First TT

Doombrain

Going to try my first 10 mile TT next week if it’s dry and not to windy.

Apart from 'take a bike', any advice on warm up, fueling, strategy/technique?

(that’s if I ever get my bike back from Evans)

hopper1

You'll probably get much more attention/advice, if you post this in 'Training', or 'Amateur Racing'...

stonehouse

Having recently completed my 1st TT, I'd say don't worry too much about performance, just get the hang of whats going on.

For instance, working out from your number when you are going to start so that you can get warmed up in time to arrive at the start no more than 10 minutes before you roll out. Not forgetting any lav stops, not pleasant riding a TT with a full bladder (like wot I did on 1st TT).

Then on the course keep it together, avoid going off too quick and blowing up, ditto when you get passed. Take in as much information as you can about the course, is the tarmac smoother in places, judging your braking points (unless you can do that in advance). That way on your second TT you will have some usefull knowledge to carry with you. I gained over 30 seconds on my second TT from just those things with no increased training.

Best of all, enjoy it, it's a great buzz I find...

The above advise is worth exactly what you paid for it, so no complaints!

mkirby

Just did my 1st last night. best advice is know the profile of the course, i got caught out by the hills on the last leg.

Dont go off too fast and dont warm up too hard, just enough to get the heart rate u and the legs going.

other thsn that jusst enjoy

Doombrain

hopper1 wrote:

You'll probably get much more attention/advice, if you post this in 'Training', or 'Amateur Racing'...

MURRRRRRRR

Variado

Having recently completed my 1st TT, I'd say don't worry too much about performance, just get the hang of whats going on.

+1

Warm up well, avoid the temptation to go too fast off the line and don't worry too much about the time - it's not the end of the world to finish thinking "I could have gone quicker there ... next time i'll...". On my first TT I went off way too quick, faded after a few miles, blew up after eight and crawled home thinking WTF...

BobScarle

Done two now. First one I got back thinking that was hard but I could have pushed harder. Second one, went out too fast, blew my legs off and grovelled back. Hopefully, I will get it somewhere near right on Tuesday.

Bob

matt-sport

i've started this season doing 10 mile tt's, great fun. i would say that i just try and push as hard as possible for as long as you can. it's 10 miles so it's not that far (dependent on how fit you are) for my first tt i took a water bottle, second tt that came of for more speed . the worst part about tts is the start when you have somone holding you up when you are clipped in, :? i believe it's just a matter of doing a few to get the hang of it.

Anonymous

Get there in plenty time.

Try this-

Warm up for 10 mins until your heart is going nicely, then do some short efforts at or just above what you think your TT effort will be, just drink water during this.
Then back to steady. In the last 10-15mins of warm up have either 500ml of sport drink or a gel.
Then get off the bike and walk round for a couple of minutes to allow the legs to clear.
Then start.

As for the TT -
Start steady, gradually build up the effort then in the last mile go for broke!

The next time you will have more of an idea of pacing.

This warm up is new to me (I have recently started having a coach) and it works a treat!! Mine is a lot more specific using particular power levels though...

But most of all -

Have fun!

tebbit

+ 1 for Have fun!

I did some down the Rainford Bypass last year and the year before, I am now out of the country working, the lads at Ashurst Bike Club were really friendly and I had a great time. Also regards to John Clarke for running them, I was made feel welcome and the tea and cake at the end were superb.

It was the first TT I'd done since the mid-eighties, go and have fun, even after a bad run I had a grin on my face.

rick_chasey

Make sure you're absolutely burried at the end.

SBezza

NapoleonD wrote:

Get there in plenty time.

Try this-

Warm up for 10 mins until your heart is going nicely, then do some short efforts at or just above what you think your TT effort will be, just drink water during this.
Then back to steady. In the last 10-15mins of warm up have either 500ml of sport drink or a gel.
Then get off the bike and walk round for a couple of minutes to allow the legs to clear.
Then start.

As for the TT -
Start steady, gradually build up the effort then in the last mile go for broke!

The next time you will have more of an idea of pacing.

This warm up is new to me (I have recently started having a coach) and it works a treat!! Mine is a lot more specific using particular power levels though...

But most of all -

Have fun!

+1 to this, make the build up within the 1st mile though, you do want to be still building up at mile 9

hopper1

SBezza wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

Get there in plenty time.

Try this-

Warm up for 10 mins until your heart is going nicely, then do some short efforts at or just above what you think your TT effort will be, just drink water during this.
Then back to steady. In the last 10-15mins of warm up have either 500ml of sport drink or a gel.
Then get off the bike and walk round for a couple of minutes to allow the legs to clear.
Then start.

As for the TT -
Start steady, gradually build up the effort then in the last mile go for broke!

The next time you will have more of an idea of pacing.

This warm up is new to me (I have recently started having a coach) and it works a treat!! Mine is a lot more specific using particular power levels though...

But most of all -

Have fun!

+1 to this, make the build up within the 1st mile though, you don't want to be still building up at mile 9

FTFY, mate...

SBezza

LOL Sorry, as above you DON'T want to still be building up at mile 9

willbevan

NapoleonD wrote:

Get there in plenty time.

Try this-

Warm up for 10 mins until your heart is going nicely, then do some short efforts at or just above what you think your TT effort will be, just drink water during this.
Then back to steady. In the last 10-15mins of warm up have either 500ml of sport drink or a gel.
Then get off the bike and walk round for a couple of minutes to allow the legs to clear.
Then start.

Curious what the power levels are compared to your FTP?

Would you mind sharing?

willbevan

+1 for having a good warmup and not arriving to soon for your start, you dont want to get cold and have lost the benefit of warming up.

Just enjoy it and have fun at your first one, worst thing you could do as peoploe has mentioned is blow up and limp round , which may put your off.

You may shoot off with the adreneline pumping and then a mile down the road hit a wall... I would say hold yourself back for the first mile..

Bottom line though, I hope you enjoy it!

Doombrain

thanks for the advise people. sorry, i had to bail on the first TT, too busy getting ready for a trade show so etc etc.

however, i went out with a friend tonight for a quick 10 and ended up doing a 15 but at pace (for me). My avg over a seleceted 10 mile was 19.19mpg and finished in 31.16sec, and i got stuck behind a bloody car with a 'give cycleist space' sticker on it :evil: AND that's with a few feet of climbing!

not bad for someone who a little over a year ago would almost puke after 8 miles of 8 mph avg...

so, not as bad as i thought i would be, looking forward to doing my first now.

PS, NapoleonD. That warm up looks like the business, cheers.

Doombrain

well i did my first 10 mile and got 27.23 which i'm very happy with