Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

I'm confident I'll never be the best. Once you come to terms with that it's all about working out if YOU did a good ride or not. Then adjusting and (hopefully) improving. Improvement = victory.

Couldn't agree more. I love racing myself. I've shaved over an hour from my 100 time in the last 12 months and dipped below 6 hours for the first time...probably the best feeling I've had on a bike (despite having to be helped off it!).

I just didn't want to turn up and finish last by several minutes thats all, that would demoralise me. Once I realised that I wouldn't be one novice in a field of JAMIE's and Braves I feel ready to go and give it a shot.

Another thing to remember is someone has to come last.
Quitting and riding home when you're having a terrible race is much easier than seeing it through and facing the music, so to speak.

I'd be well up for a 10k TT. Does one need a licence to do it?

10 mile, generally. ~16k

Don't need a BC license.

Another thing to remember is someone has to come last.
Quitting and riding home when you're having a terrible race is much easier than seeing it through and facing the music, so to speak.

You're right. Its just a reflection of my nervousness about stepping up to the plate thats all. Better to race and come last than not race at all. By a long way.

I just can't wait to set a benchmark for me to chase.

I was nervous about going out last year but after a few trial runs have proven to myself that I shouldn't be humiliated.

Over the 30+ years that I've been riding club 10s, the spread between first and last has widened considerably. In the olden days on a slowish course like Fifield, it would be quite unusual for somebody to dip under 24:00, but nobody felt entitled to keep the timekeeper waiting more than half an hour. The sport seems to have become more accepting of slower riders, whether old, infirm or just plain talentless, but the fast guys have got faster and now the time typically run from <22:00 to >35:00, and we're happy to take people who ride at 15mph as long as they let us know before the start so we can set them off early!

Also, at least with 10s you're not far enough away from the clubroom/start that it'll take all day to walk back should you mechanical. :)

Tester were you riding on the A40 yesterday? If it was you you didn't wave, bloody snob!

I just wanted to prove to myself that I could go under 30mins before turning up thats all. Its just the way my brain works, I really don't want to give the impression that my opinion is the right one. I'm just very competitive with myself.

And competitive with Laner too...I'm sick of hanging off his back wheel on our training rides. Hes become so much stronger than me in the last six months or so. ;)

I did a 28:35 a few days back...I sent a text to JAMIE telling him he may as well quit while he is ahead. I'm coming for him!

Tester were you riding on the A40 yesterday? If it was you you didn't wave, bloody snob!

No, we were on the A4, and while I would have had time to wave I like to pretend I'm concentrating on the race even when I'm doing <20mph

I really don't want to give the impression that my opinion is the right one

No, I just posted that for the benefit of any other readers who might not know how broad the sport has become (see Hippy)

I've been watching the results come in over the latter part of last season and have been really impressed at how inclusive 10s seem to be. As to how it used to be I have no idea as I'm a fairly new rider.

My problem is that I just love riding my bike too much. I want to improve by 10s, 25s, 50s, 100s and do my first 200 this year...being so childishly exciteable I want to try a 24h one day in the future. Have a feeling I need to keep my feet on the ground and try one thing at a time!

My plans for Canada this year will mean that I can only do a few TTs I think...need to get back to long slow miles farly soon.

No, we were on the A4, and while I would have had time to wave I like to pretend I'm concentrating on the race even when I'm doing <20mph

You mean you don't wave at other racers? Maybe I should try that?

The guy looked like you. Think it was out near Stokenchurch.

Thanks hippy! One more thing, where would you recommend to look for a tt like that?

I think Hippy & MDCC mean that any old 10mi TT is accepting to beginners now days. The Bexley 10 is the one I have followed most and seems very amenable although it can sometimes be over subscribed and have to turn riders away if there aren't enough hours of daylight for everybody to get out and back before sundown.

Tell you what Dimi, why don't we go out and do the same one? Chat about it next time I see you. I'm sure Laner would be up for joining us too.

Local clubs (where are you?) and http://ctt.org.uk/

Stonehedge, I know I've only ridden with you once but you'll be fine. It was obvious you were fit enough and strong enough to easily break evens for a 10.

I think first rides are hard though, it took me 18 months to go from "going to race again" to "racing again".

Cheers mate, kind words. 6 laps of RP at 19.8 on 66GI that day. I remember feeling a bit guilty for holding you up though. Two v-sprinters don't often collide in London ...great chatting with you.

See you up at Manchester for Revolutions in Jan?

EDIT: Just checked Garmin and it was 4 laps with two warm up.

EDIT 2: It was 19.2. I'm not doing well with life today.

Stonehedge, I know I've only ridden with you once but you'll be fine. It was obvious you were fit enough and strong enough to easily break evens for a 10.
.

1+

The only barrier you have are in your head, everytime such events cropped up, you end up feeling surprised at how you made it, and not as hard as you expected it to be.

Having spoken to many seasoned TTers I'm reliably informed that it will be far far harder than I expect it to be and if not, then I'm not riding hard enough!

I wouldn't be planning on TTing if I was afraid of the pain cave.

I'm afraid of disappointing myself.

Disappointment is all part of it! You'll have far more losses and far more crappy performances than good ones. The 'trick' is to wanna keep going back..

I'm afraid of disappointing myself.

If you ever think you've done a ride you couldn't possibly improve on, you might as well give up TTing. That being the case, the whole sport is one long series of disappointments, mitigated by the presence of cake at the finish HQ.

Cake and knowing that you were up at stupid o'clock pushing yourself head-first into the dunny of the pain cave's out-house whilst most normal people are in bed.

Disappointment is all part of it! You'll have far more losses and far more crappy performances than good ones. The 'trick' is to wanna keep going back..

If you ever think you've done a ride you couldn't possibly improve on, you might as well give up TTing. That being the case, the whole sport is one long series of disappointments, mitigated by the presence of cake at the finish HQ.

You're talking to a man who plays golf. Substitute cake with scotch and the same applies!

It took me six months of hard work to break 6h for 100mi (I've not been riding long) and when I did finally crawl across the line in 5h59m13s with tears streaming down my face I was pissed off with myself for only managing it by a few seconds. I still dwell on the fact I had to stop and adjust my saddle slightly.

That was last Easter. I might go out and have a go and see if I can take a slice off my 100 time next week. I'm a fair bit stronger and faster than I was then.

Thanks for the words of encouragement btw everybody.

And well done again to Michael for a very solid first stab at an organised ten.