how to get faster at TT?
stratcat
Posts: 160
I'm a relatively fit 40 year old. I've been cycling for a few years but last year bought my first road bike. I've become hooked on the speed I can get out of it and so I have recently started to go along to my local club Time trial.
Its the first time I've ever done anything athletic/race like. Whilst I know that my time isn't bad (just over 30 mins for a hillyish 10) I want to know how to "easily" get faster.
I don't want to throw any money at the bike, I'm doing it for the fun and I'm sure it would quickly become a bottomless pit, some of the guys have all the kit - fancy bikes, all aero, skin suits and helmets (mind you they do it in 22 mins!) . I ride a bog standard road bike without tri bars or fancy wheels.
I can't commute by bike so my "training" consists of ten or fifteen miles before work usually incorporating a big hill- usually takes me about an hour. I try to do bursts of speed, but I don't really see it as a training ride, just getting out on my bike.
So what do you reckon? I don't want to be a slave to training, I'm only doing the TT's for the craic, what sort of riding/training should I do to get faster?
Its the first time I've ever done anything athletic/race like. Whilst I know that my time isn't bad (just over 30 mins for a hillyish 10) I want to know how to "easily" get faster.
I don't want to throw any money at the bike, I'm doing it for the fun and I'm sure it would quickly become a bottomless pit, some of the guys have all the kit - fancy bikes, all aero, skin suits and helmets (mind you they do it in 22 mins!) . I ride a bog standard road bike without tri bars or fancy wheels.
I can't commute by bike so my "training" consists of ten or fifteen miles before work usually incorporating a big hill- usually takes me about an hour. I try to do bursts of speed, but I don't really see it as a training ride, just getting out on my bike.
So what do you reckon? I don't want to be a slave to training, I'm only doing the TT's for the craic, what sort of riding/training should I do to get faster?
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Sorry I have no advice for you as I'm on a learning curve myself and relatively new to cycling but I would like to know the same as you. I'm amazed that some of your friends can do a hilly 10 miles in 22 minutes. I wonder how long and hard they trained to get to that level?0
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If all you can do is one hour before work, and you aren't too bothered. Just go out when you can and go as hard and as fast as you can. A structured training program isn't for you, so you're better off just trying to destroy yourself every time you go out.
DO NOT DO THIS EVERY DAY
maybe twice in the week and then some longer rides at the weekends.0 -
The Time Crunched Cyclist might be a useful read. Some of the programmes might seem v.similar to Ride's thoughts though! Anyway, I find it useful to gauge my time between short hard intervals, recovery/ longer rides and rest. Here's a link.
http://www.velopress.com/cycling.php?id=2840 -
First pick your parents very carefully.0
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Thanks for the advice.
Pretty much what I expected you to say really.
I've got to say its a bit disheartening when one of them comes past you like you are going backwards :shock:
Mind you I haven't spent many thousands of pounds on my bike and kit.
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if your out for 1hr, ride fast but at a pace you could sustain constantly for about an hour without stopping or slowing down. any faster and you will waste time recovering during the ride and any slower youll waste time because you are not going hard enough.
you wont get to 22 minutes if you ride as often as you do unless you do it solidly for about 10 years. the reality is that you have to ride more.0 -
Get some tri bars and work on setting up your position and practice with them. I'm assuming the course isn't that hilly if people are doing 22s on it in a club evening 10 so you should be able to ride most of it on tri bars without too much worry.
As for the question how do people get to do 22 minutes on sporting courses - varying proportions of talent, hard work and aero kit. How much does the average club racer do a week - maybe 6-12 hours at a guess - I reckon most people could be fairly competitive in their club 10 at the bottom end of that if they put a bit of thought into it.
it's a hard life if you don't weaken.0 -
Racing bikes is hard and requires commitment and hard training to improve. Make a choice.stratcat wrote:So what do you reckon? I don't want to be a slave to training, I'm only doing the TT's for the craic, what sort of riding/training should I do to get faster?0 -
Alex_Simmons/RST wrote:
Racing bikes is hard and requires commitment and hard training to improve. Make a choice.stratcat wrote:So what do you reckon? I don't want to be a slave to training, I'm only doing the TT's for the craic, what sort of riding/training should I do to get faster?
You said it Alex. No gain without pain and all that.--
"Because the cycling is pain. The cycling is soul crushing pain."0 -
nmcgann wrote:You said it Alex. No gain without pain and all that.
its all about the right kind of pain to get what you want out of it though. sprinting into pain wont help with tts for e.g. and limiting pain so you can do more training volume is sometimes better.0 -
stratcat wrote:I'm a relatively fit 40 year old. I've been cycling for a few years but last year bought my first road bike. I've become hooked on the speed I can get out of it and so I have recently started to go along to my local club Time trial.
Its the first time I've ever done anything athletic/race like. Whilst I know that my time isn't bad (just over 30 mins for a hillyish 10) I want to know how to "easily" get faster.
I don't want to throw any money at the bike, I'm doing it for the fun and I'm sure it would quickly become a bottomless pit, some of the guys have all the kit - fancy bikes, all aero, skin suits and helmets (mind you they do it in 22 mins!) . I ride a bog standard road bike without tri bars or fancy wheels.
I can't commute by bike so my "training" consists of ten or fifteen miles before work usually incorporating a big hill- usually takes me about an hour. I try to do bursts of speed, but I don't really see it as a training ride, just getting out on my bike.
So what do you reckon? I don't want to be a slave to training, I'm only doing the TT's for the craic, what sort of riding/training should I do to get faster?
