The TT Thread

[Ian H]

Last night was our come-and-try-it event. It was very successful: 49 entries with a large number of them being new riders. We signed up three new members. We even had a stall selling cakes at the finish.

Our TT sec confirrmed that according to the District Council we are not allowed to offer temporary membership to riders.

[Dinamo]

New lifetime PB for me last night of

24.26.

By 1 second !  From last seasons course

Although last nights time is on their new slightly longer course, beating this seasons PB by 19 seconds.
I didn't hold out much hope of a PB last night, with a brisk SW wind slowing progress from the Aust  roundabout along the Avonmouth road. However on turning towards Pilning and profiting from the wind. It also helped when one of the fast boys passed me with about 2 miles to go and I was able to keep him within sight, just !
My season goal was to reach a PB of 24:30 so I will now have to re-evaluate my goal....... 23:59 ?

[mike]

only 2 of us turned up for the informal 10 last night, so we did it self-timed.  Its my first one for a couple of months and it showed - power was about 30W down on last time and I went out a bit hard then suffered in the headwind on the way home, fairly pleased with about 12.00 to the turn and 26.30 at the end.  Lots more in the next couple of weeks, aiming for a 25:?? by the end of the year.

[mattc]

Does anyone know if the course records are available for the less ... err 'popular' courses?

(here's one to test you; CC241)

[Ian H]

Does anyone know if the course records are available for the less ... err 'popular' courses?

(here's one to test you; CC241)

You'll probably have to ask one of the clubs that use the course.

[Palinurus]

Oooh, PB for the regular 10 last week, 23:44

Slight breeze, but in the right direction (following wind during the longer, uphill, outward leg)

Still some way off the target of a sub 23 minute time for this season.

Didn't have my computer for this one and preferred it that way.

[Fixedwheelnut]

Date             Distance/Time         Course type       Weather conditions            Bike ridden              

05/07/06           10mls/26.39        Rolling  Q10/26     cleardry           Raleigh 76" gear
12/07/06            10 mls/25.38      rolling Q10/26      clear dry          Raleigh 86" gear
21-22/07/07   24hr TT/334           rolling                   cold drizzle     Lambert 72" gear
15/08/07         10mls/26.45      rolling Q10/26      clear dry            Lambert 72" gear
30/03/08         9mls/29.37       Hillyish Qs/30        wet                    Lambert 79" gear  
20/04/08        10mls/28.42    Hillyish Q10/3      dry and cold          Lambert 79" gear
26/04/08        10mls/27.09      rolling Q10 /22   warm & sunny      Lambert 76" gear
25/06/08        10mls/27.24        rolling  Q10/26     hot/windy         Lambert 76" gear
28/06/08           10mls/27.16    Hillyish Q10/3      dry and hot        Lambert 79" gear
9/7/08             9mls/30,23      Hilly QS 30   pouring down/windy RonCooper71.22"gear
23/07/08       10mls/ 25.33  rolling Q10/26  hot & windy                  Graham Weigh  83" gear
26/07/08       10mls/25.30  flat      Q10/24   hot /windy                   Graham Weigh 83" gear  
29/07/08       10mls /25.40  rolling  Q10/26  hot slight wind             Graham weigh 83" gear
6/8/08           10mls / 25.10 rolling Q10/26  hot                     Graham Weigh  88" gear
13/08/08       10mls/26.0   rolling    Q10/26  very windy                      Graham Weigh 88" gear
19/04/09       10mls/27.01  rolling   Q10/18  cold/windy                     Graham Weigh  88" gear
25/04/09       10mls/25.28     flat    Q10/19     slight wind                   Graham Weigh    83" gear
20/05/09       10mls/26.07  rolling  Q10/26  slight wind/warm           Graham Weigh 83"gear
30/05/09       10mls/25.39  rolling  Q10/22  warm/cross wind            Graham Weigh  83" gear
03/06/09       10mls/25.14  rolling  Q10/26  warm                              Graham Weigh 83" gear
10/06/09       10mls/25.34  rolling  Q10/26  cool/ slight wind             Graham Weigh 83" gear
17/06/09        10mls/25.20  rolling         Q10/26 cool/windy               Graham Weigh 88" gear
21/06/09        10mls/25.25           rolling Q10/18  warm                     Graham Weigh 88" gear
24/06/09        10mls/25.05 rolling Q10/26 warm                     Graham Weigh 88" gear
 05/07/09        25mls/1:05:34       rolling Q25/8 hot                          Graham Weigh 88" gear

