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6/80 in the 50-55 age group at the Tour of Cambridgeshire yesterday. New position is faster. Disc wheel not required, and it comes tomorrow..
Saw that on Strava. Great result.
340 powerpod average watts.
That seems like a big jump from previous races.
Not sure but I seem to be able to put out more power in the tt position than in normal road position. From what I've read this isn't normally the case?
That is unusual. Can you replicate that out on the road in the different positions?
That seems like a big jump from previous races.
It was the caffeine gels 😉
I didn't change any part of the setup from the Wednesday Hillingdon TT (except a nicer saddle), and also rode a calibration for tilt on the Friday evening in case I had knocked it. It's possible that the initial readings may have been a little off, but I was careful.
The big difference was my average HR was about 3 bpm higher than past efforts. I did try and target splits of 290/300/310/320/330W, but to be honest, starting into a strong headwind took my HR right up, so I thought Id just gun it and hope that the tailwind home would see me through. And it did.
I did try and target splits of 290/300/310/320/330W
Why such huge variation?
Well it was just a target to try and go harder and harder really. In fact it didn't really go like that at all: 359/319/328/358/334. Heart rate did climb steadily though except 4th segment which has a hill to descend: 167/173/175/171/174. I've only ridden about club 15 races in the past three years, and no open events yet. So just learning what I can do still.
If you've got power I'd avoid looking at HR too much - far too many variables (fatigue, caffeine etc). Depends on the course, but you'd want a more level pacing strategy.
Well it is "power" of sorts, but takes an assumption about CdA, and I am happy to[url= https://www.strava.com/activities/1019553117/analysis ] pace by it[/url] - normally to tell me to go harder as I tend to lose focus easily! It was very windy and a lumpy course, to which I am better suited.
I plan on a Vector for my vintage Dura Ace cranks (can't use my Stages), and then use the pod for CdA measurement. I also have two position changes, a Hed Jet Plus disc wheel and some aero socks to come. I'd like to try a javelin helmet too. Although I can hold the tail of the Advantage on my back fine, I need some optical correction under the improvised visor and can't race with my glasses!
A little vanity, but obligatory TOC Chrono shot
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For an exercise in selling you photos, it is surprising that there is not a single side on picture for the keen tester. This was the best of the bike and it's on the small ring because I'm at the top of the climb.
No racing for me this week but we're off to watch the dauphiné TT later 🙂
Haven't posted on the thread for a while but I'm still testing 😀 Been doing ok, finishing in the top 10 overall and top 3 in v40 in the open events I've been entering. Still not entirely happy though, can't seem to be able to get the same power out as I could from last season on my road bike with clip ons. I'm 15-20w down even though all my training has been on the TT bike to get used to the position. (Although that maybe because I'm not as fit as last year, yet 😉 )
I'm going to throw my hat into the long distance TT's later on this summer so for the last three Sundays I've been doing long rides (100,100 then a 150 last Sunday) on the TT bike to get used to the position. Surprisingly it's not been that bad (apart from the saddle sores 😳 I've been offered a adimo to try out that might alleviate the problem hopefully)
So, tips for a 12hr TT?
So, tips for a 12hr TT?
Which one have you entered? I have never done one before but D12/1 in August hangs in the back of my mind, just cos it would be cool to get a BBAR certificate?.
The Newbury, tomorrow.
Silverstone 9-up TTT was a riot. Amazing how tight some of the corners feel when I've also done them on a 150hp motor bike. Finished as one of our 5 remaining riders (times taken on 5th rider) to get 3rd in Vets.
Munqe Chick in a mixed team managed to catch the rear QR of the rider in front with her front wheel, slicing 3 spokes in half (in a 20 spoke wheel) 😯 Luckily the wheel didn't collapse and she didn't come off, she ran into pit lane and a dropped rider from another team loaned her a bike to finish on as the team's 5th and last remaining rider 8) and checking the times it only cost her about 40 seconds. You can take the girl out of CX, but you can't take CX out of the girl 😀
What wheel? I'm impressed she could ride it at all! Cracking event isn't it. Did it two years ago and loved it.
Rode the HDW club 10 on Thursday. Well off my normal pace and couldn't get the HR up. Probably due to the vets race the day before. Still some tweaks to come.
