MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Following on from the previous two years TT threads I thought I'd get the ball rolling for this year 😃 What's everyone been getting up to training wise, how's it been going and more importantly what bright shiny things have people acquired!
Bit faster than usual
I'll for most of January, getting some miles in at race pace now, where race pace is zone 3 and about 220 watts. Whilst that doesn't sound particularly great, my ambitions for this season are to hold that kind of effort for a loooooong time. Project 18MJ n go!!!
And for those that want a decode, divide that by 86400 seconds.
Not pure TT but aiming to improve my bike split at local half-ironman. Would like to dip under 2.5hours and still have the legs for a better run time which has let me down in the past.
Putting in a lot more time on Zwift and using it to get used to riding in an aero position with clip-ons before I look at a proper TT bike. I'm not flexible at all so don't want to splash out on a new bike if I can't get comfortable.
I didn't find flexibility to be a major issue when on my tt bike, I didn't have an extreme set up but it was still more aero than my road bike adapted with tri ars and easier to hold an aero position throughout the races
Just club tens for me this year, and would like to do a 25 to see what it's like. Was aiming for 24 mins last year as a decent benchmark for an improver, and managed 23 and a half, so prob shoot for 23 this year on a smooth course. Felt last year that I was starting to comprehend the craft of the TT a little bit - Our local course [J2/1 in Cheshire] is far from smooth and it's hard to be consistent with the power and momentum.
Mulling over a new bike - have a decent fit to my current one [a stealth] but I'm at the top end of the frame size, so fancy something with a bit more scope for adjustment.
Need to get myself back in shape - end of last season picked up a bargain boardman tt, kask bambino and a speedsuit I no longer fit into (!)
Goal for me is to get back to where I was 9 months ago before son#2. I would really hope to beat my 10 times as they were set on a road bike with clips
First year TTing - actually today is going to be the first time ive taken the bike outdoors for a ride rather than it on the turbo. Power a bit down on road position but not hugely so. Not happy with the saddle options ive tried so far - a little frustrating as everything else feels comfortable (and looks pretty aero too)
weekly club 10's at WotG, an airfield circuit which is slow but has fewer variables or external factors (no passing traffic to draft, no hills for free speed). Will replace CX as the regular effort-with-a-social-side and proxy as a weekly FTP test to see how I'm going through the summer. #crossiscoming 😉
Feeling a bit burnt out from TT to do any real racing this year but have a vague inclination to attempt a 240 mile 12hr on a standard road bike.
Taking a different approach this year, mainly due to circumstances beyond my control.
Crashed the mountain bike at the end of last year so was forced off the bike for a couple of months, then the builders took over my garage while doing an extension on the house so no turbo time either, little to no riding since November.
1st TT on Sunday and it's a 20 miler, it's going to be interesting!
I have kept up with general fitness through core/strength classes, functional fitness, and HIIT classes inmy lunch breaks and a few runs.
Let's see what happens
Events of last year really made me question why I was bothering with it all and took a fair amount of time off riding at the end of last season. Probably a bit burnt out here too. Winters gone ok but not the same level of commitment as last year so I don't expect to be as quick (which will still be disappointing!) Yet to touch the TT bike this year.
Shall go do some of crashtestmonkey's WotG races. Some local open 10's and 25's. Maybe a 50. And some summer cross. Maybe some of the ORRL road races. Need to get planning really. Got fairly low expectations though.
1st TT on Sunday and it’s a 20 miler, it’s going to be interesting!
That Maindenhead hilly? Good luck!
No not Maidenhead
TMK
I could well be doing a few at WotG this year as I'm going to be over that way more in the week.
Assume they still do the evening TT's there?
.
Is that TMK as in TeamMK? So that must be the Astwood 20? I might just have a crack at that, provided the rain holds off.
Have they published their 2018 calendar yet?
Banbury Star Hardriders is the first TT for me. Its only 10 miles this year and the course actually doesn't look very hard.....
https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/16414
Yes, WotG's will be every Tuesday starting in late March. "Club night" events welcome non members and there will be a couple of proper Open races, and we do a few 2-up and 4-ups through the season. We're looking at doing some shorter events later in the year to extend the season (10miles is 4 laps so we could theoretically do some 5 milers). On Open nights and some club I'm the semi-official event photographer, I tend to stick albums on the club FB site but might have to make an effort to link them to the website as I've had riders from other clubs enquire about getting copies; I like arty pain faces but racers seem to like to be able to analyse their position on the bike 😉
Munqe Chick is the club race sec and my much better half so we'll update this thread with dates and the start time for the first night (we're at the mercy of the RAF parachuting there as well as standing water). There's usually tea, cake and bantz after so it's a warm substitute for CX.
