Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

I'm using my Condor - a cheapish alu track frame that's a size smaller than my optimum. It's a 75 degree seat-tube, so with the saddle pushed forward, you get a fairly contemporary TTing position over the BB. And although not especially aero, the frame is very stiff for its weight.

I realise it's far from optimum for the couple of hilly/technical events I'm doing over the next few weeks, but I like a challenge. It's a good way of 'making a showing' without having to get a high placing, if you see what I mean :S

Those Planet-Xs built up in TT mode (from the CTT handbook) do look pretty useful. Condor don't do alu Pistas anymore('s the pity).

Why do you think I ride without aerobars and stuff? Obviously, so I have an excuse for being a shit rider. :)

I'm happy to use the S-Works but an hour on the drops with basically no change in pace, position, etc. makes my hands go numb.

Didn't know those P-Xs were in the handbook.. will look.. well i'm on their site now so fuk it

There's an ad near the back. White Pompino looks nice, but my Inbred refuses to die as far as hack duties are concerned.

Surely you can spend some time on the hoods, but with horizontal forearms, and scooted forward on the saddle a bit?

Yeah.. I just didn't want to admit to moving to the hoods. HTFU fail. :)
I still try and stay in the drops. it's a bit silly but psychologically I'm "racing" when in the drops.

This one..

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/Stealth_Pro_Carbon.html

I'm not sure that's 'engineered' enough to [st]take your weight[/st] transfer your power effectively.

get a cervelo soloist. you can run it in TT mode or race mode with the different seat post angles.

Pretty cheeky for someone I beat up a hill..

Most of P-X's TT bikes are out of stock. No, I'm not buying a pink frame, I don't care if it is my size and does match my eyes.

get a cervelo soloist. you can run it in TT mode or race mode with the different seat post angles.

I have a superior road bike already. I want a cheap TT machine.

But I do like the Soloists. I was going to buy one before I left Oz.

Aero Kit:
Clip on 'tri' bars are said to be worth 6 seconds a mile (but not if you're only doing 20 mph in the first place). I think this may be true because in recent years when I've tried to ride a TT using the old position I've been hopelessly slow. Aero helmets: another 3 secs per mile, so they say.
Apply just these two items to any half reasonable fixed wheel bike and you should go faster than you would on a £5000 road bike without them.

How about another one rider for the Antelope 3 Up?

When does it start becoming worth investing in aero kit? At the moment I think I tip about 21mph over 10 miles.
I've checked my records from last year (my first TT season) and it would seem that my fastest time came on the Thursday after I did a 300k audax. I suspect that it has something to do with the weight that I lost rather than anything else.

My girlfriends dad, 35 time veteran of the Three Peaks Cyclocross has a 10 mile time of 24.10 on an old steel fram Raleigh with a five speed block and down shifters. I would like to beat this but I;m not holding out much hope.

For those not wanting to invest in new school aero kit - 'Planet X Old Skool Series' is being held this year. No tri-bars, no discs, no pointy hats etc...12 events ( 10s and 25s) starting 10th April
King Alf would be proud....

^^It's up to you. I got some £5 second-hand tribars, but never really got around to putting them to the test in competition - but I'm going to this year. I've done short 24s as well, on a fixed road bike with air-catching 46cm drops, and I think you start to feel the benefit of tribars massively at 25mph. Having said that, you'd feel the benefit at 20mph too, once you'd got used to the position.

I'm not very affluent, so there's no way I'd start spending money on pointy hats, chrono overshoes, skinsuits, aero wheels, aero frames, just to gain a minute or two (in the right conditions) in a 25m TT - not unless it was going to be the thing that propelled me into the 'big' league of TTers, and to be honest, I'd rather wait until sponsorship was offered, and get that stuff for free... which, let's face it, isn't going to happen until things get frosty in the underworld.

I've done a 22.01 for a ten with skinsuit, pointy hat, disc wheel and shamal front with Tri bars. Think my fastest 'athlete' time 23.45 on a slow course though.
Used to love the sound the disc wheel made, was a big old heavy thing but once you got it going...

When does it start becoming worth investing in aero kit?

It all depends on how much cash you have to burn, doesn't it?
Personally I don't take TTing seriously so don't see the point in all the gear.

BUT, I can afford it and if I start to do more I may just buy a TT-specific bike and then I get to work on my TT position.

It's a personal thing isn't it? If you are almost winning events with a normal hat, slow wheels and no aerobars - it must make you wonder about using £££ to win..
If you can barely crank out 30kph on the flat though.. it's pointless.

For those not wanting to invest in new school aero kit - 'Planet X Old Skool Series' is being held this year. No tri-bars, no discs, no pointy hats etc...12 events ( 10s and 25s) starting 10th April
King Alf would be proud....

Link

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/?p=2299

been thinking about trying a TT for a while, how do those who have done one or more recomend i proceed, is it worth just giving it a go on a 10 mile course or get my fitness up so i feel i can do a 25mile TT (i am reasonably fit - just think i'd really struggle to manage my pacing and would blow out after about 1/2 an hour)

If you want a cheap fixed tt bike wouldn't something like a dolan frame be a good start. Cheap, light, e.t.c

Ed,

Find a 10, enter it, do what you are told, ride it.. see what happens :)
You can follow the same idea with a 25mi it's just that 10 is easier innit?
They run 10s around Hillingdon Circuit on a week night if you wanna have a go?
Pacing is the key to TTing isn't it? You will normally start too hard and fade.

Start easier than you think you should is a good trick. DO you have a HRM?

yeah have an HRM and a compooter

can you just turn up or do i need a racing licence?

hillingdon might be a bit far for me although i suppose i could get a train there...(yes i know i should HTFU)

You can turn up for most club events but open ones you have to pre enter, giving your best times(if you have any)

Would advise doing as many as you can, your times will improve every week and you can decide if you want to invest money into a specific bike/gear.

yeah have an HRM and a compooter
can you just turn up or do i need a racing licence?
hillingdon might be a bit far for me although i suppose i could get a train there...(yes i know i should HTFU)

I did a couple of these after work:
http://www.westerleycycling.org.uk/WCC-Program/WCC-Program.htm

Hillingdon is pretty shit for TTing (windy and going around in loops doesn't help motivation) but I could ride there after work and then ride home again so not to be sniffed at. Cost a couple of quid to enter (EOL = Enter On the Line). No stress. The trickiest thing was pinning numbers on right :)

First one isn't until mid-April though. Let me know if you wanna do one. It might be a bit tight for me riding from the City now but I'll give it a go..

I think 10s are harder than 25s. No time for a sweetspot.

Pinning those numbers on is definitely the biggest test though.

I think 10s are harder than 25s. No time for a sweetspot.

Pinning those numbers on is definitely the biggest test though.

I always found 10s much easier than 25s, mainly as you had to less time to drift away mentally. I never did a 25 I was happy with but did a series of 10s where I knew I'd got everything out.

No disagreement with you on the second point though. :-)

Didn't mind doing 25's, did try one 50 once, on the A1, was really boring and did my head in, haevn't done one since

Cool, def up for that hippy,

it looks like the first on is 15th April at 7.15, you able to do that one?

think i'll do it fixed too if that's allowed?!

How long would it take to ride there from westminster?

I am going down to the Thanet Club TTs this year. 10 course is FLAT and the guys are super nice ... even though they all have super hot carbon bikes.