Each to their own, I prefer sitting right on the edge whilst TT'ing than having my HR jumping up and down in road racing or XC, but I still do them all cos racing is fun.
What I like about XC racing is being able to gain time on technical bits. So you've got the fitness aspect but also the technical bike handling skills. You have to push your limits of fitness and speed, which is proper exciting 🙂
This is the local NE of England XC mountain bike series. I'd never raced before but went along to the second race earlier in the summer after a bit of banter between riding buddies. I'm a girl with a full time job and no training, but I'm by no means the slowest rider there (although I'm also getting used to being lapped!). It's a really supportive way to race and I've made a few friends in the process. The front guys are fast but friendly, and those of us near the back have a bit of good natured competition going now.
P20 and Ahsat from this parish came along to the last race and the organisers are keen to get people involved (it's only the second year it's been running).
The last race of the series is in Hamsterley on the 7th September - there are promises of podium and cake at the end. Join us!
TT's are so weird. It's not helped by everyone there being very strange indeed.
You'll have some old guys who have ridden there at 7mph on an old beater from 1962 with a light off the front of steaming billy and some panniers filled with linseed soaked rags. They'll churn out a 24mph average over 25 miles and then meander back home to their cats and disabled wife.
There will be a load of massively serious blokes on single speed TT bikes that sound like a bucket full of bottle caps falling down some stairs when they pass you from ten minutes back. Those are the guys who will put in the fast times. They have this 1000 yard stare *all the time* and the only time they ride a bike is in the TT.
Then there's your common TT stalwart who is just a bit crap, rolls along at 18mph in these horrible cruddy bibs which he never washes.
There's the people having a laugh on a tandem or a mountain bike and finally you have the guys who turn up for two or three TT's on a normal racer who simply haven't got the mental blocks missing that allows them to apply 100% power, 100% of the time (and yes, that's me)
I think TTs are fun! I don't have tri bars or aero kit, mainly because I have a bad back and even in a 25 I have to stand on the pedals and stretch my back out several times - which makes a mockery of assuming an aero position! I love beating people who are all aero'ed up. What category does that put me in?
Lemonysam samuri I stareted racing cx last september Yorkshire series only ever done 2 mayhems before. Im 41 and have always been too nervous to race through fear of being rubbish. There is a full spectrum of riders just give it a go is what I say wish I had done it years ago.
samuri,
from a position of being a road club secretary, having run evening tt's for years.....
You're about spot on!
FunkyDunc - Member
This is coming up soon 10th August. Reeth in the Dales. Ive not done it before, but I would have thought it might be worth a dabble.
http://www.nutcrackermtb.co.uk/round6.html
Do this race! Good place to start from, well organised, good ridding, go for it.
I do like the sound of that. We have been meaning to go do a days riding around there but haven't yet. I would have like to have a go at the course before the race but it doesn't look like I will have time for that.
Im hoping to get to Lee Quarry on Sat to get a feel for it, see how technical the course is and how my lungs hold up.
Last few years seems like the most common TT-er are triathletes who have cottoned on to club time trials. This is great though as you see more and more ladies coming into the sport now via this route. Oh and the odd pro road rider such as David Millar who turned up on Tuesday.
No one is too slow to race XC, CX or TT. That's why they are so much better than road racing. Good luck 🙂
