using road bike in TT

lennymc

so i signed up for the cuchulain league, and the first race is a 10m TT next Thursday.
ive never done a time trial. I do have a set of tri bars. Any tips on setting up the bike, and on doing the tt itself? in return ill let you know how I got on

thanks!

Lumen

Get the aerobars on ASAP and do some practice!

I'm crap at TTs, but I would suggest:

- Don't attempt to get out of the saddle whilst using the aerobars. You will probably crash.
- Don't put the bars too close together. You need to breathe.
- Don't put the bars too far forward. A good position will have a 90 degree angle at your elbow, but you won't achieve this with your road bike as the top tube is too long. The bar ends shouldn't protrude much beyond your shifters, but you obviously don't want to be banging your knees off the bars.

lennymc

Thanks Lumen. I used the bars a few times on my commute,so was able to get into and out of the aero position relatively ok. I have a trainer at home, so will have a go tonight at setting it up, and doing some sessions on it.


Is there any particular position I should have my hands in? do they need to be higher or lower than my elbows or something?

I have the stem flipped, and no spacers, which is my normal riding position, so im used to the tucked position (relatively speaking).

Another question is what should I eat on the day? I have loads of question! LOL

Lumen

Not like this. This guy will never amount to anything.

mp31

Lumen wrote: »

Not like this. This guy will never amount to anything.

No high viz jacket ... shocking lack of road safety awareness

And is that a steel bike I see...

ROK ON

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2411/2149328875_8b4b5e92c1.jpg

RobFowl

Lumen wrote: »

Not like this. This guy will never amount to anything.

Some suspicious looking stains on that page Lumen !!!!

el tel

Im in a similar situation, never bothered with TTs up to now and have one this week. I haven't been on my bike in 6 months either. I bought and fitted a Pedalsoft Trifecta aerobar kit but will only be trying it for the first time on the night. It's a beautifully engineered bit of kit and avoids clamping things onto the carbon handlers. I think with a few Bacon and sausage sandwiches in me and a 10 min warm up i'll be grand

lennymc

i really like that advice el tel. especially the bacon and sausage sandwich bit

goldencleric

ROK ON wrote: »

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2411/2149328875_8b4b5e92c1.jpg

I want need those Pumas!

padjo5

Lennymc, I would suggest you buy those PX carbon clinchers instead of the new doors, new doors won't make ya faster!!

ednwireland

el tel wrote: »

Im in a similar situation, never bothered with TTs up to now and have one this week. I haven't been on my bike in 6 months either. I bought and fitted a Pedalsoft Trifecta aerobar kit but will only be trying it for the first time on the night. It's a beautifully engineered bit of kit and avoids clamping things onto the carbon handlers. I think with a few Bacon and sausage sandwiches in me and a 10 min warm up i'll be grand

i wouldnt bother with the 10 min warmup

lennymc

stuck the tt bars on the bike yesterday and they felt ok, so went for a spin today when i got homee. did 16km is about 29 minutes at 32.5 kmph. First effort at a TT. Happy enough - i know i can push a bit harder towards the end. i guess pacing is one of the skills to TT. I have the bars angled upwards and found them comfortable enough. The course I chose is a bit lumpy, so i had to use the normal bars going up some of the hills, and did a bit of standing. There is a 10k section of the road that I have done before, and it looks like i knocked a couple of minutes of that stretch of road.

because Im a tart, im going to buy a set of the planet x 50 mm clincher aero wheels tomorrow as suggested by padjo5. Hopefully they make be faster, but if they dont, at least Ill look the part eating my sausage and bacon sambo. And thats all that matters

lennymc

so did the TT today. 16 km, 26.55, 35.6 kmph average. finished 25 th of 63. happy enough with that.

The tips helped, especially the bacon sambo bit

VanhireBoys

lennymc wrote: »

so did the TT today. 16 km, 26.55, 35.6 kmph average. finished 25 th of 63. happy enough with that.

The tips helped, especially the bacon sambo bit

Thats a flyer of a time - Well Done !

I am doing one next Tuesday night - First time in 23 years ! Not expecting to break 30mins..