TiRed Fulcrum Racing Quattro. I think she came to a dead stop as it locked up against the brakes and luckily it was just before exit to pit and next to a dropped rider who was stopping.
Good luck Umop! And to MrBlobby and all the other NRC volunteers.
Tested lower and narrower position. No 12hr race, just 33 laps of Hillingdon at tempo. Well having a separated shoulder may have some aero benefits and I can still put the power down.
The stem set up would probably have some of you expecting my imminent demise. Headset and steerer are threaded and I removed the spacers and locknut. A 1 1/8 threadless stem, with shim to 1" is clamped directly to the exposed threaded steerer tube, but the steerer is a bit too short. So I have a single bolt 3T stem that needed an extra coke can shim to really nip up tight. Feels nice and tight, and at least the stem doesn't hold the forks on! Looking for a UCI compliant 1" stem for Albi, probably threadless.
271 miles - that was a bit tough
Was helping out at the 12 hour and gave you a few cheers as you sped past. Up and down that road for 12 hours with that headwind, mentally really tough.
That's impressive! Not sure I could ever bring myself to do a 12hr tt!
Spent a bit more time trying to work out my positioning and why things are different between tt and road. Seems on the tt bike I'm pushing my tail bone out and dropping my chest to get into an aero position, on the road bike I have my tail bone tucked under more and more curve on the spine as I lean forward. Is this normal or is my tt position incorrect?
The usefulness of a power meter!
Raced H25/17 Saturday, first time with the PM on the TT bike, and averaged a measly 260w, compared to 310+ on road bike, and 300 on clip ons.
However, looking at comparisons of the H10/17r segments ('out' and 'back'), I was quicker by around 15s overall despite 60w less on clip ons! (258 vs 318w).
If this means my TT position is c. 60w quicker, then I'm pretty pleased! Only the second time I've ridden it this year so I'm sure I can find a fair bit of that power as I start to get used to it! Just need something other than 30mm wheels and could be getting somewhere!
(I know it's not a fully accurate aero test...but this isn't the TTF 😉 )
271 miles - that was a bit tough
Well done. That's a fine effort.
As for effects of aero, here are some numbers. I rode my road (not race) bike on the Westerley Wednesday segment (11 Hillingdon laps) after a race on Wednesday; Rode the TT bike in new position with all the trimmings and toys last night. Both at tempo or below:
Road: HR 149 bpm, speed 35.3 km/h.
TT: HR 140 bpm, speed 39.0 km/h.
Both rides are about 200-220 Watts on default bikecalculator. So less effort (HR) for 10% more speed on the TT bike (RPE was lower too). For the same speed on my road bike, I would need (39.0/35.3)^3 = 1.35 x more power or about 283 Watts. So the position, skinsuit, disc wheel and pointy helmet is saving at least 60 Watts compared to the road skinsuit, 60 mm deep sections and aero road helmet. My race HR is 170-173 bpm, so some headroom to go.
The question for TT riding is whether you can still put out the power in such a position as the hip angle closes. Tested this too on some hard straight sections into the headwind (always windy at Hillingdon). We'll see on Wednesday how much difference the lower position makes.
271 miles - that was a bit tough
Just to give umop3pisdn his dues, he rode 12hrs on a [b][u]fixed gear[/u][/b] on a lumpy out and back course with a strong gusting head/tail wind. It was pretty unpleasant just stood by the side of the road! A very impressive effort.
The whole thing looked pretty hideous TBH. The dull featureless course, the traffic, the wind, the monotonous hours of riding. The anguish on the faces of some of the riders stopping, really wanting to pack it in, but wanting to finish, looking utterly spent. Maybe one for next year 😉
The whole thing looked pretty hideous TBH. The dull featureless course, the traffic, the wind, the monotonous hours of riding. The anguish on the faces of some of the riders stopping, really wanting to pack it in, but wanting to finish, looking utterly spent.
Your really not selling this 12hr malarkey to me are you 😕
I'd not normally celebrate midweek club races... but after crappy couple of months off with injury then a long list of cancelled races, DNS and DNF I finally finished a race 😀 Only second time I've done that this year with the last one being back in early March. And none too shabby a performance, rode it quite conservatively, few seconds off my course PB, and power was ok for what might as well be first race of the year. Happy enough with that.
