Time Trial League for beginnner A4s

12 sprocket

time trial League for A4s. As the french call it Contra le Montre or the test of truth.

THe time trial is the simplest way to determing the physical capacity of riders.It is as valid as testing each rider with a power meter in regards to determining who are the strongest riders.

THe time trials could be run on undulating roads to balance out the lighter and heavier riders who might be favoured by a very hilly or very flat route.

All new adult licence holders could participate in a three to four event TT league in their own area and a skills development and verification course before being allowed a licence to race in open Bunch races.

THen they can be allocated to different categories. for example the top end of the results might be allocated to 3rd category and the rest to cat 4 where the better ones can progress through the ranks based on their results.

This could definitely work, each province would then have more control over the safety of their race fields. It would channel the very strong riders who are creating an imbalance in the A4 Races into a3 and lead to safer racing all round.

Quigs Snr

12 sprocket wrote: »

time trial League for A4s. As the french call it Contra le Montre or the test of truth.

THe time trial is the simplest way to determing the physical capacity of riders.It is as valid as testing each rider with a power meter in regards to determining who are the strongest riders.

THe time trials could be run on undulating roads to balance out the lighter and heavier riders who might be favoured by a very hilly or very flat route.

All new adult licence holders could participate in a three to four event TT league in their own area and a skills development and verification course before being allowed a licence to race in open Bunch races.

THen they can be allocated to different categories. for example the top end of the results might be allocated to 3rd category and the rest to cat 4 where the better ones can progress through the ranks based on their results.

This could definitely work, each province would then have more control over the safety of their race fields. It would channel the very strong riders who are creating an imbalance in the A4 Races into a3 and lead to safer racing all round.

Time trialling is practically a different sport. It gives no indication of how a rider behaves in a bunch from a safety perspective. Case in point some very strong triathletes (including internationals) on one day licences have been amongst the scariest I have ever seen in a bunch.

12 sprocket

Quigs Snr wrote: »

Time trialling is practically a different sport. It gives no indication of how a rider behaves in a bunch from a safety perspective. Case in point some very strong triathletes (including internationals) on one day licences have been amongst the scariest I have ever seen in a bunch.

EH Quigs, try reading the Article All new adult licence holders could participate in a three to four event TT league in their own area and a skills development and verification course before being allowed a licence to race in open Bunch races.

Quigs Snr

12 sprocket wrote: »

EH Quigs, try reading the Article All new adult licence holders could participate in a three to four event TT league in their own area and a skills development and verification course before being allowed a licence to race in open Bunch races.

Time trialling still not always a reliable indicator of performance in a mass start race. I can compete and even get the odd win at A2 level in a TT, but have struggled at times in A3 and even A4 road races. Conversely guys I put 2 minutes into over an 8k TT or guys I have put 7 minutes into over a 40k TT have spanked me in a road race. With the pace changes and bunch positioning skills letting me down. Its like evaluating someone's performance in the 100m running by their performance in the 1500m. Different sport, different type of training.

That being said. I don't have any better suggestions apart from lowering the points threshold or increasing the points for places at A3 and A4 level.

C3PO

And who would organise/administer all of this?

Sorry, don't want to seem overly negative but I can't see the clubs volunteering to do it and I suspect CI don't have the band-width either!

Beasty

I think TTs are sadly neglected in 3 of the 4 provinces, with only Ulster putting on a regular programme covering all the standard distances (and the IVCA).

I think the idea of provincial (or a national) TT leagues is a good one, but as already mentioned it really is not an introduction to open racing. There are many good TT'ers out there who could be "A3 equivalent" (many with triathlon backgrounds), but would be incapable of holding a wheel in an A4 race

Hence I would favour such a league, but would extend it to all categories, with something being put on perhaps every couple of weeks. This would also help "spread the load" a bit giving the large A4 and A3 groups other racing options, and hopefully reducing numbers in open races for those categories.

Clearly the clubs would need to step up to the plate, but they already do in Ulster, and I think there is adequate demand out there to make this work

Esroh

Connacht Cycling might be a little upset with being told their long running TT league was not doing anything for TT riderd

Beasty

Esroh wrote: »

Connacht Cycling might be a little upset with being told their long running TT league was not doing anything for TT riderd

Just looked at the website Esroh - looks like 5 x 10m and 1 x 25m TTs are put on between the middle of April and early June. That's a good start, and maybe accomodates demand in Connaught, but I would hope for more, certainly in Leinster. Cuchulainn put on a decent TT programme which is open to non-club members, but the other leagues I am aware of are largely restricted to club members. Ideally there should be at least 1 50 miler, perhaps 2-3 25 milers and another 6-8 10 milers with a hill-climb or 2 thrown in. If they are run as "club" events there are limited slots avaiable and all are mid-week (which limits the "season" significantly with perhaps 4 months available with adequate light). Ideally a league should be put on including weekend TTs, stretching from say March to September.

Morrisseeee

Quigs Snr wrote: »

Time trialling is practically a different sport. It gives no indication of how a rider behaves in a bunch from a safety perspective. Case in point some very strong triathletes (including internationals) on one day licences have been amongst the scariest I have ever seen in a bunch.

.....and hence if you had a strong TT league up-and-running it would probably take these kind of 'racers' out of ....em....racing IYKWIM. Therefore I think it's a great idea.

buffalo

Given that I'm crap at TT-ing, I'd love to see a league like this. I'd be willing to help out (because I'd just lose by an embarrassing amount most of the time), and also take the opportunity to practise my TT skills.

Zippe

Esroh wrote: »

Connacht Cycling might be a little upset with being told their long running TT league was not doing anything for TT riderd

I done this one last year,it was a good league and well ran by the same guy that put a lot into Connacht cycling,it would be good to see the winner out of A1,A2,A3,A4 from Connacht go on to a all Ireland TT champ to meet the winners from the other 3 Provence's,there would be more to play for and bring out more riders,but road racing is road racing an TT's are TT's,it's a total different game,

DirkVoodoo

buffalo wrote: »

Given that I'm crap at TT-ing, I'd love to see a league like this. I'd be willing to help out (because I'd just lose by an embarrassing amount most of the time), and also take the opportunity to practise my TT skills.

Aren't you a national (category) champion in TT-ing?

drops

The Connacht guys do a great job with 8 10's and 4 25's running from April to end of August. The courses are good and safe. The 25 course has had the nationals and the vet nationals run on it.

While TT'ing may be different breed of racing you still need to be able to put in a good one to help get up the placings in a stage race.

buffalo

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Aren't you a national (category) champion in TT-ing?

a) Not officially, and b) only when there's a HC in front of the TT.

12 sprocket

I am delighted to see that some of the board members have run with my idea of the time trials for A4s . So good luck to the league in leinster which seems to be well on its way for next season..

High Nellie

12 sprocket wrote: »

I am delighted to see that some of the board members have run with my idea of the time trials for A4s . So good luck to the league in leinster which seems to be well on its way for next season..

To be honest, I don't see the point in organising a TT event for just one category. Your time will be the same even if Cancellara turns up. Sure, it's a bit of a bummer when the really fast guys sail past you, but it is 'the race of truth'. Some of the good TTs have all levels and everyone is respected.

QueensGael

There's a TT league down Limerick way during the early summer. I haven't yet managed to get down for one, but I'm planning on it this summer (although based on my feeble attempts on the highways of Meath and Wicklow this summer, there's no need for boot-quaking just yet )

http://www.cyclingpursuits.ie/