The TT Thread

[токамак]

Compared with last year, I can get a better aero position for a start because the frame is a better fit for TT (very small road frame with short 70mm stem). In the ECCA Festival I raced on the wet Sunday with my Campag Zondas in, and on the Monday I had my Zipps in, and although it was drier on Monday the windy conditions were pretty much the same, so I could say the Zipps gave me 40 seconds over 10 miles.

[bloomers100]

Interesting.

[токамак]

Is 40 seconds worth £1000?!

I'm minutes rather than seconds faster on last year though, so I'd say the combined effect of better kit and more serious winter training has paid off nicely.

[bobb]

Is 40 seconds worth £1000?!

If you continue to win prize money, then yes!

[velocitizen]

25:00 on the Beeston CC/RC 10 course.
After a 24:52 and 24:56 in previous weeks.
I'm happy that they are consistent.
It was cool and Breezy last night, so when Summer comes I'll be knocking a few seconds off.

[Rig of Jarkness]

A grim 26-36 tonight, we seemed to have a headwind both ways    Still, at least the sleet of this morning had given way to bright sunshine this evening 

[Ian H]

24.43 tonight in the club open. Not brilliant, but okay (I suppose) considering my training was the Wu'ze 400 and a week in Scotland without a bike.

[Dinamo]

Marshalled for the first time on Wednesday night ( unable to ride stuggling with a chest infection    )
53 riders took part on a cold evening 8 degrees at the start only 5 degrees ! by the time they had all finished  Managed to miss the heavy showers that where in the locality.
I was marshalling at the Aust M49 roundabout.

[David Martin]

A warm evening in Perthshire and the local open 10. Which turned into a not quite ten due to roadworks appearing unannounced overnight and the course being changed (frantic calls to get police approval and insurance cover)

I will spare you the excuses but managed to get my first ever lanterne rouge in a time trial. Mr Noodley did somewhat better than me in the 'not quite ten'

..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
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
05/08/09     10mls/25.11    Q10/26 rolling/warm   Graham Weigh 88" gear
19/08/09   10mls/25.15      Q10/18  rolling/hot      Graham Weigh  88" gear
20/09/09     25/1:09:50  G25/89 rolling, damp     Raleigh Ti Proffessional 14speed
11/04/10    9.5mls/28:07   QS/30  Hilly/cold           Lambert Proffessional  76" gear
24/04/10   10mls/25.47   Q10/19  flat with a drag dry/mild   Graham Weigh 88" gear
 

 19/05/10   10mls/26.14  Q10/26 cool/ breeze  Graham Weigh 88" gear

 Struggled on the hill to the turn and couldn't gain anything on the way back, I need to lose weight

[MattH]

First TT ever this evening, out with Farnborough & Camberley Cycling Club (who I'm considering joining). I had no idea how well I'd do; I'm still stiff from riding 965km at the weekend (riding to/from the BCM). I took the Audax MK3, but did take off the Carradice and put a little saddle pack on that was just big enough for a tube, levers and basic tools. Otherwise the bike was as I ride on Audaxes, so tribars, mudguards, 28mm tyres, SON hub and lights, rear rack, frame pump etc.

I was the only one on a steel bike, the only one with mudguards, the only one with a rack, the only one with dynamo lights. I got some envious glances from those who cannot afford such luxuries, I can tell you!

Anyway, I was aiming for better than 30 minutes. Had a nice 10km ride out there (met a lovely lady triathlete who was out for an easy spin) as warm up.

CC175 10 miles 25:10

Started out third, finished third (overtook number one, got overtaken by number 4, both near the end). Pretty pleased with that!

[mike]

excellent result!!!

[токамак]

25:38 for a medium gear 10, last night. 70" (48x18) - this.

[mattc]

First TT ever this evening, out with Farnborough & Camberley Cycling Club (who I'm considering joining). I had no idea how well I'd do; I'm still stiff from riding 965km at the weekend (riding to/from the BCM). I took the Audax MK3, but did take off the Carradice and put a little saddle pack on that was just big enough for a tube, levers and basic tools. Otherwise the bike was as I ride on Audaxes, so tribars, mudguards, 28mm tyres, SON hub and lights, rear rack, frame pump etc.

I was the only one on a steel bike, the only one with mudguards, the only one with a rack, the only one with dynamo lights. I got some envious glances from those who cannot afford such luxuries, I can tell you!

Anyway, I was aiming for better than 30 minutes. Had a nice 10km ride out there (met a lovely lady triathlete who was out for an easy spin) as warm up.

CC175 10 miles 25:10

I do laugh at stories like this:
"I beat my target by nearly 5 minutes" Not great at picking targets, are we

Still, you're way quicker than me (but I guessed that). Rode the Audax bike last night just for convenience (no tribars, 25mm tyres, rack pack lights, etc). 27:21, just 14s off my PB (on the Bianchi, July 08). That's with a 46x13 top (which I may not have used).

It were very quick conditions last night - you'll do well to go much faster next week, but at least you've got a target now

Tip: Try not riding 900k this weekend.

