First TT tonight

Dave-M

God knows how I got involved in this :roll:

But I appear to have agreed to do my first 10 mile TT tonight.

I guess me and my 9 years younger and 2 stone lighter mate will have to complete for last pace I guess.

I have no idea what to do, don't really know the route, don't have shaved legs, no aero stuff, cheap kit, entry level bike :?

Burton

You'll be fine!

Turn up ride as fast as you can, go back next week and try and go quicker.

The joy of TT's is you're really only racing yourself.

Throw in a bit of rivalry to spice it up of course.

ENJOY IT!

mkirby

he he your on a slippery slope now. They are very addictive.

There will be signs and marshals to guide you, youll be fine. Just enjoy it

simon_e

Burton wrote:

You'll be fine!

+1. Just turn up and do one, it's great.

You don't need any fancy kit, just a bike that works and the desire to suffer a little in the name of going faster. It's good having someone to compare times with and use as motivation too.

My suggestions:
- Ask for directions & route info when you sign on.
- Eat a light meal about 2 hours before. Sip fruit juice or squash beforehand, but have a pee before you warm up (which involves riding up and down the local lanes).
- Don't miss your start time!
- Feel free to ask for tips. Everyone is happy to pass on stuff they've learnt.
- Hold back a bit for the first mile or two, then build up to a speed you can just about hang onto until you get to the finish. You'll be surprised at how quickly you recover afterwards.

sarkster

I did my first 10 mile TT last night!

Great fun it was. I had an vague target of 35 mins (ive only had a road bike for a week), managed 29:08 so was very happy.

Must crack 28 next time though.


good luck!

markos1963

As others have said, turn up(in plenty of time) and enjoy it if you can. Don't worry about kit, I beat a load of TTers last night who were on full aero rigs on my road bike. To give yourself a chance strip your bike of all the stuff you won't need for 10 miles eg bottle & cage, saddlebag,lights and guards. Just stuff a minipump and innertube in your back pocket if you are really nervous about punctures but I don't bother. Pump up your tyres to the recommended maximum and give your chain an oil. If its a flat course don't bother with the inner ring ban yourself from using it in case of dropping your chain. Don't go too fast or too slow just an even pace that you can keep up, its just as bad to finish with a sprint as it is to die before the finish. Have fun

simon_e

markos1963 wrote:

Pump up your tyres to the recommended maximum

As long as the roads are better than the ones where I live! I usually run 80-90 psi max or risk losing most of my fillings!

markos1963

Simon E wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

Pump up your tyres to the recommended maximum

As long as the roads are better than the ones where I live! I usually run 80-90 psi max or risk losing most of my fillings!

Pretty bad around here but its only 10 miles and I run tubs anyway

rebs

I did my first ever TT last Friday in Navestock. Spent half the time wondering if I got lost and was thinking too much about tiring myself out. But soon as I finished I didnt feel like I had pushed myself at all.

But all i've thought of this week is wanting to better it this week!

neilmacd

Good luck, don't worry about kit too much I turned up for my first 10, bike built from gas pipe, 7 speed down tube shifters and no tri-bars, aero wheels and a helmet that made me look like something from Super Mario.

TT's you're basically racing yourself as others have said and as it's your first whatever you do will be a PB!!!!!

Just don't do what I did on my first TT, got to the turn fine and dandy and feeling pretty decent, tailwind on the return leg coasting along nicely when I decided for christ only kows what reason to start admiring the scenery across the Firth of Clyde to Dunoon and the likes. Lost all track of what I was meant to be doing and probably cost myself a couple of minutes.
The cycling equivalent of falling asleep at the wheel almost I guess!!!

Lillywhite

sarkster wrote:

Great fun it was. I had an vague target of 35 mins (ive only had a road bike for a week), managed 29:08 so was very happy.

Well done, you've broken evens as they say in most cycling clubs and exceeded an average speed of 20mph for your ride.

