The TT Thread

[RogerT]

HELP !!

I have now done 3 TTs, really enjoyed all 3 , BUT, I am getting slower.  Having been very cloes to evens on the 1st one, last night I only managed a paltry 32.50.

Why am I going backwards ?

( Also, fastest time was on Skip bike, 5 gears, mudguards et al )

[Palinurus]

Interesting..

First thought is that the weather conditions were better the first time. On my regular course the wind direction, even if it is light, makes a big difference to my times. I like a slight tailwind out ideally. Always faster then. There's the air pressure too, don't really have a handle on how significant that is.

Maybe you get a better position on the skip bike? maybe the hubs are smoother? tyres easier rolling?

I went slower for the first two after my first one too. I originally thought I was just so nervous the first time I pushed myself harder than I was able to after. Chances are that wasn't the case though, the weather is a more likely explanation.

I've only started getting significantly better since I've started training specifically for time trials. I don't stick to my programme, but I do some of it and that has some benefit. Improvements take some time.

[Jasmine]

I did my first TT of the year last night.  I've been living away from home during the week, so no time to do TTing until last night.  Rode tandem with Andy, hoping to come in under 30 mins as I've still got the back end of a cold.  I managed to stop coughing my lung lining out for long enough to get round the slower of the club 10s.

At the start, the marshalls were fairly new, so were slightly baffled at the tandem, but gave it a go and managed to hold us upright for the start.  We ground away and were soon up to a decent speed.  The course has a smallish hill at about 2 miles in which was a bit of a grind, but we pushed on and at 4 miles we could see our minute man.  At the halfway turn I could see our 2 minute man was only just in front of the minute man.  Hurting now.  Pushing on we were closing on both 1 and 2 and as we approached 6 miles we overtook the first man but couldn't shake him off.  At the small hill 2 miles from the finish we we were re-taken by our minute man, as we were also passed by the starter from 1 minute behind and we overtook the 2 minute man.  We caught the minute man on the downhill and blasted away for the last mile.  Rounding the final corner, the 3 minute man was only about 100 m in front, but too far.

Lung burning, thigh aching 25.14.  6th out of 22.  My best time by about 3 minutes.  Andy's best by 1 minute.

[Dinamo]

Date              Dist         Course          Weather             Time

25/6/08        10          UC182          v.windy           26.16
02/7/08        10          UC182            windy            25.22
09/7/08        10          UC182         wet&windy         24.50
16/7/08        10          UC182             dry              25.06

Much better conditions this week, however a slower time !
The first time I hadn't improved on PB - it had to happen one day.

May have to miss TT for the next couple of weeks - working 

[Palinurus]

First one of the season for me yesterday.

Flattish 10, dry but windy, 24:36. Not great, but 35 seconds faster than I've gone before in perfect conditions. A pro can do this course in 20 mins, good club rider time about 22 mins. 21:55 was the fastest yesterday.

I was riding a better bike, but i've also done some training (only a bit mind). Don't know which was most responsible for my new turn of speed.

I'll be doing some 25s (an hour and 7 mins is my best there) and maybe a 50 (not done one yet) later in the season.

08/05/08 Just taken my 10 time down to 24:13. Wahhhhh!

Well I got the 25 time down to 1:04:48- that was back in May (HCC113, fine weather, winner 1:00:31)

Today I took a little bite out of the 10 time- same course as above (F11Z) 24:09 (overcast, breezy, don't know the winners' time yet- now I do: 21:42)

Rubbish start sort of put me off for a bit but once I got going I managed to just concentrate on my rhythm and mentally it was the best TT I've ever done- felt my pacing was better than usual. Also took a much longer warm-down and I feel better than I usually do after.

First 50 at the weekend.

[Palinurus]

First 50, HCC128, pretty breezy, colder than I expected for July (arm warmers stayed on).

02:15:38

The official target was just to do one, but I was aiming at under two hours fifteen. I probably wasted 38 seconds plus tryna eat a cereal bar- one of the moister, squashier variety- because I didn't have a chance to get any of those gel things at the bike shop yesterday. Note to self: buy them earlier next time.

Still, did I say it was breezy? what better excuse.

[Blah]

First 100, a bit breezy, on a sporting course: 4:40:09. Winner about an hour faster.

[Bigdaveskinnytyre]

Good rides guys, it's been a bit breezy this weekend.

I did a 25 last night with a strong cross wind, pulled off a short 56, gutted I didn't go harder in the first half as I could've been on for a PB.