Bike held together too. Few mods for this year, going 1x11 with a new aerocoach carbon ring. Had a bit of a concern about a 58t but was fine for a fairly flat course (only problem is that the gearing is a bit big for the turbo warm up!)
I've endulged myself witha bit of a writeup for the 12, apologies but it's a bit long:
[b]Riding a debut 12hr TT
[/b]
2015 was my first real season of long distance time trialling, riding 3 100 milers with reasonable success – which made me seriously consider the 12 hour. The plan was to give the Newbury 12 a go in 2016 – this didn’t happen as likely supporters were unavailable. I considered riding the KCA 12 without much enthusiasm but this event ended up cancelled – so I finished 2016 with just the single 100 after the BDCA 100 was also cancelled.
Going into 2017 I knew that I needed to do a 12 and that the Newbury 12 was the only one that made sense. I live a mile from the course, parents aren’t too far away for support and I know (and love?) the course well. It’s also perfect for a debut 12 from a support perspective with laps no longer than 20 miles meaning there were plenty of opportunities for water/food handups – so an entry was submitted. I’d marshalled for the previous two years so I was looking forward to experiencing the event from the road.
Training wise, things could have been better. I’ve long since given up turbo trainer sessions or even anything that could be considered an interval outside of the hillclimb season, preferring the oldschool approach of ‘just riding your bike’ (though with far less volume than would be ideal). The postponement of the Hounslow 100 because of the National Champs meant that there was no opportunity for a long time trial before the 12, so as it ended up I went into it with just two 10s, a 15 and a 50 mile TT in my legs. The planned 6 hour test ride on the TT bike never happened and I managed perhaps around 100 miles on the TT bike outside of racing – all not really advisable! A couple of 200km rides on my road bike were the sum total of my distance prep. Nutrition was a similar situation; I knew what worked up to 100 miles in racing but beyond that was an unknown.
The week and day before the race was spent faffing around with setup choices like bottles (I ended up losing no bottles from the saddle carrier which is the one that concerned me, and four from my BTA mount), trying to work out what combination of gels and food would give me the suggested 60-70g of carbs per hour, and duct taping things like lights (forgot to turn on the rear) and Pitstop (no punctures) onto the bike. Gear choice was another issue of consideration, I’ve found 100” to be pretty perfect for 100s but didn’t really know what I’d be able to keep turning for 12 hours – I narrowed the choice down to 87”, 90” and 93”. I ended up with the latter (53/15) knowing that I could switch to a 16t if things got tough. I also debated skinsuit choice, whether to use tripsocks/overshoes and just about every other element of bike setup was considered. I didn’t really change my position much at all, I’d raised my bars 5mm a couple of races into the season and was running my saddle further back than last year. With the nullification of the 3cm rule I also pushed my extensions out by 5mm, as far as they would go as I’ve always felt more comfy stretched out.
Day of the race I was up at 5 for the drive over to HQ, ready for a start time of 7:46. After the usual HQ chitchat I got suited and booted, stuck gels up my skinsuit legs and headed down to the start – far too early as I ended up milling around by Chawton roundabout for 25 minutes or so. One of the Artic Tacx RT crew, supporting their three riders in (successful) pursuit of competition record remarked to one of their riders before he started that he found the 6-7 hour point the hardest – not what you need to hear on the start line! I rolled off and got started on the faster eastward leg towards Farnham, being surprised to be overtaken by my minute man just 3 miles in. Still, it’s a long race so I resisted any urge to pick up the pace and let him go. More expected was the scratch man, Pete Harrison thundering past me just after The Bull pub 9 miles in – my money was on him for the win, CR and competition record but he ended up bailing around 4 hours in his early 325 mile pace (!) proved too much.
