Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

I don't care so much about that, the course is convenient.

I'd removed the H50 from my options, having sworn never to ride that road again, but if there's a new version that's not as bumpy... hmm..

H50/8A yes?

Yep. Instead of being bumped to death you just get dizzy from the roundabouts.

Madder still to do two and a bunch of 100s, 50s, 25s. Not sure I've done a 10 there though but I do remember quite a few weekends spending up to 10hrs on it riding up and down because, you know, specificity...

ou just get dizzy from the roundabouts

It's the same format at the H50/1, 7 turns but without all the intermediate roundabouts found on the A4. If you want to ride 25 miles without seeing a roundabout and then do a dead turn and ride back, I'm afraid you'll have to replace your T3 with a DMC12

Transponders for timing races.

Our club is looking into buying some . Do any of you have any experience of using them?

Or go to Australia.

I wonder if they've banned them yet?

Nope, but @frank9755 might know something as I think Westerley used to use them at Hillingdon 10 events.

Thanks Hippy, my searches on their use by clubs mostly take me to Australia.
We want to use them for our 10s @ Lea Valley so I will chase up the contact with Frank and the Westerley

Might be Hillingdon's kit..
http://hillingdoncyclecircuit.org.uk/

Yes, we use them for the 10s at Hillingdon.
They are expensive, something like £80 each, plus the software.
We needed to get a few new ones a couple of years ago and researched the alternatives but, surprisingly, there wasn't anything cheaper. After we'd got the new ones we did find someone who could fix our old ones, opening them up to put a new battery in. We had to post them to Australia to have it done.
The system works very well: very few missed passes.

Those joints are brutal, after a few times round.

IME you don't get any sorer after the first 4 or 5 times. And you learn where the least bad line is.

I couldn't walk after I finished the 100 there. It was bad!

@Peter_Carter @frank9755 I didn't realise they were that expensive. Can we not get sponsored by Dimension Data? Is the technology different from the big sportives?

sportives

Banned >>>

Is the technology different from the big sportives?

Yes, apparently it is. We went through all these discussions at great length in our committee. The sportive ones are just an RFID chip that they stick on their helmets. These ones are reusable and they record multiple laps, etc. Plus other stuff that I have forgotten.

We were starting from having the system (which we got a grant from Sport England to buy originally) so it wasn't worth going a different way for us. I suppose if we hadn't had that kit then another option might have been better.

You can't walk after any race you finish. Have you considered cycle training? ;)

I couldn't walk after I finished the 100 there. It was bad!

I couldn't walk after I did my first 12 hour there but I wasn't too bothered about that as I thought that was normal. So I did it again the following year. I think I could walk at the end of that one, but I didn't go as far...

Yes, the systems are not cheap. We are probably going to be spending £5k +

Though if any of you want to become time keepers then do get in touch.....

Sportzmad ran a couple of TTs in South Wales last season with chip timing. Entry fee was higher than normal and there was a problem with the results on one event. Fortunately, they still had a traditional timekeeper as backup.

Yes, you do need a backup plan. We had very few failures for the first few years (average of one missed pass per season, for riders doing 11 laps, so 12 passes per rider per night x 50 riders x 10 events). But then a couple of the batteries started to run down and there were a few more, so we always kept a watch running.
The circuit is set up as a strava segment which provides a useful backup as well.
For the most part though, the system is much more reliable than a human timekeeper. We found that when we hosted some competitions with a very experienced timekeeper in charge, he went with what the computer said, rather than his watch presses.
The biggest problem is human error: sometimes new riders have not realised they had to put a transponder on, done 11 laps flat out and expected to get a time by magic!

Yes, we have the 11 laps problem @ the Velopark when riders don't stop when we call them off. It seems that you don't replace the time keeper role@ a TT you just automate some of the work.
Frank, I am putting the proposal to go with the "My Laps " system to our club's committee. Once they have decided it would be good if we could perhaps discuss with you club how you system..

The perfect bike for Bentley

Thoughts on this stuff for the base bars?
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/velox-tressorex-cloth-handlebar-tape

If not, where's a good place to buy that grip tape that's been mentioned?

I just bought skateboard grip tape off eBay - but it was shit and didn't stick so I've just got a wrap of electrical tape on there.

Think I've got Velox cloth on my extensions though.

Will give it a go then, if only to take my order over Ribble's free delivery threshold.