Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

It was quite a bit slower on me when I tested it - I don't exactly have flowing locks but not entirely bald though

Yeah, I expected it to be slower for most people. If bald head was faster there'd be fewer helmets and/or more helmets that looked like bald heads.

Like I said, I'm happy to test it but I'm not shaving my head.

Swimcap?

Ha, someone actually asked me on my commute last night if I did triathlon... I think they're probably out of hospital now. #bikepackingwoe

Swimcap

With trip strips, obvs 😀

I get that a far bit.

Watch this series of videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9g_g73Iqeg&t=2s

Also, practise riding at night with your race kit on etc etc - it's surprising how quickly pot holes come up on you in the dark. To back up what @hippy said, i'd go for aero bars - free speed plus more variety of positions even if you just have clip ons. Perhaps try stretching on the bike, I discovered that if I stretch briefly but often then I can hold an aero position for longer.

I ride nearly everyday at night alot so i am quite good a doging potholes. Once rode back to suffolk from the wirral for fun in mid november. Main light went bang soon after i turned them on. Mounted the emergancy be seen light which illuminated jack all. Still rode the remaing 9hrs avoiding every pothole. I can see in the dark. I am quite used to long rides but have never trained for them specifically.

Clip on aero bars will never happen. First of all they wont fit on the looks adhn aero drop bars and i am not swapping to round bars. Ever tried cabling one of these bikes as the cable run through the bars. Hours of fun.
The last time i used aero bars i was riding the now dead tt bike home thinking the road was clear ahead ot was not. There was a parked 4x4 which i slammed into at 20mph. Nearly chopped my nose of in the accident. I had other facial injuries all of which have healed but not only did i find aero bars limited my visibility but when riding them i was way to nervous and kept my speed down.

The bike k am using is a look 795 it has aero wheels. It is the bike i do road racing on. I have a skin suit. I will work on getting my kit as comfortable as possible. I might have to use some chamois cream. I never have before but i have never spent more than 17hrs on a bike either. I am used to eating when i need to but i have never had to plan my eating like i will have to for this event. There is a massive difference between eating to perform and eating to get yourself home.

Sounds like all people do for these events is ride alot and address all the things i am already thinking about. It is good to know i have not missed anything. Targeting 400 miles this time. I will do the kent 12hr as a practice run.

Maybe i will stick with helmet i use now. It is a giro air attack or whatever they call there aero effort. Its comfortable which is a start.

Talking of swim caps, I've got a 16km TT/prologue before a road race next week and aero kit is banned. Is there any benefit to stretching a swim cap over a Kask Mojito?

I'll be wearing shoe covers.

Aero kit as a whole is banned or is it just UCI road race rules?

Banned. It's the Tour of Bintan. I think the idea is not to favour riders based in Singapore who would easily be able to bring a TT bike across on the ferry over those who have to fly in.

Velotoze do helmet covers now

Probably a better option - thanks.

I never tried racing in it but I played around stretching a swim cap over my road helmet a few years ago and it seemed to work pretty well. Swim caps cost a pittance so I'd try one before splashing out on a near identical velotoze version.

Plus after one use the Velotoze will get a hole in it.

I've done a swim cap on a Mask mojito, mainly to try to reduce quite how we t I'd get as I Knew I'd be able to see fuck all in my tt helmet due to a non removable visor and torrential rain no idea if it's faster though, I used a latex on as they are a bit more solid, there's also the possibility that the helmet won't do such a great job of protecting your head as rather than slipping over the ground it'll be more grippy..

Perhaps try stretching on the bike, I discovered that if I stretch briefly but often then I can hold an aero position for longer

I got this idea from listening to your interview on the 24 last year. I now set an alarm for every 20 minutes and use it for stretching (as well as eating / drinking). It helped me a lot during the TCR, so thanks!
Also I agree, those interviews with Wilko are very useful.

@skinny You over your man-flu yet? Good luck Sunday!

Kinda mostly.
Thanks, top 5 would be nice, some strong competition.

Ordered a 20c GP4000s to go on my front rim, evans have lost it in delivery. Guess I'll be running my Conti TT tyre then, and crossing my fingers.
Honestly last time I order online from them, always something.

The stretching thing i will have to do more. Stretching on the bike is not something i had ever thought off but it makes so much sense.

I'm thinking more like Aerocoach services. They're not selling helmets and if no helmet was faster there'd be more riders leaving their sessions without helmets.

You get regulatory creep, with a lot of people wanting to be compatible with UCI as well as CTT rules - or not realising and thinking that they do.

And don't Aerocoach use a velodrome? Most of those venues insist on you wearing a safety helmet, so other options don't get tested.

I'd heard the same as @mdcc_tester regarding the relative performances, but I can't remember where so cannot link.

At some point there might be an advance in tech that would mean they could make a safety helmet that could have such a good shape that it could compensate for its extra bulk, but there's been no step change to suggest we are there yet.

Loved this trolling on the TT Facebook group. So succinct.

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Ha ha.

He's got a point though.

Good luck today @skinny, have a great ride.