Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

This is why the rules are bollocks. They might not say fairing but they ban "recumbent machines, protective shields or windbreaks" and that is definitely a shield / wind break.

My arbitrary rule of thumb has been sticking bits of cardboard and plastic to OTP parts, aka doing a Bowdler, for no reason other than airflow is a fairing (or "wind break"). But then, I bought a helmet with taped up air vents and never removed the tape so I'm somewhat guilty there too although that's a helmet not a bike so actually whatever, I'm still legal.

For me, being DQ'd from a 10mi is a bummer, but riding a 12hr or 24hr and being DQ'd because your bike is covered in cardboard, tape, sugru and other bullshit would be a ruined season so I try and follow the rules as I think they were intended.

North Road Hard Riders in two weeks. I now have a PM - can I use it for pacing, or does the hilly all-over-the-place nature of the course render it useless?

I've not raced a long "flat" TT in over a year, always paced on feel. Did the National HC (13.5 mins almost all up hill) and did find the PM useful. Stopped me going out too hard and kept me honest on the flatter bits.

From what I gather, the NRHR is a roller coaster first half then hunker down and get aero for the second half. What metric would be useful? 3 second power? Does it make sense to have a power target for the whole race? I'm riding the course (with the PM) tomorrow, what should I be paying attention to?

https://www.strava.com/routes/183224?hl=en-GB

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I'd put the details into bestbikesplit for pacing info. Or the UK wind one. That will at least give you a rough idea of where to use and save your biccies.

https://mywindsock.com/route/183224/

Not a bad plan. Mywindsock model for the National HC was actually really accurate, despite guestimating my CdA and power capabilities.

3 second power on screen? NP, Average?

That's the one.

Just go full gas when you can, it's too rolling and twisting to pace. Ie. Over FTP
Pre riding it this weekend would be good.
And smash that final double hill, it's a downhill to the finish so you will be ok if blown.

See my go https://www.strava.com/activities/880332462/analysis

http://tpks.ws/OT7PH6BRZC76OES43Q5KSAMIN4

.

Thank you!

Might ride tomorrow without power displayed and use the file for analysis.

Just from experience as I ride it quite often as a bit of 'training'

The first half is the hilly bit, but they're all less than 70 meters so nothing too challenging.
The left hand under the railway bridge into Darnicre Hill is tight and fairly hidden, so at least in training take that a bit carefully
Cucumber Lane is beautiful
The right from Cucumber Lane into Little Berkhampstead is tight and often gravely though perhaps they sweep that for the tt (?)
There's usually a head wind on the B158 so I find that the hardest bit of the course. I think if you'd gone out hard you could really blow on the hill up to Esseodon.

I'd ride it all to 10s power except for the section from the top of Carbone Hill until the right turn in Little Berhampstead.

iana tter

Try make notes of the corners and KMs and perhps put custom cues onto a garmin file.
When I did it, the ground was slippey so a good few sketch corners. But there are some wehre you can save a lot of time by nailing, especially on road bike.

That out of back bit, passes a tight turn then it's a steep hill up to the roundabout, in the race you'll want to smash that short hill.

It's a roadmans course for sure.

What was your FTP / weight?

FTP don't know. Maybe 330-340 looking at the numbers.
2017 I would have been around 72kg. Oh the good old days.

I think I was born at 72kg..

Goes without saying but clothing choice under skinsuit is critical at this time of year. Lots of people either massively over or under dressed, so worth having a think as how to keep warm and slippery when you get the forecast.

Better to be born sl(h)ippy.

Yep, looks like it’ll be a bit colder on race day but gonna test out my layers tomorrow. No skinsuit! Road bike category so it’s all woolly jumpers and toe clips.

Echoing fredtc's comments, I'd definitely ride with power. For me the 3s would be really useful to avoid going overboard on the early climbs.

The B158 back from Hertford is the place to get really aero, but again be aware that the climb south, through Essendon, is very draggy so if you've gone too far into the red then you will lose time hand over fist here.

Dunno if it's been resurfaced yet but the 90 degree left hander at the far East point on the course was an absolute nightmare last year, gravel on top of potholes.

Road bike category so it’s all woolly jumpers and toe clips.

Skinsuits not allowed in the road bike category? Would be good if that were the case down here. A lot of the road bike categories are filled with people essentially on TT bikes with standard road bars and skinsuits.

I can understand it if you already own a TT bike but then why aren't they racing the TT cat? Leave the Road Bike cats for people who haven't thrown £££££££ at da aeroz.

Turn at 19.5km to go is sketchy AF - that's the one out of Cucumber Lane that @fredtc and @BlakeG mentioned I think. The bigger roads are actually pretty good - been resurfaced in the last couple of years I think.

Need to keep it under 130% FTP on the climbs and above 85% on the flat. Very useful to recce, even just to understand power a bit.

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Cheers, the one I meant was the turn off from White Stubbs Lane but good to know. Will have a look myself next weekend, really tempted to put 4 seasons on the TT bike for this one.

We've collated a Road Bike TT National series for 2020 - 50 open events with 6 to count for the overall standings. Basically aimed at removing the perceived barrier to entry where people new to the sport think you need a £10k spaceship to take part!

More info here: https://www.aero-coach.co.uk/aerocoach-road-bike-tt-national-series-2020

Good idea and work!