Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

Ah yep-
Black Medium.
Pink Small.

Hi Nef,

Slow response again after another off grid trip, but your performance certainly merits comment.

That’s a great start to a TT career – I’m pretty sure your first 25 is faster than Tom Simpson’s. Don’t be too disappointed if your next ride is slower, you’ve set yourself a high standard, but you will improve; my prediction is a sub-hour ride next year.

Returning to my post 20268 and your response, it is striking how little riding you were doing to achieve that 1.4. Of course individuals vary in the amount of mileage they need for basic fitness but I can tell you, having interviewed many TT and road race winners for race reports, that a surprising number of them regularly do ‘old style’ big mileages – 200 miles a week is not rare. Don’t let this put you off; these are elite riders. At your current level perhaps 100 miles per week would be a reasonable target and one which I’m sure would lead to improvement next year.

Your Bike

As I said, I think you have been over focussing on kit. However, looking at the photo of your TT machine, it strikes me as a road bike with clip on bars tacked on almost as an afterthought. Perhaps you should consider removing them and entering the currently popular ‘road bike’ section of events - quite possibly you would soon be competitive there. It sounds as though Tester might approve of this idea.

Good luck next weekend. If you want to tell us the outcome, do include the winner’s name and time - this will give us some clue about the conditions on the day.

Finally, hats off to Tester for his amazingly accurate prediction!

I think 44 miles on the commute and 25-30 on the weekend is likely the most I’ll manage. At least the commutes are on a fixed gear over decent hills. And my silly winter goal is to get up the 13% 1 mile climb by Otley on my fixed. Failed miserably last time.

Kit wise I think I’m there (there’s no more cheap gains to be had, beyond shaving my legs). If I have the time or motivation over winter I’ll convert the cockpit. Maybe see if a cheap 10sp wheelset pops up (but I’m happy to save my money). I’d thought about the road bike option, but really I enjoy the speed and aero side. I’m happy to be mediocre.

I’m ready for Sunday to be a disappointment. Had a very stressful week of professional exams. Been feeling v fatigued. Been mostly off the bike this week but cycled in today. Slowest I’ve been since July and my legs are dead.

Weirdly relieved - no pressure to perform now!

1 Attachment

And my silly winter goal is to get up the 13% 1 mile climb by Otley on my fixed

Old Pool Bank? You're a braver/stupider man than me if so.

Buy my old 808 Powertap

2 Attachments

It is sexeh. How much?

East Chevin road - Old Pool Bank is on the radar though. The kick on east chevin is brutal. Nice stupid little challenge to motivate me to get out in fixed rides.

I reckon £200 sans tyre

Weather forecast slightly improved for tomorrow. Been a rough week. Will report back afterwards!

1 Attachment

1:00:45 official time. An improvement, but sadly not under the hour. Doable without the wind I reckon at least!
Report to come later.

1 Attachment

Mate, that’s impressive for your second ever 25 mile TT. You are definitely capable of going under the hour.