 15/07/09   10mls/25.45  rolling Q10/26 windy   Graham Weigh  83" gear

19/07/09    25mls/1.08.22  rolling Q25/20 windy Graham Weigh 83" gear

 I knew the 25 today was a harder course so I geared back down to an 83" gear and glad I did, I was flying for the first 9.2 miles to the turn when I realised why, a headwind for the next 13 miles before turning again and a much needed tail wind for the final 3ishmiles.
 From the mear mortal riders such as myself we were all around two - three minutes slower than the previous easier course, but several hardcore TT regulars went under the hour with Peter Tadros winning with 53.06.

[Fixedwheelnut]

 Some climbing data from South East courses I have ridden.
Q10/26 West Kingsdown -                Climb 141m / descent 243m = diff 102m

Q10/18 Polhill - Pilgrims Way             Climb 146m / descent 223m = diff 77m

Q10/19 Tonbridge -                           Climb 152m / descent 216m = diff 64m

Q10/22 Harrietsham                          Climb 111m / descent 150m = diff 39m

Q10/3  Knockholt-Green st green      Climb 207m / descent 207m = diff 23m

QS/30 Cudham circuit                         Climb 195m / descent 195m = diff 0m

Q25/8 Chilham A28                             Climb 307m / descent 386m = diff 79m

Q25/20 Harrietsham                           Climb 381m / descent 428m = diff 47m

[Ian H]

Hmm. Perhaps I ought to build up my other fixed frame as a TT bike.

[gonzo]

Q25/20 Harrietsham                           Climb 381m / descent 428m = diff 47m

Elevation profile for the 25 on this course here:

   RunSaturday Activity - Kent - Biking - 7:49 AM - Sunday, April 05, 2009


The 10 version of the route:

   RunSaturday Activity - Kent - Biking - 7:55 AM - Saturday, July 04, 2009


Anyhow, this morning I rode a 15km version of that course in 48 minutes dead. Not that impressive for me, but I was riding point for a hand cyclist. He did the first 10 in 32. The winner averaged 20.2 (and it's far from a flat course!)

[Dinamo]

Last nights Evening 10 was cancelled due to inclement weather causing, and I quote  
'unacceptable road conditions for racing'.

[valkyrie]

Having now done three club 10s I've rather rashly entered a 50. I'm riding the 10s in about 27 minutes. Anyone got any advice on how I should pace myself on the 50? I can't image sustaining the 10 mile effort for over 2 hours, but I'm not sure how I set a pace that isn't too fast or too slow.

[clifftaylor]

I'd suggest riding a few 25s first, but as you've already entered.......
You won't be able to ride it at 10 pace, or 25 for that matter. Don't scare yourself by trying do a fast ride - do the first one mainly to get a feel for the distance; keep a steady speed, and push a bit towards the end if you can. You will get caught by faster riders, but don't try to stay with them - you can lose a lot of time during the second half of a 50 if you get it wrong. As with most TTs, confidence plays a large part, and once you know that you can do the distance without blowing up, it becomes much easier.

[Ian H]

If you've ridden any distance you'll perhaps have gained an idea of how hard you can go without blowing up. Some folk rely on a heart monitor to tell them, but I find I can do it without. I can feel what's sustainable by how much my legs hurt and how hard my breathing is. The trick is to stay just below the threshold - slowing down on the ups, and not easing off on the downs.

[giropaul]

If you've ridden any distance you'll perhaps have gained an idea of how hard you can go without blowing up. Some folk rely on a heart monitor to tell them, but I find I can do it without. I can feel what's sustainable by how much my legs hurt and how hard my breathing is. The trick is to stay just below the threshold - slowing down on the ups, and not easing off on the downs.

