TT equipment

[SimonRoberts0204]

Hi guys,

I've been training myself up with entering local 10 mile TT events in mind, and have managed to get my time down to 26-27 minutes on a good run.

Im still seeing improvements through training.

I am riding a Specialized Allez elite 2007, with no upgrades at all.

Do you think I would see worthwhile improvements if i installed clip-on aero bars, aero wheels,.. etc. Am I going fast enough for my time to be worthy of such things?

- oh - and "work on your engine" right?


Cheers,

Simon

 

[Will1985]

In order of best bang for buck:
Position - free - drop the stem to the bottom of the steerer and push saddle forward on the rails (might necessitate small raise in seatpost as well).
Clothing - freeish - tight clothing is best - bibshorts with a tight jersey or Under Armour type baselayer if you have it.
Clip-on bars - £30+ - improves your position even more.
Helmet (of the pointy variety) - £60+ - smooths the air over the least aerodynamic part of you. Try TTF or ebay for 2nd hand.
Wheels - £lots - can be noticeable gains. If budget limited, front first.

All of these things will speed you up. You'd be surprised how much of a difference a change in position and clothing can make even for the 27 minuters.
And yes, working on your engine goes without saying!!

 

[SimonRoberts0204]

Thanks for the advice, i've been thinking of getting a friend to photograph me on the bike to hone my position.

Also - is 26-27 minutes respectable enough to compete on a local level? I wont be last place by miles and humiliated will I? I know its supposed to be about me vs. the clock, but you know...

 

[Will1985]

It depends on the club and course. Some club 10s might have the slowest rider doing a 25 on a fast course, while others (especially if you have some of the older clubmen) might be doing 29-30.

Everyone wants to do a good time, but it is also useful to look at the people around you on the results sheet and gauge your improvement against them in terms of position.

Post some photos up when you can.

 

[SimonRoberts0204]

I looked it up, and my local club publish results to 10 mile TTs they run weekly.

Winners are doing 21-22 minutes... I'd finish about mid table with my time. Cant wait to get on the board, i have a feeling knowing theres always another rider somewhere in front of me to catch will speed me up!

 

[Will1985]

A reasonable course then. Do you take it easy in the first km when you have been doing these test rides?

The average speed for a 26:00 is 37km/h. People who go balls out from the start aren't pacing correctly. Assuming you have a computer, aim for about 34km/h for the first km. You'll lose about 10s from the average speed, but you should be able to recoup that and more towards the end.

I have some position pictures on my flickr - not perfect but useful (I tend to sit further forward on the saddle) - you're aiming to get a fairly straight back.

 

[SimonRoberts0204]

So far i've been trying to pace it evenly throughout the whole 10miles. Sometimes I get back with more in the tank, and sometimes I just die about 8.5 miles in..

Thanks for the photos. Il be out there for hours now with a timer-shoot camera trying to emulate that!

 

[MajorMantra]

I have some position pictures on my flickr - not perfect but useful (I tend to sit further forward on the saddle) - you're aiming to get a fairly straight back.

You have a Pompino set up for TTs? Neat. What gearing do you use?

Matthew

 

[Will1985]

I had 48x14 the other day when it was windy. Hoping for a bit of calm next week and use a 51 or 53. Sadly no deep section rear or disc for fixed yet....in good time!

 

[heliphil]

I took my 14 y/o daughter along to the local club last week and she did 31.38 and there were 5 people slower than her...

 

[ajb]

I was doing 27/28 mins on our 10 each week with a best of 27m14s

I bought a set of clip on aero bars and 1st time out I took 63 secs off my PB.

After playing with the position and practice on the aero bars I am down to 25m33s on the same course now.

 

[Brahan]

Hey Simon if you ask advice from some of the club members I'm sure they'll have some bits and bobs you can get your mitts on. I bet there'll be a spare pair of clip on aero bars kicking around someone's shed. You'll get them cheap too

Will1985 - You have a couple of cool bikes dude I'm currently in the process of saving up for one of my own.......but it's going to take ages.

 

[monnet]

I've got a 2007 Specialized Allez triple with no add ons. I'm no tester but I did my PB on it last year (a short 25) on a course with similar winning times to your clubs course. I think the record is 20:14 (set by Richard Prebble), so by no means a rapid course.

I'd say clip on Aero bars are worth between 30 secs to 1 minute.

 

[peanut]

Thanks for the advice, i've been thinking of getting a friend to photograph me on the bike to hone my position.

Also - is 26-27 minutes respectable enough to compete on a local level? I wont be last place by miles and humiliated will I? I know its supposed to be about me vs. the clock, but you know...

Sounds like a pretty good time to me . Wish i could break 30 minutes .

if you don't actually compete until you get a good time where are you going to go from there? the whole point of it is to improve your times. I suggest you start competing now before the season is finished.
If you are that worried about other riders times go along to the next meet and see what its all about and what times they are posting. Times should be on the local club's website anyway.

Re photographs I wouldn't bother. Hopeless ..even pro photographers struggle to get decent profile pictures . Put your bike on a turbo and use a compact digital camera that has a video feature. That way you can take a 1 minute video and watch your position and pedaling style ect.
You can get a brilliant Fuji Finepix J120 compact camera with 640x480 video and 10Mp stills and 5x zoom for £75 from Comets

 

[Ludwig]

If you want to be serious then all the carbon wheels, forks, aerobars, skin suits will make a significant difference. It helps where you are in the order. The ones setting off last have a massive advantage in terms of slipstreaming and pace making rather than the ones setting of first.