Bramley wheelers CC 25

As usual, the report starts way before the race. I was pretty psyched about my 1st TT two weeks previous. The following week I felt decent on the bike on my commute, the whisper of a return to some kind of form was starting to appear and my [over]confidence was growing. I met a mate from the fell running club and did a steady 8 miles on the trails one evening after also commuting 11 miles each way to work on the fixed. You know the feeling - you put some miles in, you get some results, and you feel like you’re a lot more durable than you really are. So obviously I felt absolutely wrecked by the weekend. I got up early to get 60 fixed gear miles in, but I just sat there on the sofa, the time ticking away, unable to unglue myself from my seat. 630am. I’m already shortening the route. 7am. More shortening. I just can’t will myself into action. I can’t remember when I actually set off, but the route had been cut in half. I tried to get up the East Chevin climb by Otley and failed miserably. No beans. No power. No Engine. Stopped, walked, tried again. Like a sack of shit on a bike. So I just called it quits and went home, a grand total of 18 miles.
And then after all that, I had a week of professional exams, including a two day practical. General stress. Resting heart rate right up. Mood low and feeling shite. Flogged myself to get onto the bike on Thursday morning and commuted slower than I have in months. It wasn’t looking good for Sunday. Things did look up by the time I rode home and some life had started to return to my legs. Even PBd one of the climbs.
A mixed bag. Not feeling great but at least improving.
Weather forecast initially was for 15mph winds, which dropped to 10mph the night before. The course is faster than my previous TT according to those I’d spoken to. Good road surface. Fewer climbs. Some even dared to suggest I might go under the hour.
Upsidedown had kindly hooked me up with some shoe covers. I had a hilarious episode Veeting my legs while also trying not to cauterise any sensitive equipment in the process (once sub 60 had been mentioned, I was willing to try anything to squeeze any extra seconds off my time). But I wasn’t exactly following a Team Sky race protocol, as when the opportunity presented itself to have two pints with my brother, I happily obliged.
After the first TT, there wasn’t much to prep the night before. Kit and a change of clothes in a bag. Pump tyres up (and try and ignore that they’d deflated themselves over the last 2 weeks).
Race day was the standard fare. Up at 620. Take too long to have a shit. Get stressed. Rush around. Hoover up coffee and cereal. Chuck everything in the car hastily. Worry that I’m short of time. I am short on time. Arrive. Get changed. It’s 8.11 and my start time is 8.28. The start is 2 miles away and I am definitely not warmed up. Cycle to the start. Hit a small pothole and my right extension flips down at a 20 degree angle. Pull it back into place. Rush around near the start trying to get warm. It’s all too late so I roll to the start line, whip out my multi tool, fix my extensions and wait my go.
Count down and we’re off (I did remember to set my garmin going before the 10 second countdown this time at least).
I set off well but it didn’t quite feel like there was too much of a tailwind. Definitely rolling faster than the previous effort though. Average speed flirting with 25mph. Maybe the hour is on? A serious looking rider flies past me. I try not to take it too personally. But speeds are good and the course feels fast.
Can’t tell if I should be pushing harder. Can’t tell if my legs feel good or not. It’s wet and greasy on the road and the first turn comes around. It’s a roundabout followed by an anti-clockwise feeder back onto the main road. I’m too cautious to corner aggressively in these road conditions. Kick for hell out of the roundabout - with a photographer there to capture the moment - and then angrily churn my way round the feeder. I’ve taken a few places, and the headwind doesn’t seem to be there. Feels more like the crosswind of the first half. Average speed is 14.75. The hour seems doable for sure. So I try and put a decent leg in, head in position, mouth agape and drooling away (also captured by a photographer). The second turn goes without incident, just have to try and keep it together now to prepare for giving it hell on the final leg. The final turn goes very similarly to the first - tentative cornering and trying to kick out to compensate.
As I rejoin the road, the headwind is definitely present now. My average is floating just below 15 mph, so I just try and go hell for leather. Hints of cramp, breathing much heavier, legs threatening to fade. I pass the half constructed petrol station which means it’s two miles to go. Making weird noises and practically vibrating, I feel like I give all that I could for the last 2 miles. Crossing the finish line with a raspy shout of “28”.
1:00:45. Not today. But technically a 4 minute PB.
A gentle roll back to the village hall, to be greeted by a table of cakes, sandwiches and cups of tea.
Lots of chatting and eating later, I slink off home. On the road before 11. Pretty decent outing considering it’s not even lunch time yet!
So sub 60 will have to be a project for 2024 it seems.

The winner (Jack Levick) came in 49.40. Fast!

1 Attachment

Also, anyone know where I might find the photos from the day?

anyone know where I might find the photos from the day?

It's a constant source of mystery. Sometimes you'll get a link to the snappers site with the results, sometimes they appear on the promoting club's socials, but more often than not they seem to disappear into the private collection of the photographer, presumably because he just has a "men in lycra" fetish

Ah. I’ve joined some Facebook groups, likely in vain, to try and hunt some of them down. But as you say, probably just lost to the ether!

Well played Nef. Good ride and report.

Nice ride. It's very refreshing to have someone on the forum start their TT career, feels like it's been ages.

As my mate said, about as aero as a van.

3 Attachments

about as aero as a van.

That can't be that true if you're doing 1hr 25mi with <300W

Number pinning and overshoes need attention. You can probably get your head down more (maybe you need wider arm position to allow it) but then most TT photos are taken at turns when people are sitting up. Ditch the tool bag - you walk home if you have an issue. Buy an old 808 wheel off some former TTer...

What's the thing on the head badge area?

Also looks like the aero bars need to come up - riding a bit like Jan Ulrich. I started with horizontal but went faster with them slightly upwards (also stops you feeling like you're going to slide off the front).

That helmet ⛑️ is offending my aesthetic senses.

Did you see my "little pink one"?

I thought that was a secret between us?

Someone else pinned the number for me - I’ll try and pick someone who knows what they’re doing next time, lol.
It’s a light on the head tube, bad place for it? I’m still paranoid about having to walk home (hence the tools).
What’s the over shoe issue, need to be smoother? First time I’m used them tbh.

Mate is telling me I need to rotate hips forward - hopefully straight my back out. I moved my extensions forward to create a bit more space.

Budget comes before aesthetics at the moment!

@Nef Top work so far enthusiasm is important for suffering 💪. I'd recommend one of these to help with your hip rotation
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134721984893
One of these to stop number flappage
https://nopinz.com/product/speedwrap/
And a set up like this will be more aero than your saddle bag if you must carry stuff. 3 decent aero upgrades for around £100 in total

1 Attachment