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It may have been motivated more by the awful weather this year and tedium of cleaning muddy gear every weekend but as a VERY part-time roady I've always fancied doing a few TT's.
I won't lie, TT bikes make me drool and this is in part my reason for considering it. I'm not a fan of long drawn out road rides but do enjoy the short sharp 10 - 25 mile all out rides I occasionally do so with the combination for my desire to own a full on carbon TT bike and the enjoyment I get from all-out short road rides I'm wondering whether TT is as much fun and satisfying as it sounds?
Any TTer's with some thoughts?
It's not for me but many love it.
You don't need a bling bike to start out, and I expect you'd see a lot of progression. Don't hang around tho, not much of the season left...
Just go and do a 10 with whatever bike you've got. You'll go out too fast and run yourself ragged with 4 to go. Then you'll do better the 2nd time, and then you'll be hooked. Then spend £4000 to shave a minute off or something 😀
I would recommend checking out your local clubs. Most clubs run mid week evening events which novices can participate in. Usually they only cost a quid or so to enter, and you will get a chance to chat to more experienced people and pick their brains for useful information.
Wanting to buy a full on TT rig is probably the worst possible reason to take up time trialling! Start by sticking a cheap set of clip on aero bars on your road bike, and learn about racing and what works for you before splashing out on top end kit. You can get 80 or 90 percent of the aero advantages without spending a lot of money. Aero wheels and bladed frames provide marginal gains compared to sorting out the basics.
Have fun.
I did it from 1988 until last year. Left it behind because the roads are too hostile these days for the competition (lost a couple of good friends under the wheels of juggernauts last year) and training. Every ride on the road, around stoke at least, you,could guarantee getting cut up, forced off the road or generally abused (things thrown out of car windows usually).
When I first started riding there was a quarter of the traffic that there is today and it was noticeably more pleasant.
Enjoyed it while it lasted, got down to a 53 minute 25 and a short 21 minute 10. It's addictive and you get drawn in to trying to beat your PB but you have to remember that you're worth is measured by your PB and screaming up and down the A1 with loads of traffic is way faster than a ropey old course in the back lanes of Cheshire but no one seems to appreciate that.
Enjoy riding TT's is the main thing, by a pair of "clip-on" bars for the first events and take it from there. Dont go hunting for fast times on stupidly dangerous motorway (almost) courses, just judge your results by position and by other riders you ride against.
Have fun, I will only do 10's and 25's again good training for breaks in RR's and also gets you strong for MTB races. 😀