50 on there this year with no issues and the 3T are much more comfortable than the cheapo ones I have been using for the last few seasons.

Pacing question - how did you pick your target and did you plan a schedule where you slowed down over the race, or just kept an even pace?

There's the Malcolm Firth guide out there that's really good at predicting 12hr distance from 100 mile time. Unfortunate it seems to have been taken down but you might find the distance table if you search through TTF. Was pretty spot on for me choosing to target 270 miles.

Said guide promotes the whole slowing down schedule which is nonsense. As even as possible is best. The finishing circuit that you spend 2/3 hours on is slightly faster than the main loop which will help with fatigue.

edit - doing the work for you

Cheers, I have been referencing that which is what led to the slowing down question. I've only done one 100 and I'm in better shape this year so I'm trying to set a realistic target without being over optimistic!

Would gave thought you'd manage 280+?

Am free next Sunday, will try and pop along, maybe marshall.

Yeah, the courses vary massively, s/c on a half decent surface with a 10-12mph tailwind out/headwind home, against a super smooth d/c on a very calm day. In both the pressure was average at best.

Am I right in thinking you can just upload a Garmin file, or do you have to use a Strava segment?

I think the key is to compare to a similar course (and weather) I may have done one fast 50, but I only did a 1:55 in the Charlottesville 50 earlier this year. My thinking was to start on a 270 mile pace accepting that I may not maintain it!

If you do come down, get in touch with @dbr as he will be there from around 3 hrs in to support me.

Have volunteered to marshall so will see where I end up