Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Freewheeling => Racing => Topic started by: morbihan on 05 December, 2020, 04:06:01 pm
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Abdullah of ultra racing fame just blitzed out an 8 hour 200 miler.
As a tester apparently
I'm not sure what the goal is, perhaps a coach at the 12 and 24 hour TT records?
https://www.strava.com/activities/4430526973
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He said in an interview that he was going for a 24. I think the one in the US that they can the world championship.
200 is not a UK TT distance but 300 in 12 hours is a very good ride, but not nearly as good as his Trans Am or indypac rides. Nowadays that pace wouldn't win a UK national championship. Essentially I thought he would be quicker than that, but it depends on what bike he was on.
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Wheelsoffire said last week he thought that high 500s was doable on the Borrego course. It’s interesting to see Ultra riders moving down in distance rather than testers moving up in distance.
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Wheelsoffire said last week he thought that high 500s was doable on the Borrego course. It’s interesting to see Ultra riders moving down in distance rather than testers moving up in distance.
Interesting. I've heard mixed stories about the course. It's flat, but the weather has often been bad, and it's exposed if windy. And the rules are a bit different (support in a neutralised pit zone), something like with only full laps counting. But Mike will know more about it. Would be good to see him give it a shot.
Re ultraracers, it's only Abdullah though, isn't it? Unless I've missed something. I always wondered what Kristof would have done in a 24, but not what he's interested in.
Given there have always been at least a few faster riders in the TCR than @hippy and Ultan, there should be some who could do some great distances if they chose to.
James Hayden has said he plans on doing a 24 at some point.
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I would imagine that Rory McC would be a good candidate for a fast long TT. He generates huge power.
If memory serves me correctly, he rode faster than James in #5, but slept in longer!
Then there is Bjorn who rode solo off the front of PBP. Didn't he break the record then?
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Mike rode at Borrego last year and got second behind Jacko. I have a bit of an interest in having a go but only because someone is claiming the world fixed gear record with 80 miles less than my PB. I asked a few questions of the course but won’t share everything. He did think it was faster than the Mersey overall. Support is an issue and it gets pretty cold overnight and hot during the day.
I was thinking of Ian To’s couple of tries at TT. He did OK with 500+ miles on his first go.
Not sure about Rory but James H used to ride TTs for my old club and already has the bike and position dialled in. I’ve seen him race up to 100 - did the Hounslow a few years back.
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I would imagine that Rory McC would be a good candidate for a fast long TT. He generates huge power.
If memory serves me correctly, he rode faster than James in #5, but slept in longer!
Then there is Bjorn who rode solo off the front of PBP. Didn't he break the record then?
Doesn't always translate as and some / many / most fast riders simply don't want to do a 24 hour TT and, if they do, there is a learning curve in doing TTs. Even Michael Hutchinson, who has talked about it enough, has never done one!
For example, John Barkman / Veloboy did the 24 the year after he took Gethin Butler's record as fastest UK PBP finisher, and didn't do as well as I expected. Ian To did better but his setup for his LEJOG record showed he wasn't down the learning curve as a time trialist. His position wasn't great and he didn't use a disc wheel - essentially he was leaving Watts on the table. He was trying to challenge Wheels of Fire's LEJOG record but his 24 distance was a good way short.
James, though, is a different prospect. He is a TT rider with fast times for 25 and 50 miles (sub-50 mins and sub-1:45 (wonder what he did in the Hounslow 100?)) so doesn't have a learning curve. However, there would be a lot of pressure on him to do a great ride / get the record, so he wouldn't just do it for a laugh - he would focus on it and do lots of planning and preparation. And it's most likely not what he wants to do, just yet.
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James, though, is a different prospect. He is a TT rider with fast times for 25 and 50 miles (sub-50 mins and sub-1:45 (wonder what he did in the Hounslow 100?)) so doesn't have a learning curve. However, there would be a lot of pressure on him to do a great ride / get the record, so he wouldn't just do it for a laugh - he would focus on it and do lots of planning and preparation. And it's most likely not what he wants to do, just yet.
He did 3:35 according to the CTT website.
I did a 4:10 that day. finished with safety pins holding my skinsuit together IIRC.
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That's good, but still not as fast as Wilko did, 25 years ago!
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That's good, but still not as fast as Wilko did, 25 years ago!
It wasn't spectacular. He was definitely at the ECCA 100 that year as well but I think he DNF'd.
From the latest interviews TTs are way off his radar at the moment.