You'll get a bit quicker just by riding, but frankly everyone else who is taking training more seriously will just leave you behind as the season gets underay - when this happens it ceases to become a good craic. Search 2 x 20 if you want an idea about where to start and what to do.0 -
Hi thanks again 8)
The fast guys are all tooled up - very fancy specific aero TT bikes, skin suits, aero helmets as well as being very fit. I'm never going to be able to afford to compete with these guys even if I had the talent.
Some of the guys do a lot of commuting miles and have said the same as you guys - just do more miles.
I just wondered if there was an easy way to get faster, :roll: but I suppose it comes down to being fitter and pushing the pedals harder 0 -
the guys with all the kit are`nt fast because they got the gear, they are quicker because they are more dedicated. that dedication is`nt just the fact they do more training ,it also means , they are prepared to forego other things in life in order to buy their expensive kit.constantly reavalueating the situation and altering the perceived parameters accordingly0
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stratcat wrote:Hi thanks again 8)
The fast guys are all tooled up - very fancy specific aero TT bikes, skin suits, aero helmets as well as being very fit. I'm never going to be able to afford to compete with these guys even if I had the talent.
Some of the guys do a lot of commuting miles and have said the same as you guys - just do more miles.
I just wondered if there was an easy way to get faster, :roll: but I suppose it comes down to being fitter and pushing the pedals harder
You could build up a TT bike using used parts for probably under £500 that will potentially level out ant advantage that the all tooled up guys are. Clip oin bars for £60 will get you a lot closer to a TT bike than you might think, especially if you get nice and low at the front.0 -
sub55 wrote:the guys with all the kit are`nt fast because they got the gear, they are quicker because they are more dedicated. that dedication is`nt just the fact they do more training ,it also means , they are prepared to forego other things in life in order to buy their expensive kit.
Sorry, I wasn't implying they were faster because of the gear. I know these guys are really into what they do and so obviously invest in the proper equipment. I mean absolutely no disrespect to them or anyone in a similar situation. They are achieving way beyond what I'm capable of.
I know I could throw a lot of money at my bike, light streamlined wheels, tri bars, funky helmet, but if the engine aint working at the optimum then I'm just wasting it. Hence my thoughts about getting my speed up without spending on the bike.
A few people have said about the tri bars, but as, realistically, I'm only racing against myself I don't see the point.
They guys in the club are a friendly bunch, with some old guys (in their 60's/70's I think) who are a good minute or so faster than me :oops: maximum repect
I managed to get some good miles in this week including a 20 miler with an average of 19.1 mph over the whole ride so hopefully I'll beat my last time at this weeks club 10 and crack the 30 mins. 0 -
stratcat wrote:sub55 wrote:the guys with all the kit are`nt fast because they got the gear, they are quicker because they are more dedicated. that dedication is`nt just the fact they do more training ,it also means , they are prepared to forego other things in life in order to buy their expensive kit.
Sorry, I wasn't implying they were faster because of the gear. I know these guys are really into what they do and so obviously invest in the proper equipment. I mean absolutely no disrespect to them or anyone in a similar situation. They are achieving way beyond what I'm capable of.
I know I could throw a lot of money at my bike, light streamlined wheels, tri bars, funky helmet, but if the engine aint working at the optimum then I'm just wasting it. Hence my thoughts about getting my speed up without spending on the bike.
A few people have said about the tri bars, but as, realistically, I'm only racing against myself I don't see the point.
They guys in the club are a friendly bunch, with some old guys (in their 60's/70's I think) who are a good minute or so faster than me :oops: maximum repect
I managed to get some good miles in this week including a 20 miler with an average of 19.1 mph over the whole ride so hopefully I'll beat my last time at this weeks club 10 and crack the 30 mins.
That's all you've got to do, mate.
You are racing against yourself in a TT.
Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!0 -
I got a fairly light aluminium Cougar tt bike off ebay last year for just over 120 quid and banged out a few short 25s on it. It has Cinelli angel bars on which are pretty expensive and it suited me nicely for the year until I got my racing bike sorted. Look on ebay but only go for someone with a decent number of sales and 99. 7 or more % positives (or look closely at what the feedback says). Make sure you look at the postage too. The ones which are no postage only local pickup often go for a lot cheaper.0
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stratcat wrote:sub55 wrote:the guys with all the kit are`nt fast because they got the gear, they are quicker because they are more dedicated. that dedication is`nt just the fact they do more training ,it also means , they are prepared to forego other things in life in order to buy their expensive kit.
Sorry, I wasn't implying they were faster because of the gear. I know these guys are really into what they do and so obviously invest in the proper equipment. I mean absolutely no disrespect to them or anyone in a similar situation. They are achieving way beyond what I'm capable of.
I know I could throw a lot of money at my bike, light streamlined wheels, tri bars, funky helmet, but if the engine aint working at the optimum then I'm just wasting it. Hence my thoughts about getting my speed up without spending on the bike.
A few people have said about the tri bars, but as, realistically, I'm only racing against myself I don't see the point.
They guys in the club are a friendly bunch, with some old guys (in their 60's/70's I think) who are a good minute or so faster than me :oops: maximum repect
I managed to get some good miles in this week including a 20 miler with an average of 19.1 mph over the whole ride so hopefully I'll beat my last time at this weeks club 10 and crack the 30 mins.
IN our first club 10 of the year, we had 5 newcomers, all on road bikes, and all over 30 mins. Three of them are young in their 20s, they did a couple at the end of last year, and are still madly up for it. TTing is all about a state of mind.0
