I fancy having a go at some time trials this year, whats the best way to get started?
enter your local 10 mile TT - see if you like it.
I entered a few last year for the first time - find your local club 10, show up with a couple of quid and your bike, game on.
The one I did was very friendly and encouraging to beginners - I believe that is usually the case on the club testing scene. First glance you think what am I doing here - a lot of gruff blokes, brows furrowed in concentration, wheeling around some amazing machines. Get chatting to a few and they're sound, though - v helpful and it's a nice environment (the ten itself is the opposite of a nice environment, as you would guess).
Check out http://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/ for events in your area.
It's also appreciated if you do some marshalling once or twice during the season, usually just involves putting the "Cycle Event" signs out and standing at major road junctions.
The local events are, like Garry says, low key but friendly. If you've not time trialled before they are also demoralising 😆 TTing is a definite skill
I presumed the answer was: Pedal, hard. But what do I know?*
*Don't answer that.
What's been said. Check out your local clubs events.
When you turn up for the first time don't be surprised if it all seems a bit serious and people aren't very chatty. Even for small club races people can be very focused on their prep and warm up. There's usually more friendly chat after the event when people have more time.
I did them a lot when I was in my teens then after a 40 year gap I had a go in my local club's Wednesday night 10. Pay a sub, no need to join just have a go. I borrowed a bike for that. Next week I couldn't borrow his bike so I put some road tyres on my hardtail, slammed the stem (as it were) and did a 25 on that. Not a good idea.
Had a go at one last season, and plan to do a few more. I turned up to one of the local club runs. Sign on chap was a miserable rude old bloke, so he has put me off their club, cost a bargain £3 but you need to sign up to a club to do more than a couple of trails. It is cheap and you get reduce TT costs.
Ignore anyone who tells you to just go balls out, you still need to pace even for a 10. I got all fired up, sprinted flat out from the start, well North of 30mph, then died within 2 miles, held on in severe pain for another mile, slowed right down recovered and then back up to pace and went past the finish with plenty in the tank...so not the best approach to a fast time! Managed a 26:53 which I was happy with. My mate who is roughly the same fitness was a minute quicker with clip on bars so those are a must.
Other tips, wear an old Jersey as you use safety pins to hold the number on, and when it is being fastened hunch down as in aero position, as if you don't the pins will rip holes in your jersey and the number will be flapping around all over the place!
And if it is an out and back know the wind direction
It's fun and I can see how it gets super addictive
Edit just looked at the strava log, max of 39.8 average of 22.6 lol.
DT78 😯
Yeah, pacing is the key and unless you've done a solid half hour effort at a constant pace it's not that easy to get right. Quoting Chris Boardman: "Ask yourself, 'Can I go last at this pace?' if the answer is yes then you aren't going hard enough, if the answer is no then you are going too hard, if the answer is 'maybe' then you are about the right pace."
find a local club tt and turn up. learn how to pace yourself and makes friends with pain. i used to love doing them
Cheers for that. Any recommendations for clubs in and around Edinburgh?
Starting is easy. Some one will hold your seat post while you clip in 🙂
I met a few people from Edinburgh Road Club when I was on Mull a couple of years back. Seemed like a good bunch.
The Edinburgh RC club time trial series runs from May to September.
http://www.edinburghrc.co.uk/about/promotions/club-tt-series
Club events are a good way to get started. As mentioned above, people will be happy to give you advice. As well as trying to improve your personal time, you'll get the challenge of competing against other people. Lots of people enjoy the wee grudge matches against their mates who are riding similar times, even if they are never going to be winning overall.
N.B. you have to be a registered club member to take part in the ERC TT series. There's more information about joining here:
http://www.edinburghrc.co.uk/about/club-membership
You're welcome to join some club runs, have a chat to people and find out more about the club before joining. Club members will be more than happy to provide you with more info about time trialling.
Check the website for more details about club activities.