Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

When is it?

Satdee arvo

You're not going to get any more form before then. Do a 1 minute on/off session tonight for an hour then maybe just do an easy hour each day with a few race pace efforts.

I think longer intervals are better. They're more race-specific. 1min on/off is working the wrong energy system - at least for half of it until I'm too fatigued to max out the minutes on.

My way might not add power but it does help me 'memorise' steady state pacing at the power level I'm aiming to hit. Towards the end of the week I will drop it, instead of 2x20 at FTP it'll be more like 1x15 or something at FTP. It'll all depend on how I feel though.

Just cos it works the wrong energy system doesn't mean it doesn't improve the energy system you want to get better.

Yes, but the million dollar question is which method will make me go faster on Saturday?

Newb question; about to do my second 10' and wondering how much an aero helmet might affect my time - too many variables I know, but am I right in thinking that aside from position, my skinsuit + shoe covers + deeper section wheels will be more than enough? I haven't found anything online that gives an idea of what kind of power saving a helmet might give.

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2010/04/biggest-bang-for-your-buck-in-time-trial-equipment/

Wow, thanks - perfect! So it does make an appreciable difference over a 25'. Hmm, my bank balance was hoping it wouldn't..

selling a giro advantage helmet if its the right size for you http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/274512/#comment12522956

If it's your second 10, I wouldn't be thinking about buying kit.

Your position is far more important and will change lots before you find the best lid for it anyway.

I hate that infographic, outdated and unspecific.

That Advantage that Laner's selling would be good, they're fast on most people.

Hippy's absolutely correct here.
I'd like to know how many people are put off taking part in TT's because they think they need expensive kit to start with.

In contrast here's a little anecdote, the scene is Ken Ryall's shop in the late 70's

Me: Hi Geoff, I'm thinking of buying some lightly spoked sprints suitable for time trialling.

Geoff Elder (behind the counter): You don't want to bother with that sort of thing at your stage. You want to wait until you've done some decent rides.

Me: Well, I have just done a short 59. (this sounded a lot faster then than it does now)

Geoff: Oh, OK then, maybe we'll do something.

Not much, I imagine, like a modern bike shop.

It took me a season of racing to even begin to get a grip on pacing.

Not sure I ever did for 25s though.

#besttimewasrecordedwithacalendar

I didn't go under the Hour until 2011, even with two seasons of TTing done. 2011 was the year I started to train for the 24hr. Time On Bike > aero helmet

I hate getting to the end of the year still knocking PBs over. All I do is sit looking at all the stupid hill climbs wishing there was just one more fast 25 or fast 50 or fast 100... Stupid season finishes too soon.

Don't do daft rides all over France at the peak of the season then! Have to say, this season has been long but it seems like it's gone very quickly.

Just filled in some gaps.

Well, I was targeting the 12 and 24 this year and those were the only two events which I didn't PB in. The PBP was a post-24hr holiday. At the time, I was quite sick of time trialing to be honest, which was where the TransAm idea came about. Now I'm getting a kick out of it again and I can't ride anything!

@onyerbike its a tough one, there's a big risk of looking like a chump if you buy all the kit and turn up at a race before you have actually done the training and got your legs sorted, whereas if you are on a road bike you get big respect for TT'ing without the advantages of throwing cash at the problem.

Its also worth noting that the assumptions in the document posted by Pifko is on the assumption you are travelling at over 50kph, their effect at <40kph is likely to be significantly different...

fast kit =! fast rider in my experience!

that said if the winner of the National 10 and the Best British All Rounder had followed our advice this year then they wouldn't have delivered the fantastic results they have....

if the winner of the National 10 and the Best British All Rounder had followed our advice this year then they wouldn't have delivered the fantastic results they have

They were already race-proven on other bikes though, so it's not like they were virgin TTers.
Bussell was sponsored/provided for so must've already shown he was decent and Bideau was doing 47min 25s in his second season of TTing.

Bussell had Xav and Bideau gets advice from Steve Irwin, both incredible sources of knowledge.

I have Edscoble.

Your coronation as National Champion at all the distances awaits.

Now I know why the ScobleStack exists... to make chewing the stem easier.