Jamz my understanding (from FB discussion) is that Banbury have had to use a new course, they used to go up Sunrising Hill which hits 21%...
http://veloviewer.com/segment/674423/Sunrising+Hill
"To let you all know, due to some change of dates with roadworks and traffic lights at Ettington, we are not able to use the hardriders course.<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">
After help from CTT and Warwickshire Police it has been agreed we can run the event on our new Open approved K4/10W course on the B4100
This is a much faster course, only 10 miles and one small hill"</span>
Yes Jamz Team MK, and yes Astwood 20
I doubt I'll ride if it's raining, that's another change from last year, zero motivation! I'm hoping that will change when I get back out there
I think I've seen something on FB regarding their TT calendar for this year, need to renew my subs though to get on the team website.
@crashtestmonkey yeh I know - I rode it last year - it was truly hideous and I was on my road bike as well !! (a mistake seeing as the rest of the course is perfectly suited to a TT bike) I am looking forward to trying this new course though, looks quick.
@sturdylad ahh cool, thanks. I had a look on the site but since it's switched to british cycling I haven't quite worked out where everything is.
It's a good course to ride just for a bit fo fun anyway, what with the bike bus being so handy. Just treat it as a bit a training eh, that's what I'll be doing. I've not done a 20 min (or longer) effort since last September!
So you're going to ride then Jamz?
Just wondering if we already know each other!!
@Crashtestmonkey - I will be down that way from the start of May, probably wont do the first one as I'll still be finding my feet but after that I'll try and do them on my way home.
Awful!
Trying to get under 25 on the local 10 this year. Not tried TTing consistently in the past, so this is the first go, and will hopefully lead into cross at the end of the year.
Bike Fit on the TT bike means I can now consistent hold a position (rather than fidgeting). All I need now is some speed, fitness, power etc
Watching for tips, looking to do a couple of tt’s this year for half-Ironman training and fo the crack of it.
Anyone know where the best places to look for the Warwickshire races?
Also, anyone have a Boardman att tt bike? looks like a great bike for the money!!
@sturdylad I didn't ride that one in the end - too something or other (cold/wet/hungover?) I don't know if we know each other to be honest. I don't ride many TMK TTs, I tend to ride the NBRC ones instead.
@chrisa87 best to get in touch with your local cycling clubs and see what they offer. Some (especially more traditional) clubs will have a weekly club TT which is a very casual affair and that would be the best place to start. I'm not sure what the clubs in Warwickshire are I'm afraid, but google should provide some results. Most clubs will list their TT calendar on their website too.
P5! You passed me just before North Crawley the disappeared into the distance...
Not sure if I'll ride this week. Want to try and get to Silverstone for the rally cross and not sure I'd get away with riding in the morning and being out all afternoon!
My season hasn't started yet, my first race (a 27 mile spocco that I was supposed to do two weeks ago) was cancelled ago due to the beast of the East. I've got a double header this weekend but the cold weather is returning 😩 Going to be lovely and warm in a skinsuit....
on another note I've ordered the new aerocoach wheels that should be here at the end of April. Looking forward to running these tubeless beauties 😁
For anyone interested: The Tuesday night Weston-on-the-Green TTs start tomorrow, we've managed to negotiate earlier access to the airfield to make the most of the light so sign on for non Bicester Millennium riders opens at 5.40pm with first riders off at 6.40pm (usually start racing at 7pm). £5 for non-members.
A gang spent hours with brooms, shovels and blowers clearing the effects of winter off the track, HOWEVER as it's forecast to rain for the first half the day we MAY get beaten by the elements (it doesn't drain well). If I hear that it's cancelled as a result of pre-ride inspection I'll post up.
All things being equal, ie same helmet, clothes etc, how much faster is a dedicated but cheap tt bike (ie a planet x stealth) than a decent road bike with carbon aero wheels and tri bars
Say over 10 miles at around 250 Watts (appreciate and ignoring its harder to put out same wattage on a tt bike)
tpbiker: I started riding our weekly Westons last year on my road bike (no tri bars), then when I got hooked bought a cheap used TT bike (Cannondale Slice, and with an FTP of ~250-260 last summer). As mentioned previously it's 4 laps of an off-road circuit.