Turning into the wind on the return leg from Farnham made it clear that this was going to be a tough day – the westbound leg has a net elevation gain, some terrible sections of road surface and also a reasonably significant headwind. There wasn’t much to do but just grind along, trying not to burn too many matches and settle in to something of a rhythm. I actually ended catching number 47, the person who had overtaken me from the start, just after the Holybourne roundabout which suggested that I was pushing harder into the wind and then struggling to get equivalent power out on the faster eastbound leg – he ended up catching me again here, I then overtook him a final time on the same stretch and then that was that for the race. I’ve always found it hard to get comfy on the bike in the first 45 minutes or so of a long TT, I think it’s a case of squeezing the blood out of the relevant places, and once I was over that I got into a relatively nice rhythm. I needed a pee from about an hour in but ignored it, targeting at least 4 hours before my first stop. After a first fumbled bottle handup 25 miles in things started going pretty smoothly with occasional catches/overtakes.
100 miles ticked over in 4:19, with my first stop shortly after for a pee behind a bus shelter and ditching gel wrappers in the bin before carrying on the Hen and Chicken to pick up more food. Up until then I’d been fine on a gel every half hour or so but I was getting pretty fed up of them so stuffed a sausage roll down my neck and grabbed a few gels, some Skratch fruit chews and a pack of Clif Shot Bloks. Getting a third of the way through without any issues felt good, but from about 5 hours I went through a bit of a rough patch. The wind had picked up and I didn’t feel too strong, and was worried that I’d overcooked things. Got through it and getting to 6 hours felt good. Breaking the halfway point is always a motivator for me on a long ride and knowing I was getting closer to the end carried me through for another few hours.
Anyone that’s ridden a long TT on the A31 will know how terrible the Chawton stretch is – it’s a little rolling and has huge cracks in the road that there is no smooth path through. It’s just ker-dunk, ker-dunk, repeated for 6 miles. The incentive in the Newbury 12 is the knowledge that once the leading riders get to 200 miles we’d be moved onto the finishing circuit of around 14 miles which misses out this section. This was predicted to be around 16:00, although I convinced myself that both Pete Harrison and Richard Bideau would be faster than that so we could move onto the smoother roads earlier – wrong, they’d both scratched! On my 9th approach to the circuit I was hoping to be turned onto the finishing circuit but wasn’t too surprised to be told to carry straight on. No problem – this was my last time. Wrong again, at 5 to 4 I was once again directed onto the Chawton stretch, this time for the final time. This caused another low period, especially knowing that I still had almost 4 hours left to ride.
Still, I eventually got onto the finishing circuit and started trying to work out what kind of end result was achievable. I wanted 270 miles but by this point that was looking like a big ask, as I was increasingly finding myself sitting up on the fast leg for comfort and still grinding into the wind on the way back. I set a schedule of 2 shot bloks ever twenty minutes and just tried to focus on tapping out the pace as consistently as possible. At one point I overtook Rob Bullyment, the other rider on fixed on the downward leg after a concerted effort. He returned the favour by catching my again a few miles later, I then passed him on the uphill stretch (notice a theme) – although he did end up beating me by 3 miles or so (on a smaller gear). As I got closer to the finish I knew that 270 was on, and it was amazing to tick over that at around 11:58. As my Garmin got to 12:00, I had 271.3 on my display. Similar to an hour record, you have to carry on past 12 hours until you reach the next timekeeper. Unfortunately I went past my penultimate one at what must have been 11:59:45, so I ended up riding on for another mile up the road into the headwind before finishing.
Got a lift back to HQ where I made slightly delirious conversation whilst inhaling samosas and Rachael Elliot’s homemade flapjack, then dropped all the kit back at home, showered and pretty much collapsed into bed. My feet probably felt the worst the next day, I couldn’t really feel my outer three toes on each side. Knees ached and my shoulders are still pretty grim, but legs have recovered surprisingly well.
Looking like 271.33 official distance, pressure is on for a 25mph BAR now!
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Great write up there. Just how rough was that 5hr rough patch?
Congratulations Andy. Fantastic achievement.
Just how rough was that 5hr rough patch?
Pretty rough. Hard to remember now but whilst I didn't feel that close to quitting it wac certainly tough to push on knowing just how much longer it was going to last.
Cheers both.
Great wright up and fantastic achievement!
Yes, thanks for writing all that, and very well done!
Thats pretty awesome stuff ^^
Advice please, what approach should I be doing each day the week before a 25m, assuming thats at 2pm on a Saturday? Thanks
I reckon what works well is probably down to the individual. If it's an important race I'd have probably put in two big volume weeks then have this week as lower volume, probably something like...
