Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

…and people who've done that sort of time on a <72".

thats crazy guy in our club done a 21.52 in 1978 on either 72/74 which is what they had to ride as juniors! im pushing a 100" at mo tempted to go little less as ive been blowing out at around 8 miles in 10s average rpm 94

MDCC, here's a question, what sort of fixed GI should I go for on a 10 mile flat TT? I was thinking around 80-85, but I have zero experience of riding fast fixed.

I don't think there's any 'correct' answer to this question.

Ray Booty did the first sub four hour 100 on 84", whereas I, a greatly inferior rider, need 90" to go slower than that for 25 miles, and I know from experience that if I used 84, I'd go even slower.

Experiment - see what suits you best.

…and people who've done that sort of time on a <72".

I decided not to bring this up because the people who are fast on Medium Gear are even faster on their (higher) optimum gear.

i think im going with 172.5 or 175 what ever comes along really, cant decide what tho, miche, dura ace or suginos........

Don't forget Williams, Chater-Lea and BSA.

In 2001, after a bit of a lay off and not taking things too seriously, I did a couple of 25's which were sufficiently fast to make me optimistic enough to think I might get back to my best times.

The bike I used was built on a truely antique frame with a Chater-Lea bottom bracket which made cottered cranks obligatory. I was using six and three quarter BSA's with a TA 5 pin chainring cobbled onto them, at the other end I had a Sturmey AM three speed hub giving gears of 79.5, 90 and 104. I did have fairly good rims and tyres, and clip on bars.

At the time I thought that I was obviously giving away a lot with my antique kit, and since then I have made numerous attempts to improve by modernising (although I must admit I have not spent money as freely as most other TTers).

I have never got back to those 2001 performances, even though at times I have felt pretty fit and seemed to be going reasonably well.

My conclusion is: 'it's not about the bike.'

there are some new 175 dura ace chainsets on ebay at the moment for £140

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shimano-Dura-Ace-7710-Track-Single-Speed-Cranks-175mm-/170520435931?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item27b3cf5cdb

Really good price if you are in the market for these (and they are quite difficult to get hold of).

Hey, i was wondering if anyone has one of these frames, or knows anything about them? They look great and are uber cheap? But will the implode like a spinergy?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Carbon-Triathlon-Time-Trial-TT-Bike-Frame-Fork-/160461996624?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item255c47c250#ht_7316wt_1165

No, it will explode like a Mavic R-Sys. If you want a cheap carbon TT bike, get a Planet-X like everybody else; at least if something goes wrong, you only have to wait a day or two for them to send you a new one. None of those nameless Chinese frames has ever been proven to be aerodynamically superior to an old round tubed 531 bike anyway.

Yeah, although the Planet x is about £600 and may not look as aero I'm sure the quality is far higher. Thanks

Well, that $599 is going to be very nearly £600 by the time you've paid $85 shipping plus VAT and import duty and the carriers fee for collecting the taxes, and the P-X is £575 for frame+fork+seatpost, so you're not saving a penny as far as I can see.

I just think the PLanet X is a bit boring looking and perhaps too common. if it wasn't for the orange stickers the Dalkiia would be my favourite, as despite being the same as the planet x a lot cheaper during their current summer sale.

p/x are common for a reason!!! those ebays jobs flex like crazy!!

raced on the e2/10 yesterday, tough event didnt feel 100% time was below what i hoped for but closer to the quick guys so thats a good thing,

1st hutch 18:59
1st fixed was pnut 15th 20.30
2nd i think 24th 20.43
me 79th 22.17

BTW what is a tester, how do you become one and what are the advantages? just out of interest? thanks.

isn't tester just another term for someone who takes part in time-trials?

I just think the PLanet X is a bit boring looking

The GB team track bike is boring looking, since it has none of the swoopy curves and bulges of a no-name Chinese frame. It's also probably the most aerodynamically efficient frame in current use.

BTW what is a tester, how do you become one and what are the advantages? just out of interest? thanks.

You have to have been born before 1970, and the advantage is that you're eligible for awards on standard as well as on scratch, so twice as much chance of winning enough money to nearly cover the cost of your entry fee.

So, anyone done a 12hr and want to offer some tips? I've not entered one yet but reckon I should have a go.

Reckon I could just stash a load of bottles somewhere and do a swap for empties at the halfway? I'm still not sure that would be enough. Perhaps they have a pub on the course..

Offer someone on here some gn to be your helper, or pick a course that is somewhere nice and take the good lady away for a long weekend in return for passing you bottles and shit?

As far as the ride goes, I'd say get on, ride for 12 hours following the set course, oh and take your shies this time.

Worst case scenario is a hot day and you could need up to 12 litres of drinks, so that's what your plan should include.

I'm trying to decide whether to bother with a 10 miler tonight on about 72 GI. Have my new summer cap to try out anyway, so maybe.

Well, I did do it, and I didn't come last. Beat my brother who was on a road bike by 5 seconds at 29.27. It was a slow course. Fucking exhausted.

Oh BTW further more to my comments regarding the ebay time trial frames, theres a thread that i started on the time trialling forum and have had some good feedback.
http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=48697

Well, I did do it, and I didn't come last. Beat my brother who was on a road bike by 5 seconds at 29.27

Still a way to go then, your first milestone on Medium Gear is 28:00, as that's 100rpm.

Still a way to go then, your first milestone on Medium Gear is 28:00, as that's 100rpm.

Back in 2007 I rode the Q10/26 on a 71.65" gear [49 x 18 on 23C tyres] and did a 26:45

22.43mph @ 106 rpm