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Additional tips:
- give yourself lots of time the first few events you go to. At least an hour if you are turning up with kit to get on, tyres to pump up etc.
- For CTT events you need a front and rear light
- Don't do a U-turn (or nature break!) near the start or you can get DQ'd
- Remember to hand your number back in
- Say thank you to the organiser/time keeper/marshals
- Enjoy it!
- give yourself lots of time the first few events you go to. At least an hour if you are turning up with kit to get on, tyres to pump up etc.
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Yeah I like having lots of time for fell races and you basically have nothing to do, I’ll probably be very early if I’be got a bike to deal with.
Can you explain the U-turn bit? It’s an out and back course, I’m assuming I’ll just be firing out for 12.5 miles then turning at the roundabout. Or is that while you’re waiting to start? Are you all just in a queue in order to set off? -
No U turns is just about avoiding any silly or dangerous road manoeuvres while you’re milling around before your start time and in sight of the time keepers.
Arrive at the start time keeper at least 5 mins to go and queue up. Don’t go out too hard. Haha. It should feel easy for the first 10 mins at least.
Also do a bit of Google mapping from HQ or wherever you’re warming up to the start. It’s not unknown to get lost and miss ones start time.
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Yeah, he's referring to before you start. If you were to warm up on the course and performed a u-turn, you could disrupt other riders, confuse time keepers (especially if it's a multi-lap course), and could affect passing motorists, which could again affect other riders.
The startsheet you normally receive 1-2 weeks before the race normaly tells you which nearby roads are suitable for warming up on, along with where the HQ is, when it opens, parking arrangements, how to get to the start* and a course description and of course your start time.
*don't underestimate how long it might take you to dawdle to the start, you don't want to be at 175bpm in the first mile because you were sprinting to the startline - trust me!!
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you don't want to be at 175bpm in the first mile because you were sprinting to the startline - trust me!!
Wait, you're NOT supposed to be sprinting to the line? I thought 'panic' was all part of the warmup process.
One of my most memorable crits was me arriving late and being so angry about wasting all my energy riding to the start of the race, I just shot off the front at the flag drop. Ended up lapping the field and winning.
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Haha yeah I've done just about every version of fucking up a TT you can do.
Missed my start by minutes but filled a position down the line and done the flying start through the starters. I think it was on an F course. Can't really remember the race or result but I think it was north London.
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Ah thanks for the tips.
Actually had quite a good ride at the weekend. Managed an average of 19.5mph over 50 miles, robbed of hitting 20 because I loaded the wrong route and chose an old one that has a few miles of gravel cycle path. That and 10 miles of headwind to finish. Punctures at 25 miles and 49, lol.
But the main thing was that I was able to spend the vast majority of time in the extensions. And based on the speed I managed I’ve put a conservative estimate of 1:15 in for the 25. And will aim for 1:10 if I can.
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will aim for 1:10
You should easily get inside that if you don't fuck up, I wouldn't rule out getting under 1:05:00
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what course have you entered and have you looked at the Strava kom for it to give you an idea of power/speed that might be achievable??
In my experience a number on your back usually adds at least a couple of miles per hour as does the careful course design of most Uk time trial courses in that they maximise traffic, straight lines and minimise elevation, in my first 25 I headed out aiming to break the hour and was flabbergasted when I came home in around 56 minutes.
My best piece of advice for tts is that the better the day, (favourable wind, road traffic and atmospheric conditions) the more you’ll hear from the experienced hands that it was a “tough day”, the categorisation of “float day” (ie perfect) is much like gaining sainthood and takes at least a couple of years to be decided… this doesn’t help with the actual riding though!
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the better the day, (favourable wind, road traffic and atmospheric conditions) the more you’ll hear from the experienced hands that it was a “tough day”
Nah, "tough day" is reserved for actual tough days. Good days are referred to in terms like "that was deceptive", "not such a good day as it looked first thing", "I thought that was going to be better", and "I thought it was going to pick up on the way back"
Literally nobody in history has ever ridden on a float day, even though everybody else connected with the event is sure that it was.
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Also, it is simultaneously possible for both the early starters and the later starters to have had the best of the conditions, and every single rider is the victim of a temporary dip in conditions which starts and ends during the time they're on the course.
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https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/25517
I assume talk of KOMs is tongue in cheek. I darent find out what my watt per kg or FTP is tbh, never mind actually have a target beyond a loose time. I’d be more than happy to set off strong-ish and aim for a faster second half. But truth be told, I’m not experienced enough on a bike to really know what any level of effort feels like. And my only training is a hilly 11 mile commute on a fixed a couple times a week, lol (building up a decent list of excuses is a decent part of my strategy of course).I know from fell running that race day always helps you to focus and try harder. Just don’t know exactly what that will feel like on the bike. And I’ve signed up for a 75 mile sportive the weekend before. Not mad miles by any stretch of the imagination, but probably enough to put some tiredness in the system (excuse number 2).
As for conditions chat, it seems to be the opposite of fell running. Even if it was blowing a hoolie with sideways hail and sleet, “it wasn’t that bad”. Still, I’ll happily come back and repeat any excuses I can pick up on the day ;)
The other issue is that if the bits for my TT cockpit down turn up in time, do I just use my extensions on my drops, or try and change to the road bike category? Still reckon I’d have more fun on the extensions regardless. Worse yet I could bork my bike at the sportive and have to do the TT on my fixed commuter. Ah so many excuses - I can’t fail!
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It wasn’t meant as tounge in cheek but given the kom on that is really weird (70+kph) it’s not that helpful.. that said, there are some riders with decent power and kit only just breaking an hour on that course, so it’s clrearly not a super fast one!
As others have said try to set off at a pace below what you think you can do and can a knit up in the last 5-10 miles if you have anything left in the tank! A gel and a good drink before the start line should see you through, but it won’t hurt that much to have a bottle on the bike, I’d be surprised if you think to use it though!
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I was wondering about a drink. But for an hours effort on the fell I’d never both taking a drink. But it’s a different kind of effort. I’ll probably go without and see how it goes. Gel and drink 15 minutes before for sure though.
I was also going to take a pump levers and a tube after my punctures at the weekend. Is that a massive faux pas/bad idea?
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Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT
Posted by
@hippy
Open Time Trials will have a max capacity and you do not get told whether you are accepted to race until 1-2 weeks before the start of the event. The faster your PB in that distance the more likely you are to be accepted. If the race is full and you aren't accepted, then being on the reserve list means you will be able to race if someone drops out.