Monday - rest
Tuesday - 2hr z2/z3
Wednesday - 2hr z2/z3 with maybe a 20 min threshold effort or 2x8 at 105%
Thursday - 1hr z1
Friday (morning) - 90 mins z2 with 1x8 min threshold and 3 short sprints
Saturday - race
Really is trial and error though in finding a routine that gives you decent legs on the day.
That's a great write-up (and effort) on the 12hr !
I've just averaged a shade over your pace 8) ... for a TEN 😳
still, minute and a half off my 1st ever TT time a fortnight ago; if I keep this up I'll be a contender by the time I'm 60
Hello! I'm back from holiday and back racing 🙂
We got back on Wednesday and straight back into things on Thursday with the club 25 mile championships. I won the women's title 🙂 we also had a rather special guest rider who broke the two lap record and equalled the one lap record on his second lap - Alistair brownlee 🙂
Nasty evening in other respects though - nasty wind and rain, and one of the juniors was hit by a car at about 20 miles. Thankfully no bones broken but he needs a new bike.
Then the national TTT yesterday - completely different weather! An 11.10 start time had us out there in 30 degree heat. Our expectation was that we'd finish last but we didn't! Possibly the only time I'll ever finish 7th in a national championship! We rode together so much better than in our practice sessions and kept safe too - I was surprised how many teams crashed!
Back to the same course for a 15 tomorrow if my legs recover in time.
20:36 on the f11/10 on Saturday. A 4s PB but a bit of a crap ride, not really making the most of a good day! I think I was a bit tired from a week of TT bike acclimatisation (different muscles) and the heat made it difficult!
Still 40w down on power (288 on Saturday, despite raising the front slightly. Going for a radical change with tilted arms this week to try and get more power out without (hopefully!) comprising aero.
F11/10 next Saturday too, so another chance!
I've also decided to but some speed and get some wheels that are deeper than 30mm and aero as a fridge! Shopping to be done this week! 😀
20:36 on the f11/10 on Saturday. A 4s PB but a bit of a crap ride, not really making the most of a good day! I think I was a bit tired from a week of TT bike acclimatisation (different muscles) and the heat made it difficult!
It seemed like pretty damn quick day! I couldn't handle the heat tho....buying a white helmet ASAP.
In a postscript to the above we've just realised that we beat last year's bronze medallists. Maybe we're not as crap as we thought!
20:36 on the f11/10 on Saturday
Wow - are you tiny, or very aerodynamic (or both) ?Still 40w down on power (288 on Saturday
I needed 311w for a 24.39 the other day. Different courses but even so that's quite startling.
I'm similar at 325-350 for long 24s - I'd say my position is definitely unoptimised, but the basics of it are OK.scaredypants - Member20:36 on the f11/10 on Saturday
Still 40w down on power (288 on Saturday
Wow - are you tiny, or very aerodynamic (or both) ?
I needed 311w for a 24.39 the other day. Different courses but even so that's quite startling.
I'm wondering if it's the consistency of power delivery that's an issue - mine's a bit spikey. Like if you were hitting 325 on the nose throughout that's got to be better then oscillating +/- 50 watts around a 325 average, esp if you're large and constantly accelerating / decelerating some weight.
I needed 311w for a 24.39 the other day. Different courses but even so that's quite startling.
A feeble 270W got me 24:27 at Weston (flat, exposed airfield circuit which is a slow course according to those who know) on a road bike last week. My 'tester'club mates are bullying me to buy a TT bike and join the gang.
JB your time was very similar to the BMCC boys who rode the same event so you'll have some fun competition if/when you join!
Obviously depends on aero and weight, and accuracy of your PM! There'a a thread on TTF called "what power for a 19" or something like that, and there's a huge range of responses.
I'm wondering if it's the consistency of power delivery that's an issue
Yes, also about how you ride the course. You can do a very even power delivery but that's usually not the best way to maintain speed. It's the time on the clock that's important not hitting some avg power target 🙂
PM accuracy - fair comment, and TBF I don't really ride to power anyway (just got the meter - powerpod, and haven't really got into it though I have had a teething problem or two as well and need to work out what to do)
Performance-wise I've mostly looked at the winner's time for the TTs I've done & compared myself to those. I was better the second time (12% down in a bigger field) than the first (14%) so I'm going with that as an objective measure 😉
Crap night last night. The aim was to use it as a kit test for the new tub on my disc (first one I've ever fitted).