Paul Manning rode the Duo Normande with Chris Boardman. He reported that Boardman din't go up hill that fast, but therefore had enough in the tank to absolutely blitz the downhill and flat bits.

They broke the course record!

[Dinamo]

Anyone got any advice on how I should pace myself on the 50?

Perhaps calculate an average speed you would be happy with, and try to keep to that as a guide to your pace for the ride !

[Fixedwheelnut]

Date             Distance/Time         Course type       Weather conditions            Bike ridden              

05/07/06           10mls/26.39        Rolling  Q10/26     cleardry           Raleigh 76" gear
12/07/06            10 mls/25.38      rolling Q10/26      clear dry          Raleigh 86" gear
21-22/07/07   24hr TT/334           rolling                   cold drizzle     Lambert 72" gear
15/08/07         10mls/26.45      rolling Q10/26      clear dry            Lambert 72" gear
30/03/08         9mls/29.37       Hillyish Qs/30        wet                    Lambert 79" gear  
20/04/08        10mls/28.42    Hillyish Q10/3      dry and cold          Lambert 79" gear
26/04/08        10mls/27.09      rolling Q10 /22   warm & sunny      Lambert 76" gear
25/06/08        10mls/27.24        rolling  Q10/26     hot/windy         Lambert 76" gear
28/06/08           10mls/27.16    Hillyish Q10/3      dry and hot        Lambert 79" gear
9/7/08             9mls/30,23      Hilly QS 30   pouring down/windy RonCooper71.22"gear
23/07/08       10mls/ 25.33  rolling Q10/26  hot & windy                  Graham Weigh  83" gear
26/07/08       10mls/25.30  flat      Q10/24   hot /windy                   Graham Weigh 83" gear  
29/07/08       10mls /25.40  rolling  Q10/26  hot slight wind             Graham weigh 83" gear
6/8/08           10mls / 25.10 rolling Q10/26  hot                     Graham Weigh  88" gear
13/08/08       10mls/26.0   rolling    Q10/26  very windy                      Graham Weigh 88" gear
19/04/09       10mls/27.01  rolling   Q10/18  cold/windy                     Graham Weigh  88" gear
25/04/09       10mls/25.28     flat    Q10/19     slight wind                   Graham Weigh    83" gear
20/05/09       10mls/26.07  rolling  Q10/26  slight wind/warm           Graham Weigh 83"gear
30/05/09       10mls/25.39  rolling  Q10/22  warm/cross wind            Graham Weigh  83" gear
03/06/09       10mls/25.14  rolling  Q10/26  warm                              Graham Weigh 83" gear
10/06/09       10mls/25.34  rolling  Q10/26  cool/ slight wind             Graham Weigh 83" gear
17/06/09        10mls/25.20  rolling         Q10/26 cool/windy               Graham Weigh 88" gear
21/06/09        10mls/25.25           rolling Q10/18  warm                     Graham Weigh 88" gear
24/06/09        10mls/25.05 rolling Q10/26 warm                     Graham Weigh 88" gear
 05/07/09        25mls/1:05:34       rolling Q25/8 hot                          Graham Weigh 88" gear
15/07/09   10mls/25.45  rolling Q10/26 windy   Graham Weigh  83" gear

19/07/09    25mls/1.08.22  rolling Q25/20 windy Graham Weigh 83" gear

01/08/09   10mls/26.02  flattish Q10/24 bloody windy  Graham Weigh 88" gear

 Bloody wind was a pain today at first it seemed to be a cross wind but after the turn it was much worse

[gonzo]

If you've ridden any distance you'll perhaps have gained an idea of how hard you can go without blowing up. Some folk rely on a heart monitor to tell them, but I find I can do it without. I can feel what's sustainable by how much my legs hurt and how hard my breathing is. The trick is to stay just below the threshold - slowing down on the ups, and not easing off on the downs.

Paul Manning rode the Duo Normande with Chris Boardman. He reported that Boardman din't go up hill that fast, but therefore had enough in the tank to absolutely blitz the downhill and flat bits.

They broke the course record!

Purely from a scientific background, the best way of doing it is to up the effort a little on the uphill when drag is lower (power is proportional to V³). On the downhill ease up a little as the change in speed is lower per unit of power in.