I use the same wheels on both bikes (semi-deep 45mms) and all the same kit and my first TT bike outing was 23:48, knocking 45secs off my road bike PB despite being 10w down (due to fatigue not position).
The following week I borrowed deeper wheels, a pointy helmet and velotoze and did 23:26 on a stinking track with scattered mud and puddles. So my goal this year is sub 23 on that circuit.
I didn't realise we had so many local riders in here! If anyone likes their TTs a little less flat, we've got our Charlbury Open TT at the end of next week. Two laps of a rolling 18 mile circuit via Charlbury, Chipping Norton and Shipton.
This is probably my favourite event of the season. I really struggle to stay focused on a 10 or 25, but really enjoy the variation in terrain on this course.
Entries close today: CTT website (course map)
I didn't do a single TT last year.
Keen again this year although 2 / 3 of our early club TTs got called off because of the snow and ice.
Evening club TTs start next Tues. Can't wait. Although I don't really have a proper TT bike. Aero bars on a Genesis Equilibrium!
May I also use this post to plug one of my club's Open TTs. We've revived the P454 hilly Wool / Lulworth loop in Dorset this year and have Road and TT bike categories. It's on Sun 15th April, entries close 4th April.
Road bikes https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/17670
TT bikes https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/17671
I've got a med stealth with 50 80 wheels in excellent condition that I won't be using anytime soon due to hip operation so I'll probably sell it if it's of any interest. Will list in classifieds in next few days
Practice run tonight for what will be a beasting of an introduction to the 2018 season. The Performance Cycles 4 Up team TT on Sunday (23.5 miles) starting from Cirencester. I'm in the mixed TT bikes team for the club, and after tonight's session i'm looking forward to this. I have planned just club 10's this year (U48 course), but depending on the TTT, i may look at an open 25 as well.
Weston on the Green schedule for those interested (at the mercy of RAF and weather) -
24/04 - 10 mile 4 up (no solo's)
01/05 - 25 mile solo
15/05 - 10 mile 9 up. Invitational
22/05 - 10 solo
29/05 - 10 mile 4 up (no solo's)
05/06 - Club 10 mile Champs. BBQ!!!
12/06 - 10 mile 2 up (no solo's)
19/06 - 10 solo
26/06 - 10 mile OPEN. Pre entries only
03/07 - Club 25 mile Champs
10/07 - 10 solo 4 up (no solo's)
17/07 - 10 mile OPEN. Pre entries only inc tandems
24/07 - 25 solo
31/07 - 10 solo
07/08 - 10 solo
14/08 - 10 mile 4 up (no solo's)
21/08 - 10 solo
28/08 - 10 mile 2 up (no solo's)
Did my first of the year last night - a 26.54 10 mile TT organised by Darlington Cycling Club. Only my 2nd TT ever - the first was abouit 4 years ago so didnt have a clue what to expect and was doing it on my ordinary road bike. I was overtaken within 2 miles by the beast who started behind me. Hopefully i'll be quicker next week as have bought a second hand Dolan Scala for TTs and Duathlons.
Done four events up to now with various success. Been in or around the top 10 in all of the events and in the top 4 in my age category (V40) Apart from my last race I got to the end feeling I was to conservative and could've pushed harder but hey ho, it's still early in the season so I know what to do 😀 My last race was on one of my favourite courses up near Sedbergh. A spoco that was shortened to 22miles due to roadworks with 1300ft of climbing surrounded by fantastic scenery. Managed to get round in 50:46 at an average of just over 26mph. Normalised power was 316w so it's fair to say I left everything out on the course 😂 Came behind Richard Bideau and Gethin Butler in my age category so can't complain!
A year after my last effort (and last TT) on H10/3 I thought I’d have a crack at the same course. Deep down I was hoping for 25mph but it wasn’t to be. Power wasn’t quite where it could have been and the wind was a bit rough on the way back.
Finished on 24.54 on the road bike.
It was won in style by a certain tester from this parish- great ride by him 👍🏻👍🏻
Westerley CC ten and a bit number 2 last night. Eleven laps with up to 50 riders. I lowered the arm extensions so flat arms. Donned all the aero kit and did a modest 11 lap warm up to calibrate. The nice thing is that on a closed course you know power for speed, so can judge any changes.