Second 50 next weekend, if conditions are good I'm aiming at going under 2 hours.

Blah, was it the national? can't see myself doing a 100 for a long time

[Blah]

Blah, was it the national? can't see myself doing a 100 for a long time

Yup. No idea why they let me in as this was my first TT so couldn't give them previous times. It was good fun actually. Beautiful course on the A40 between Brecon and Carmarthen in Wales. Some of the smoothest tarmac you could wish for and rolling enough to keep it interesting without any of the hills being brutal or breaking the rhythm.

Kevin Dawson did 3:42:something. The man is a beast. That means he must have been powering up the hills at 22 or 23 and have been sitting at over 30 on the flats and well over 40 on the downs.

[Bigdaveskinnytyre]

There are some scary fast guys out there, when I did my 25 PB earlier this year (56:00)  Hutchinson did a mid 48 in the pouring rain, its just not natural.

[drossall]

There are some scary fast guys out there, I can barely manage evens these days and some fellows do 56:00 in the pouring rain, it's just not natural.

[Bigdaveskinnytyre]

I only had rain for the last 9 miles though

[drossall]

Oh, that's alright then, if I can find a 25 where it doesn't rain much I'll be able to do a '56' as well

[David Martin]

It was a humid and muggy evening. Get up and go seemed to be a bit lacking and everyones edge seemed blunted by the extreme heat as the thermometer soared over 20C. Signed on, feeling a bit out of sorts and unenthusiastic. Did a reasonable warmup considering and managed to set my GPS to track from the start.

There was little wind so I eased into the ride - it is a ski jump start and there is no point blowing myself out for a .5kmh improvement at 50+ on the downhill. Pushed hard on the uphill - still too fat and suffering, must move my tribar elbow rests out a smidgin.

Passed by my minute man at 4km. Passed by 2 minute man at 10km.Really, really trying to hang on there.

My speedo is miscalibrated so my final surge to the line petered out with 200m to go. Came in on a long 27 which was my second fastest time.

For the stats book: FI-7/10 27.44, fastest on the night was my clubmate with 21.44.

A number of people slower than me so I wasn't doing too badly - about 40 or so riders out tonight.

Ouch my lungs still hurt.   

..d

[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

 A new personal best, my minute man caught me around the 7 mile mark and I buried myself to keep him in sight    I is happy 

[mattc]

FixedWheelNut - you appear to have 4 time trial bikes. How on earth do you choose?

[Fixedwheelnut]

FixedWheelNut - you appear to have 4 time trial bikes. How on earth do you choose?

   Technically only one the Graham Weigh as the Tri-bars came off of my Lambert so that is now an ordinary bike again.

 The Ron Cooper is my Audax bike complete with guards and dyno hub that just got a run out due to the Lambert getting a last minute pun***re and the Raleigh frame snapped last year and is no longer with us 

[gonzo]

TT tonight was cancelled after one of the earlier guys got hit by someone pulling out of a side road. It was a straight stretch of single carriageway conditions were brilliant, she just didn't see him apparently.

Ambulance called, Police closed off the road, he was conscious but broke his collar-bone we think.

Stay careful out there guys!

[Maladict]

E3/10	24.04.08	30'15
E3/10a	24.07.08	28'05

 

Not been on a bike much (I did say at all, but I just remembered the 33 miles I did last saturday  ) since 600km Audax the weekend before last.  Rushed to get to the start due to work I had to do before I left, and having to refit the tri-bars before I could ride over - got to the start as the first riders were setting off.

Paced myself rather better, though had to back off due to sore stomach about 1/3 way round.  Finished much more strongly than last time, didn't have to back off in the last km and pushed hard (over 40kph) for the last 500m.

[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

Another personal best on my first flat course on the Isle of Grain at High Halstow.

26/07/08   10mls/25.30  flat    Q10/24   hot /windy   Graham Weigh 83" gear

 A bit of a crosswind in both directions and slight rise to the end along with squllions of flying ants  "extra protein, is that an advantage" ??   

[gonzo]

You reckon that course was flat!?!?!

[Fixedwheelnut]

You reckon that course was flat!?!?!

 Er yes compared to the ones I usually ride    do you think otherwise then Rob ? 

[gonzo]

The last mile is up a 2 or 3% hill!

[Fixedwheelnut]

The last mile is up a 2 or 3% hill!

 I was feeling pretty sick riding up to the roundabout       trying to catch my three minute man

[gonzo]

You aren't a real TTer until you've thrown up whilst still pedalling!