[Palinurus]

I tend to put more in uphill, at least I think I do- relying on perceived effort.

I'm fairly light an have a bit of an advantage uphill. In a recent hilly 20 I was within 30s of a guy who normally puts 2 minutes or more into me on a flat 10. I jammed the hills and coasted a couple of the descents- once I'd wound up the speed- so I could recover. Unfortunately I don't ride the course enough to know whether this is a good pacing strategy or not.

Give me a headwind though and I'm useless.

Otherwise this week has seen 24:02 in the regular evening 10 and 24:30 in an open event (F12/10- flat, out and back course) yesterday. Windy for the open event, nasty crosswind.

[giropaul]

I'm sure that everyone will have their favourite way - if it works for them then that's great.

I do recall riding the Beacon Mountain Time Trial in my mis-spent earlier years. I am not a "natural climber" in any way shape or form.

There are two timed climbs in the event. I was in the slowest 5 up both. I finished in the top 15 (can't remember exactly what, but it wasn't podium but it was respectable. (I seem to recall a field of at least 75-80, maybe more)

That suggests to me that some people, at least, had put such a lot into the climbs that they were not as fast as they could have been on the flatter and downhill bits.

Just my personal thoughts.

[Palinurus]

That's interesting, probably a different type of course but I might give that approach a go. The local hilly course has one shortish steep climb and is otherwise just a bit lumpy- maybe next season I'll ride it a few times in training and see what happens when I vary the way I approach the climb.

[David Martin]

Club hill climb tonight. I turned up as the reigning holder (Don't laugh, it was raining last year and noone else was stupid enough to turn up so I won by a ride over..)

Five people at the start - it was to be run as an APR rather than a TT so Charlie got 2 mins 15s, then I was off. Chris was 30 secs later and Brian and Neil 1 min 30 behind him.

Ouch. Just passing the farm at about 2/3 when Chris passed me but I got his wheel as we passed Charlie. Coming to the top of the steep bit I was holdin ghim fine and felt him start to slow so I kicked past him over the brow. 150m to the finish, barely able to breathe, just hanging on there. First over the line shortly followed by Chris by about 5-10s. Neil just pipped Brian and Charlie rolled over about 15s behind me (so good handicapping there).

Fast times with the tailwind - 6.03 for the winner. Then Barry arrived on a single speed MTB having ridden the course in 6.20 on knobblies with a rucksack. Kenny, Ali and Joy then appeared and it was a pack ride back into town with a sprint for the 30 taken by Neil.

A good evening out. Fun racing without it being too serious.

..d

[Wobbly John]

My first ever DNF tonight.  

Set off No. 3, had caught my minute man and was closing rapidly on 2min (wo)man, when I found a bend with diesel spilt on it.    Was down & out before I knew about it.  

Got back on after finding no bits of me were too badly borked, but chain was off and tangled round rear mech.

I got off and walked back to the corner to warn the other riders. One more off as I got back to the corner. Several slid despite being warned.

One slid - recovered - hit verge on other side of road - took off! - recovered (on the grass verge) - bailed before disappearing into the ditch!  

My bike was OK once the chain was untangled.

Despite having blood covering and dribbling off 2 fingers at one stage, I only have a couple of small lumps of flesh missing from knuckles, badly grazed hip bone and a grazed lump the size of an egg on one knee.   Minor scrapes on calf & shoulder and lots of bruises.

I guess falling and sliding at speed is no worse than a fall at walking pace.

[nuttycyclist]

GWS.


Well done on walking back to warn others.  Diesel is evil.

I guess falling and sliding at speed is no worse than a fall at walking pace.

I recall my worst "off" on road, 30mph, post summer thunderstorm, van pulled out, blah blah blah.     I slid three shop fronts whilst thinking "this doesn't hurt as much as I thought it would" and idly watched the bow wave of standing water spraying over me.   There is a reason I always wear leather when motorbiking.

[Fixedwheelnut]

GWS.

Well done on walking back to warn others.  Diesel is evil.

 Diesel is the Devils piss