Got there nice and early, took 50mm wheel off and put the disc on. Faffed. Got onto the bike to ride to sign on and realised there was a problem with the drivetrain. Took disc off and put it back in again in case I'd done it wrong. Put 50mm wheel back on to check that was fine. It was. Tried the disc again, still not working. Decided to go with 50mm.
Then noticed that during all the wheel changes I'd knocked the brakes out of alignment and it needed tightening back up again to stay in the right position. Silly aero frame with hidden away bolt meant I needed to take the wheel off (again!) Then I realised that the toolkit didn't have anything that would get into the gap properly and the set of Allen keys with rounded heads were at home.
Swore a lot.
Decided to dismantle a part broken multitool I had lying around but although the Allen key fitted in the gap once the body was removed it didn't give me anything to hold on to to turn it.
Pretty much gave up on riding until with about 10 minutes to go I got it tight enough to hopefully stay in position and be rideable. Rushed to sign on but being so late meant I was off pretty much last and had no real warm up.
And of course the first bump I got knocked the brake back out of alignment and it rubbed for the rest of the race. I put out more power than I did last time I did that (15 mile) course and went 5 minutes slower...
Fingers crossed it's fixed for tomorrow - the brake is now tightened again and the problem with the cassette seemed to be the lockring so we've put a new one on.
Wow - are you tiny, or very aerodynamic (or both) ?
I needed 311w for a 24.39 the other day. Different courses but even so that's quite startling.
Average size, maybe a little fat, but the F11/10 has a nice downhill so it's not a bad thing! 😛 Not massively aero - old bike and 30mm wheels, though hopefully position wise not too bad!
The same power got 22:53 on the course CrashTestMonkey speaks of for reference.
JB your time was very similar to the BMCC boys who rode the same event so you'll have some fun competition if/when you join!
I noticed that! A good target! 😀
@MrBlobby - See you tomorrow if the startsheet is correct?!
@MrBlobby - See you tomorrow if the startsheet is correct?!
Yes I'm in. Only second race of the season and coming down with the kids cold so not expecting much (getting excuses in early!) but it's a good event and part of a team so I'll be there. Strong team DPCC have this year.
Anyone else entered tonight's mid-summer a3crg 25 at Longmoor? This will be my first "open" TT, having placed well in club events, I though I'd try some. Will be on the Shorter with lower position. It's a bit of a milestone, because I have foregone a Wednesday BC E1234 Vets circuit race at Hillingdon!
Yes I'm in. Only second race of the season and coming down with the kids cold so not expecting much (getting excuses in early!) but it's a good event and part of a team so I'll be there. Strong team DPCC have this year.
I was dropped until the Ladies pulled out and we got a 2nd team!
Anyone else entered tonight's mid-summer a3crg 25 at Longmoor?
No, but I might enter the next Weds 25 in a few weeks...165mile round trip from work - there - home, but it's the only opportunity I've got to get a fast 25 in this season! Let us know how it goes!
Tomorrrow? Are you racing the Ben Owen?
Yes. You there too TSY?
Yep, with FUCT. Defending champions 🙂
Munqe Chick is racing Ben Owen with a few other BMCC lady TT noobs, I'm not racing but may come along with cowbell and decent camera to support/heckle as appropriate.
Dreadful journey. Arrived late so no warm up, no disc wheel, no velotoze, no powermete, begged a late start. Nice conditions if you you warn 30C. Nice course, great road surface, some drags, lots of traffic. Some morons captured on my Fly6.
Rode on heart rate for 53:21. Five minutes faster than previous PB and top third overall, but rejected from the VTTA nationas 🙁
Saw that on your strava TiRed. Worth of kudos 🙂
Looks like I'm going to DNS the Ben Owen. Bloody annoying letting a team down 😡
Dreadful journey. Arrived late so no warm up, no disc wheel, no velotoze, no powermete, begged a late start. Nice conditions if you you warn 30C. Nice course, great road surface, some drags, lots of traffic. Some morons captured on my Fly6.Rode on heart rate for 53:21. Five minutes faster than previous PB and top third overall, but rejected from the VTTA nationas
In the nicest possible way........ you do realise that racing to HR is not a good approach to take? It's probably even a bad approach to take on a hot day like that. You'd be much better of just learning to pace by feel. You usually never know what your legs are going to be capable of until it happens. But it aint gonna happen if you're looking down at your garmin and thinking "oh shit my heart rate's hitting 170bpm, better back off" !!