[MattH]

I do laugh at stories like this:
"I beat my target by nearly 5 minutes" Not great at picking targets, are we

Nope  I had no idea how long it'd take - my daily commute is usually 35 minutes for 10 miles, I knew I'd be faster than that but that's all.

Still, you're way quicker than me (but I guessed that). Rode the Audax bike last night just for convenience (no tribars, 25mm tyres, rack pack lights, etc). 27:21, just 14s off my PB (on the Bianchi, July 08). That's with a 46x13 top (which I may not have used).

It were very quick conditions last night - you'll do well to go much faster next week, but at least you've got a target now

I think it'll be tough to do faster anyway - this course started with a reasonable downhill run first, that you don't have to climb at the end.   There was a headwind though, and a shorter run back with a tailwind.

For the first time last night I really felt why people have close ratio cassettes - I have an 11-30 fitted (being a hard man I don't mind carrying the extra weight of that 30 tooth cog up hills rather than the softies who have to shave off the grammes with a 23 tooth) - but at one point struggled to find the right gear as it was between two. Never have that trouble cruising on Audaxes!

[Ian H]

Beating 30 minutes for a first ever ten is good going. It takes a while to get the hang of ten miles of pain.

[mattc]

Yes, getting the pace right for 10 miles is tricky at first.

But I suspect most novices underestimate their speed cos they  underestimate just how fast most TT courses are, compared to any 10 miles that you would normally choose to ride.

Flat (sometimes downhill!), no congestion, no TLs or right turns (except RABs) ... it all makes a huge difference to your average speed.

[clarion]

I want to try a TT, but I have no idea how fast I could be, because I don't get to ride 10 miles without numerous stops...

[mattc]

Find a local course and go for a blast on whatever bike you have handy (preferably not in a gale!).

Actually this can be tricky, but there's a good chance your local club will have some sort of listing. You could even just phone up the TT secretary!

[if you really struggle, I have 'contacts' in your neck of the woods.]

I have a feeling that in your parish the courses may all be Dual C-ways, c'est la vie.

[clarion]

I fancy just rolling up on my vintageish road bike & having a go.  No expectations, just riding.  Doin it could probably be the best way to learn

[Fixedwheelnut]

25:38 for a medium gear 10, last night. 70" (48x18) - this.

Chapeau for spinning that, a respectable time for a less than medium gear

[токамак]

Thanks! Was resisting the bounce on a few fast sections

Did 59:41 on the Essex Roads E22/24 yesterday (TT bike - not the 70" fixer!). Beautiful morning for it.

Clarion - find a local club running evening 10's, turn up on your Woodrup Giro and just have a go. Whatever time you do is not really important, but do go back again and see if you can better your previous time, or try a different bike and see if it's any quicker. You'll be a racing snake before you know it.

[clarion]

Thanks! Was resisting the bounce on a few fast sections

Did 59:41 on the Essex Roads E22/24 yesterday (TT bike - not the 70" fixer!). Beautiful morning for it.

Clarion - find a local club running evening 10's, turn up on your Woodrup Giro and just have a go. Whatever time you do is not really important, but do go back again and see if you can better your previous time, or try a different bike and see if it's any quicker. You'll be a racing snake before you know it.

Thanks for the encouragement.  The Giro's the only bike that I could turn up with that wouldn't cause major sniggering.   I figure it's a race against myself, so I'd want to go back & see how (if) I could improve.  Racing snake?  Never.  Faster than I am now?  Possibly

Your times are pretty impressive.  I'll try not to let that put me off.

[токамак]

Club TT's are a mixed affair - riders of all abilities testing themselves. Even the open events if you're up for it - there's a guy called Alan Nye round our way who turns up on his trike and averages about 12mph

[David Martin]

Thanks! Was resisting the bounce on a few fast sections

Did 59:41 on the Essex Roads E22/24 yesterday (TT bike - not the 70" fixer!). Beautiful morning for it.

Clarion - find a local club running evening 10's, turn up on your Woodrup Giro and just have a go. Whatever time you do is not really important, but do go back again and see if you can better your previous time, or try a different bike and see if it's any quicker. You'll be a racing snake before you know it.

Thanks for the encouragement.  The Giro's the only bike that I could turn up with that wouldn't cause major sniggering.   I figure it's a race against myself, so I'd want to go back & see how (if) I could improve.  Racing snake?  Never.  Faster than I am now?  Possibly

Your times are pretty impressive.  I'll try not to let that put me off.

We have people of all sorts of builds, ages etc. Some will only turn up if it is a specified distance and good weather. Some aim to win. Others are built for comfort rather than speed and do it for th etaking part and personal challenge. One of the local series organisers is far more generously proportioned than you an rides a ten in about 34 mins on a good day. Nobody laughs, nobody sniggers. If he turned up on a 3K carbon frame with disk wheels, pointy hat and so on, then there might be comments made. But if you are bold enough to turn up and put a number on your back, noone will diss you for that.

Try one, see what it is like. See if Superstoker (if he is over 12 he can do it too) can beat you yet over that distance..

WARNING: it can become addictive.
..d