Race on and I’m 15th off. Planned on 280 Watts with increasing every few laps. Power is ok, legs tired due to E12 race the night before. Still going OK and passing riders. Then the Garmin decides it can’t lap on position so I’m counting laps. A lot of tragic around Brian’s Bends, but it is nice to see the kids racing!! Catch my minute man with one lap to go, and we race for the finish.
Pleased with a sub 23, and second overall. Played with Golden Cheetah to find a CdA and compare with last week. A bit more aero, but need some more gains and they won’t be in the form of a new bike
CdA is about 0.23. average power was 287 W and NP was 292. A sub 22 may be possible but I’ll need to be rested!
The strava segment is Westerley Wednesday
have given up a vets race on Saturday for a 15 on the E2/25.
First local 10 last night - first of the season and first time I've entered in 6 years. 68 entrants in total - really high turnout due to the good weather. I get 52, so as soon as I'm signed in, i head off home to add a rear light and switch the helmet visor to a clear one...
The course is U48, so it's pancake flat. I don't have a power meter on the TT bike, so i pace the whole race with a consistent HR effort. Garmin is set to only show HR in big numbers so the aim is to ride my own race and not chase down or hold off riders.
Set off at what i think is too high an effort, but figure I'll just try and hold it, and if i blow - well there's always next week to try something different. End up judging the effort exactly right, based on not being able to speak (or anything else) for a couple of minutes after the finish.
Time was 26.27 (22.68mph), estimated average power of 214W, average HR of 170bpm. PB for me, but some work to do to get to my goal of 25 minutes on the course this year. Relatively slow, but not too bad for someone who has ridden their bike (rather than trained) for last couple of years. Using Planet X Stealth TT bike, aero helmet, but shallow rims and normal club kit (no skinsuit)
Next steps? Lactate threshold test to ensure my HR and power zones are set correctly, and a few weeks of following a proper training plan.
My goal is to just fit into the new skinsuit I bought at the end of last season. It hasn't been a very productive winter from a TTing perspective.
Rode the Shaftesbury CC midlemarkers 25 this afternoon on the fast E2/25 course in great conditions. This is a race to allow riders with a time of more than 57 min to test on the fast course. Well my unofficial PB is a short 53, but I had a nine minute time penalty. So they let me in as the ride was undersubscribed.
Set off hoping for 280 Watts, but settled on 250-260 as the position is pretty extreme and it’s only my fourth ride on the bike this year. Windy out but a fast turn and roared home. Last 10 miles in 20:03! Felt pretty good at the end and maybe this is a 50 pace and I need to push on and take the pain
Anyway, a new official PB of 52:15. NP of 262 Watts, about 12% down on my FTP. And a win 🙂 . I’ll never win another open event again, but pleased with the speed, now to find the missing Watts.
Wow, nice work!
I presume you guys have all seen this:
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/04/hands-on-new-299-aeropod-aerodynamic-sensor.html
?
Great time TiRed ! Are you giving the national 12hrs another bash this year ?
Another go at the local 10 last night (U48). Sat on the start line watching the thunder and lightning, already soaked and thinking "should i do this?". As soon as i set off, the heavens opened - couldn't see the road because there was so much surface water. I also found that I'd purchased the world's noisiest helmet when there is any rain hitting it.
Quickly up to threshold heart rate and holding it nicely. Taking it very cautiously around the three roundabouts on the course. As usual, my heart rate dipped in the third quarter of the race - not sure if I go out too hard, or just loose concentration at this point, but it's back up again for the final quarter. Absolutely drenched now, nothing is dry, but it's staying warm so make a final push in the last km. Despite not really feeling the love for it, and the awful conditions, i managed a 3 second PB. I'd like to brag about a top ten finish, but there were only 10 starters, and 7 finishers - and I was 7th...
No power meter on the TT bike, but hrTSS indicates i was at max effort for the whole ride. Target of going under 25 mins for this 10 looks hard but achievable.
How was the 12hr TiRed? You looked good.
I had absolutely no intention of doing any form of competition this year, but one of my lads was riding a club 10 last week so I nicked my other son's TT bike and had a ride. 25:54 on a very rural course, 3.5 mins behind fastest rider on the night (and 2 minutes slower than my son!).
Felt good pinning a number on a again and despite the pedestrian time I am probably going to do it again in a couple of weeks time.
