Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

Debating Tulas as they can now be picked up reasonably cheap. Would need a positive rise stem to put my tuck in the same position it's in now, can't decide if it's a worthwhile upgrade.

First TT this year where things have more or less come together. Raced in actual race kit on my TT bike, without race kit and without awful weather.

Recorded a 23:52 on the Burford/Lechlade U95course which is a course PB, my 2nd best time ever as well as a 10mile peak power PB.

Need to improve pacing slightly though as I faded massively at the end.

Here's a link to my report on British Cycle Sport:

http://britishcyclesport.com/2014/events/hounslow-district-good-friday-25/

Is there a complete results sheet anywhere clubman?

There were numerous club mates of mine including Rob and Laura Bayliss (although they were clearly riding as members of your club!) and I'd like to see how everyone got on!

Skinny, was that you in Eurosport Tour of the Res coverage? Catford kit.

Yes, you can turn up and ride.

Does anyone have a view on which champion systems skinsuit I want?

http://champ-sys.co.uk/cycling/cycling-collection/skinsuits

I'm thinking long distance, long sleeve, as pockets might be useful, it will be used in some long distance tts, as well as hopefully lots of short ones.

The idea of a speed suit that's impossible to get on is a bit scarey!

I just got the standard long sleeve suit with (what I think is called) the endurance pad.

I've no idea which will be best for you but my one has a pouch sown into the neckline for your car keys which I found useful. I found myself to be very hot on yesterday's TT and especially so on the turbo for the warmup so next time I'll consider the short sleeve version. I don't think I'll be planning on racing further than 50miles this year so I don't think I'll need the pockets and if I do want somewhere to store gels then I'll stuff them up my legs.

Before I ordered, I asked on here about sizing because "vertically" I was the perfect height for a medium suit, but "horizontally" I was perfect for the small. I ordered the medium and predictably it came out pretty baggy, however it's now been nicely tailored by my mother and is a snug but comfortable fit with reasonably few flappy bits.

don't people use long sleeve ones because skin = not aero?

I wondered about that, and that was at least partly behind my decision to get long sleeves. However on reflection, while it may hold true for fancy aero suits like the bioracer ones, I find it harder to believe for bog standard lycra, especially for the average club athlete whose suit is likely to be a poor fit anyway.

Also GB seem to have put quite a lot of thought into Wiggins' Olympic suit (with fancy seams etc) but he still went for short sleeves so I'd be surprised if long sleeves were a huge benefit.

Him and Froome both shaved their arms for London. Champion System long sleeved speed suit is one of the fastest ones I've tested

Xav

Don't rear pockets on a skinsuit defeat the object of the exercise?

From my limited understanding, the improved airflow over your back is where a suit trumps a jersey and shorts.

Pockets stuffed with gels would be like a parachute: surely a tri-bag behind the stem is more aero (especially when you consider the drag from reaching back) and convenient?

I'm with Ewan on long vs. short sleeves: from what I've seen, differentiated materials are needed to see any gain and even then it can only be negligible.

Factor in the comfort of short sleeves in Summer and it's only a consideration for the elite.

As to fit: I've always found height to be more important than width for anything with shoulder straps.

Long sleeve is better for long distance - reduces forearm chaffing. Also probably faster and the temp difference is negligible in my experience. The pockets on my Assos suit don't alter the shape much and the suits are still faster than Jersey Knicks combo.

The pockets on my Assos suit don't alter the shape much

^^ practice > theory

Isn't a bag easier than pockets though?

Hadn't thought about armrest chafe, but that makes sense: saddle/bib/bum vs. saddle/bum.

However, I'd guess that temp. regulation and overall quality are related.

Hadn't thought about armrest chafe, but that makes sense: saddle/bib/bum vs. saddle/bum.

Bear in mind that Hippy is talking about 24h, short distances shouldn't be a problem.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01xwj36

Dr Hutch putting a BBC Radio presenter through a ramp test. He (Hutch) doesn't look even remotely like what I expected him to!

That rig, brings back such fond memories...

^^ practice > theory
Isn't a bag easier than pockets though?
Hadn't thought about armrest chafe, but that makes sense: saddle/bib/bum vs. saddle/bum.
However, I'd guess that temp. regulation and overall quality are related.

I use one of those bento box behind-the-stem things in training but it interferes with my knees so I prefer not to use one. With a support team during races I don't need to carry as much as during training rides so the pockets in the skinsuit are much more useful.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01xwj36
Dr Hutch putting a BBC Radio presenter through a ramp test. He (Hutch) doesn't look even remotely like what I expected him to!

He looks huge on a bike but in real life he looks more like a jockey.

It's just Hutch promoting his book, isn't it?

Ah yes, when actually watching it that is rather obvious. :)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01xwj36

Dr Hutch putting a BBC Radio presenter through a ramp test. He (Hutch) doesn't look even remotely like what I expected him to!

Looks better than he did with the ponytail. As hippy says, a bit of Father Ted perspective going on.

I wonder if we will start seeing more riders giving up the non round chainrings:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3990898/

Key points
During the incremental exercise test, no significant differences were found in power output, oxygen consumption or heart rate between oval “Q-rings” and conventional chainrings.
Over the course of the incremental test, blood lactate levels were comparable for the oval “Q-rings” and conventional chainrings.
During the short sprints performed after the incremental test, there were no statistical differences in power production between oval “Q-rings” and conventional chainrings.

Oh but they're better for 'recovery'. cough bullshit cough