To be honest, I had little choice ;-). And normally when I look at HR, it's to note that it isn't high enough! Last night was a good example. Average was a pretty even 170, but I could have gone higher if I'd pushed more. I use zone not absolute, normally. In TTs, I've never had the "need to back off" signal, obviously I'm a slacker 😀
Ben Owen was good last night, first ever road TT on a road bike with no aero bars, knobby socks or helmet just me and the bike. Our ladies team came 3rd turns out we missed 2nd by 4 seconds dam it 4 seconds!!!! Fun evening out, now to get a TT bike and a human cannonball style helmet 🙂
22:53 for me, course PB which I was happy about with tired legs!
DPCC 1 came 2nd by 14 seconds...would have won if I hadn't been dropped to the 2nd team...but I won't point that out! 😛 😀
Munqe-chick
Ben Owen was good last night, first ever road TT on a road bike with no aero bars, knobby socks or helmet just me and the bike. Our ladies team came 3rd turns out we missed 2nd by 4 seconds dam it 4 seconds!!!! Fun evening out, now to get a TT bike and a human cannonball style helmet
Great ride! For comparison, my PB is almost 3.5 mins quicker than last night and WOTG, so get onto other courses and you'll be flying! 😀
2.5 mins that should have said!
Your PB isn't on WOTG is it?
I did a 22:13 last night. We came first by 14 secs 😉
I don't think WOTG is that quick. I'd guess F11/10 🙂
Agreed and rereading.. he's saying his PB is 2.5 min quicker than WOTG time.
I'm sure WOTG isn't that quick but I can't get that enthused by riding down a dual carriageway with lorries thundering past at 0700! 😉
4 up at Weston tomorrow night... eek in a mixed team going to get my head smashed in!
Yep, PB on the f11 - although not on Saturday, had to stop at the first turn and then follow a tractor with 2 trailers the whole way round! Gave up a little after that, then got held up at the 2nd turn too! Came home in 21:07, so probably similar to last week given 30s or so lost at the turns.
Hemel 25 on the Sunday was a bit better, 2 minute course PB for 11th. Not brilliant, but not too bad.
Pretty sure my PM is under reading, I don't think I would lose 50w compared to road bike, and comparing times on Sunday, it would make me super aero. Whilst this would be great, and I think my position is decent enough, there's no way people with decent bikes and wheels are that much less aero than me with old frame, ext. cabling and 30mm wheels.
Theory is that the sensor isn't positioned properly and it's under reading cadence - I guess 3 or 4 rpm can make a difference for a given torque! I'll swap back on to my road bike to make sure it's not the PM then adjust TT sensor to suit.
Got into the PXXX 50 this coming Sunday, very early start! 😐
See you there.
The midweek interclub TT's that I often do changed course last night to a hilly one that they hold every year. Nearly 1100ft over 17.2 miles. Happy with my time of 42:34 coming 5th. Especially seen as those above me consisted of a elite rr, a lad who's done a 18:32 10, someone who competed at the Nationals last week at the IOM and a up and coming young lad on a development race team 😯 (not to mention I'm giving away 20years on most of them :mrgreen:) Interestingly I did this last year (all be it a shortened course due to roadworks) on the supersix roadbike with clip-ons and there wasn't a massive difference (around 16seconds) although last year I did it using 330w, this year only 315w. Theres a roadbike only TT near to where I live on Thursday that I'm tempted to do but I've got my first "big" TT on Sunday, a 100 near Congleton so unsure if I shoud give Thursdays race a miss and start tapering for Sunday.
What's your TSB at the moment? I would say that Wed-Sun is too long to go without any threshold level efforts before an Event. You should be keeping the intensity, but lowering the volume.
matts - Member
What's your TSB at the moment? I would say that Wed-Sun is too long to go without any threshold level efforts before an Event. You should be keeping the intensity, but lowering the volume.
