TT Times

fuzzynavel

I have seen a few threads where people mention their 10 and 25 mile TT times....how can you compare TT times with different courses or do they do it on some sort of trainer or velodrome?

andrewgturnbull

Hi there.

Weather, traffic, road surfaces, hills, tight corners and roundabouts all make a difference.

Some people hunt up and down the country trying to find that perfect day on the heavily trafficked dual carriageway course with a downhill start to set their best times...

At the end of the day it doesn't really matter, as all you're trying to do is either a) Beat your best time on a given course or b) Race the other guys/gals who turn up on the day.

For what it's worth, I'm generally about a minute slower on the Kirkliston course over your way than I am on the Stirling one - mostly as Stirling is pan flat. The A77 course in Glasgow is comparable to Kirkliston, while the dual carriageway at Westferry (Paisley) is theoretically faster if the traffic is right, but can be very exposed to winds blowing up the Clyde.

Hope that helps, Andy

BeaconRuth

fuzzynavel wrote:

....how can you compare TT times with different courses..........

You can't. That would be a completely pointless exercise.

Ruth

Alex_Simmons/RST

BeaconRuth wrote:

fuzzynavel wrote:

....how can you compare TT times with different courses..........

You can't. That would be a completely pointless exercise.

Ruth

Not if you have a few beers under your skin

There are so many variables at play, that even comparing times on the same course from different days can give a misleading impression of changes in performance.

fuzzynavel

andrewgturnbull wrote:

Hi there.

Weather, traffic, road surfaces, hills, tight corners and roundabouts all make a difference.

Some people hunt up and down the country trying to find that perfect day on the heavily trafficked dual carriageway course with a downhill start to set their best times...

At the end of the day it doesn't really matter, as all you're trying to do is either a) Beat your best time on a given course or b) Race the other guys/gals who turn up on the day.

For what it's worth, I'm generally about a minute slower on the Kirkliston course over your way than I am on the Stirling one - mostly as Stirling is pan flat. The A77 course in Glasgow is comparable to Kirkliston, while the dual carriageway at Westferry (Paisley) is theoretically faster if the traffic is right, but can be very exposed to winds blowing up the Clyde.

Hope that helps, Andy

I may live in Edinburgh but I work in Tullibody beside Stirling so I know what you mean about Stirling being relatively flat...There are quote a llot of roundabouts on my route to work from the M9 past Springkerse towards alloa and I have toyed with riding to work one day.....may do it at the weekend first to see how long it takes!!

Cougar

Like Andrew fast times do not impress me but performances do.

Some riders go proportionately faster on dual carriageways with high traffic flows than on single roads with little or no traffic. Also a late start on a dual carriageway with traffic could be worth a minute or so faster on the early starters. I found that when there were fewer outside influences re traffic flows, then I was comparitively faster than most other riders.

The only conclusion I reached was that they were prepared to take the risk of riding further away from the kerb than I was, in order to get more drag from the traffic.

I've beaten riders who were on paper, 3 minutes faster than me over 25 miles and 6 minutes faster over 50 miles. I seem to remember that cycling weekly magazine used to give greater prominence in their TT reports to the events with the fastest times.

I used to win events on non fashionable courses and never get a mention yet other riders, who I used to beat, get great write ups for doing a fast ride on a drag strip course. I don't buy it anymore so don't know if it's still the same.

One solution would be to abandon set distances and comparison competitions. It would be safer too.

Kléber

People should start reporting their finishing position. Ask someone how they did and they say "a short 23" or "just under the hour" but did they finish first or 42nd?

fuzzynavel

Kléber wrote:

People should start reporting their finishing position. Ask someone how they did and they say "a short 23" or "just under the hour" but did they finish first or 42nd?

Good idea but that doesn't take into account the quality of the field that you are riding against.

you could be first in a local TT but only 40th in the nationals...depends which one you regard as the best achievement.

skavanagh.bikeradar

The beauty of TTs is that you are free to compete against yourself and yourself only - if you choose. Personally I'm competing to finish second last.........

sub55

the whole point about tt`s is it`s you against the watch. so what on earth has it got to do with finishing position?
if it was all about your position on the results board, only 3/5 people in any event would bother to start.

Kléber

sub55 wrote:

the whole point about tt`s is it`s you against the watch

So why enter an race? Surely you could just turn up on a course and get the stopwatch running? Why race with others in an event if you just want to beat the watch?

fuzzynavel

sub55 wrote:

the whole point about tt`s is it`s you against the watch. so what on earth has it got to do with finishing position?
if it was all about your position on the results board, only 3/5 people in any event would bother to start.

That's quite pesimistic

SteveR_100Milers

Surely It's what you make of it- PB or race position, who cares other than yourself. It's whatever motivates you.

BeaconRuth

sub55 wrote:

..... so what on earth has it got to do with finishing position?

For me it's got everything to do with finishing position. If I finish, say, 25th but have beaten a good number of people who usually beat me, I'm well satisfied.

Ruth

willbevan

Like Ruth for me it isthe finishing position (it is nice to of seen it getting better slowly over the season),

Each race I have had a target, to beat a certain person, or close the gap, as well as improving on my previous time (i've had a very good season though, my first so each race has been faster even if only 5-10 seconds, but not suprising since it is my first)

Its how you make it as said, i've got a list of the races and a goal for each one, where i sucedded and where i failed, good monitvation to see 90% green, each time setting the bar a little bit higher

chrisw12

Quite funny that two national champions post on this thread and both give two different answers.

But that's the beauty of time trialling in that we can all find something to motivate us.

It's also why I get annoyed when people slag off things like dragstrip courses, It really is a case of each to their own.

sub55

very diplomatic chrisw sir

nearly got into a discussion over what i said, but thought better of it . at the time .
to all those who think position is what it`s all about , what is the best ride ?
50 mile tt ,first place and i won by 5 mins.
or
15th, with a new pb of 53.35, in a 25?
:twisted:

Cougar

First place.