Dave-M

Well I did it. Very nearly missed my start as I was busy gassing. Got there with 10 secs to spare. No time to set bike computer or iPhone app.

However, the news you're waiting for:

27.08

I'm absolutely chuffed to bits. Not sure how I managed without drink, holding on the drops, going that fast.

Brilliant!

Anonymous

Dave-M wrote:

Well I did it. Very nearly missed my start as I was busy gassing. Got there with 10 secs to spare. No time to set bike computer or iPhone app.

However, the news you're waiting for:

27.08

I'm absolutely chuffed to bits. Not sure how I managed without drink, holding on the drops, going that fast.

Brilliant!

Fantastic result mate! Get in!

macondo01

Great stuff!

Matt the Tester

good job mate! im doing my Second TT tomorrow aiming for 26 mins! i also have a basic bike with no TT Gear or anything expensive

sturmey

Well done, you've broken evens as they say in most cycling clubs and exceeded an average speed of 20mph for your ride.

The following suggests it is actually 25mph:

http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/timetrial ... ime-trial/

John.T

'Evens' has been 20mph for at least the last 50 years to my knowledge.

Pokerface

sturmey wrote:

Well done, you've broken evens as they say in most cycling clubs and exceeded an average speed of 20mph for your ride.

The following suggests it is actually 25mph:

http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/timetrial ... ime-trial/

Not sure where you got that, but you are wrong. 27 minutes is an average of 22MPH.

JamesFree

Where does one enter into these 10 mile TT's ?

Very interested in giving them a go in and around London

Dave-M

Pokerface wrote:

Not sure where you got that, but you are wrong. 27 minutes is an average of 22MPH.

...and I still can't quite believe I did it 8)

Anonymous

Pokerface wrote:

sturmey wrote:

Well done, you've broken evens as they say in most cycling clubs and exceeded an average speed of 20mph for your ride.

The following suggests it is actually 25mph:

http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/timetrial ... ime-trial/

Not sure where you got that, but you are wrong. 27 minutes is an average of 22MPH.

No, the point is that the site says 25mph is considered 'Evens', not 20mph...

Lillywhite

John.T wrote:

'Evens' has been 20mph for at least the last 50 years to my knowledge.

Correct.

Anonymous

I'd never heard the phrase at all...

Lillywhite

NapoleonD wrote:

I'd never heard the phrase at all...

You probably havn't been a member of a long established cycling club with a club president who had been doing time trials since the 30's who used that phrase to encourage all young cyclists and other newbies, like my 12 year old son, to break the magic 30 minute barrier on the evening Club 10.

richk

I've only ever heard it used in the context of 20mph (30 min 10)

Airwave

Evens for a 25mile TT is 1hour,so yes it's 25mph for a ten as well-done it once on a ten but still working on the 25miler

stokepa31

well all this has inspired me to go out tonight and try the local clubs 10 mile TT route. I dont expect to break 30 mins but you never know. will post back later with the time to see if i'm evens or just plain odd

a_n_t

always thought evens for a 10 was 20mph but hey-ho, done 25mph anyway

doing it for a 25 TT is proving more difficult! :? :?

bazbadger

a_n_t wrote:

always thought evens for a 10 was 20mph but hey-ho, done 25mph anyway

doing it for a 25 TT is proving more difficult! :? :?

After doing a few 10's I can't even begin to think how on earth you do a 25!

John.T

Airwave wrote:

Evens for a 25mile TT is 1hour,so yes it's 25mph for a ten as well-done it once on a ten but still working on the 25miler

'Evens' was around before anyone beat the hour for a 25. It is and always has been 20mph. Basicaly it is the first target for a beginer at any distance.

stokepa31

Well I'm back and managed 32.01. Into a stiff headwind on the outward five managed to average above 20 for the second five. I think there must be a knack to judging an even pace but I think this has inspired me to go and have aproper go one Tuesday night with the local club.
Guess I'm going to have to drop a load of wedge on super slippy bits for the bike now too