Just uploaded yesterday's ride into golden cheetah and my TSB is actually +7.5 atm. With that reading I'll probably enter that TT on Thursday. It'll be a 22-23min threshold effort so I think it'll tie in nicely, enough to get the heart pumping but not give me to much fatigue?
I'll also do a 1+1/2 hr mainly z2 ride/bike check with some 1min openers thrown in on the Saturday.
This season is eclipsing the last one for poor luck. Looking forward to a decent run of races in July starting tomorrow... but just got notice that event is cancelled. Current tally of races finished still stands at 3.
So much for my plan of getting a lot of racing in early this season 🙁
Won our westerley 10.3 on Wednesday by 0.05 seconds - chip timed laps. Bike shifted badly and I felt the same.
Spent this evening upgrading to eTap aero. Oh it's so nice! Needs a radical new position with more forward saddle and longer extensions.
Still plenty of marginal gains to come.
I'm in a run of bad luck too - entered two events for this week. Broke down on the way to Tuesday's hill climb which was a DNS. Hired a car to get to the 50 I was meant to be doing today and then got an email through to say it is cancelled because there are roadworks on both the original course *and* the standby course.
Both actually organised by the same guy. This year I've entered four YCF events. Three of them have been cancelled (two for roadworks, on different courses, one due to the weather) and I broke down on the way to the 4th.
Grr.
Bad luck for me also and I think mine is probably the same as mrblobby's, but its made worse by the fact that I had entered 2 events on the A420 this weekend and both of them are cancelled due to the same road works....... doh!!!!! Hopefully the surface gets smoothed out in time for next year.
No racing for me then. In a moment of desperation I even resorted to searching the British Cycling website in the hope that there might be a chopper fest nearby to enter. 😥
Yes Jamz, H10/17R 🙁
No place for me in the a3crg on Wednesday - back to vets circuit racing I guess. Seems very hard to get into open events at the moment. On the positive side, I shall do a shakedown test of the new electronic Shorter tomorrow evening, before the new extensions and seatpost are delivered. More callbration.
Anyone spot that the Kask bambinos Sky are wearing seem to have grown a tail today? And Martin had an aerohead with side visors? An NQ doesn't bother with a TT helmet? Anyone spot a manual shifting bike too?
I can get into most opens being female but all the main stretches of road used for Yorkshire courses seem to have roadworks on them this year - loads of v718 races have been cancelled, and the a168/a19 dual carriageway round thirsk has also had roadworks for a few weeks. So with temporary traffic lights also popping up on the red wall (old a1) this week (and apparently it's being surface dressed soon too) there aren't many decent courses available at the moment!
Bad weekend for me too. I've either overtrained/overcooked it for a few weeks (PM reading 30-40w low has meant easy rides haven't been easy :?) or picked up a virus. Muscles have a deep ache, and just no energy at all.
Had to pull out of the Blazing Saddles 50 yesterday. Hoping to at least have some energy back for the Reading 25 at weekend!
Anyone spot that the Kask bambinos Sky are wearing seem to have grown a tail today? And Martin had an aerohead with side visors? An NQ doesn't bother with a TT helmet? Anyone spot a manual shifting bike too?
The long tail Bambino was new for the Tour last year.
Those Aerohead 'blinkers' were interesting.
I can only think that maybe NQ found there to be little difference between the aero road lid and and Abus Bamino-a-like without the visor - maybe not wanting a visor in the rain?? (he wasn't even wearing glasses)
Well I did my first 100 mile TT on Sunday. Would love to say it went swimmingly but that'd be a lie 😐 Set of with a under 4hr target/25mph av so I thought I'd take it relatively easy for the first 50, see how I felt then start ramping it up for the second half. 42miles in, averaging 24.7mph and feeling strong as a ox, all ready to start upping the effort then it all went tits up. Hit a pothole just as I took my hand off the bars to get a drink. Came down hard but dusted myself down and carried on. Trouble was I lost my bottles on my rear saddle so only had a 500ml on the frame to last the last 58 really paid for it near the end. Also my hip really starting to play up so my power was well down for the last 25miles or so. I came in 12th with 4hrs 11 (I think)
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