I haven't been on this thread much this year but still TTing. YRC 50 for me yesterday - I paced it really nicely to pick up a PB and a prize for 2nd lady. Not a huge field admittedly, but I realised that I also rode at a faster average speed than the 2nd lady in the 25 which pleased me greatly.
Just one ride for us on the tandem this season, hilly club 10 some time back on a windy night. Disappointing result with our worst ever time, top woman was a couple of mins ahead and she's never beaten us before! Should be fit in principle but haven't been riding much (mostly running).
Aiming to do one or two of the vet/tandem national champs events later in the season but not expecting much given the lack of prep/focus. Maybe it will all come back in time, who knows...
Rode the Kent valley ten event at the weekend on the Levens course in Cumbria - never ridden a fast course before so glued on a front corsa speed for the occasion, and was hoping to go under 23. Didn't feel confident on the outward leg as I was really labouring into a headwind, definite thoughts of 'remind me why I just drove 3 hours to do this' creeping in, but managed to hold it together and hit the turn just slightly down on pace. Coming back felt a lot better, and I leathered it home for a 22.35, new PB by a minute.
Despite being mentally all over the shop on the ride, overall power was highest this season, so probably judged it reasonably well for a first go at a course.
Had a first crack at a 25 a couple of weeks back, did one of the Cheshire courses at 2 and a half minutes over the hour. Found this really encouraging, as I thought a 25 would be hell on wheels given how hard tens feel. Wasn't quite that bad, so put the effort needed for a ten in a different perspective.
Hard course, road surface very poor. Felt better than last year. 282 miles.
I rode the Kent DC Q100 last weekend as a kit fettle, used a bladder and food bag - took it relatively steady with a 3:58 and an NP of 220. Yesterday managed an NP of 212 due to the bump in the middle of the course.
I planned the Q100 as the middle third of my 12. But the wind was right down the course yesterday, so out very fast and fight back into the wind - I switched to an even pacing for 12 hours. Average HR was 140 as expected.
Paced on 12 times 38 km autolaps and a Garmin virtual partner at 37.8 kmh. He rode well - and I kept apace until two hours to go when my last food stop put be 02:30 behind. Worked really hard to bring him back and caught him on the last lap with one of my strongest efforts (I always like to finish hard). Beat him by two minutes 😀 . Felt better than last year too, only two short cramp twinges. When the speed was down going back into the wind, I minded myself that on average, 200 watts would see me to the distance. Aero, aero, aero!
Kudos to the guy who rode both events fixed. I'd like to ride some longer TTs on my fixed bike, but the headwind yesterday was brutal.
Ive been doing some 10s.
Totally course dependant I know, I’m running a mid 22 for 300w. The surface is meh, with 6 roundabouts to negotiate!
Did my first 25 at the start of the month, 57 for 275w after I was going to cramp and backing off for the last 15 minutes. Might have one gel next time I do one after 20 mins. Got a lot coming up at the end of June/July on a faster course.
I won’t improve much on my 10 time, a high 21 on the same course is the best I can hope for I think.
Anyone in action at the weekend? I rode the Bynea CC 25 event in S Wales on the super rapid R25 course - the winner (Stuart Travis) posting 44.59 (sixth fastest 25 in history?), so fair to say it was a fast day! Really hot and still. Somewhat down the field from that, I rolled home in 56.21 - pb by a mile. Actually felt good going out, but the last 5 coming in was savage against a bit of a gradient, average speed felt like it was bleeding out.
Great experience to ride such a fast course - credit to the organisers for running an overflow event, which lets less experienced riders (like me) have a crack at it. Now need to see if I can get under the hour on my local stuff in Cheshire, which I think is going to be more of a long term project.
I rode the Holmfirth 10 - £10 for first female V40. Very windy - strong tailwind out and strong headwind back.
On Thursday it was our club 25 mile championships. Tom Pidcock turned up and took 40 seconds off the one lap (12.5 mile) course record which has stood for years.
RIP Corsa speed - blew it up on a pothole 1 mile into a 25 last night. Flippin annoying as it was a nice night - on a roundabout and a car on my left made to pull out, then braked, took me off my line and I cased the front wheel right over the pothole.
Tough running light tubs atm over our neglected roads. Think I'll go rd 2 with another corsa, but if that doesn't last it'll have to be a tubeless wheelset.