Time trials

Richmond Racer
Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
edited November 2012 in Pro race
I know I'm probably in the minority here but I do loves me a TT...and especially a Tour winning one

Bradder's account of his TT ride to Chartres is pretty special, in my mind anyway - even more so as I was by the side of the road in Chartres 100m from the finish as he stormed by

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/no ... rance-2012
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Comments

  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,695
    Yep youre wrong - 2nd biggest borefest in cycling behind the TTT! ;)
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • ddraver wrote:
    Yep youre wrong - 2nd biggest borefest in cycling behind the TTT! ;)


    Philistine :)
  • Time trials are even more boring to watch from the roadside. Rider goes past, albeit very quickly and then a minute or two later, another goes by. After an hour or so of this, I have had enough. I'm struggling to think of an exciting TT I've seen from the side of the road. Maybe the Nantes TT in 2003, but then that was only because I watched right next to the big TV screen they put up at the finish.

    I'm planning to go to the Tour next year, picking up the race at Ventoux and following it to Paris. Will not be going to the TT in Embrun.
  • Well, I lke watching all types of races/stages - sprints, hilly, mountain and TT.

    But being by the start house at Arc-et-Senans, and by the road of the finishing straights in Chartres and Hampton Court rank amongst my highlights as a spectator this year - standing within viewing distance of a big screen for the comparative time splits helped too...

    I like the purity of a TT. Its just the rider out there on their own, no shelter from team mates, no slipstream, in a totally unnatural position on the bike, managing their pace to inch-like precision, such specific control..
  • Well, I lke watching all types of races/stages - sprints, hilly, mountain and TT.

    But being by the start house at Arc-et-Senans, and by the road of the finishing straights in Chartres and Hampton Court rank amongst my highlights as a spectator this year - standing within viewing distance of a big screen for the comparative time splits helped too...

    I like the purity of a TT. Its just the rider out there on their own, no shelter from team mates, no slipstream, in a totally unnatural position on the bike, managing their pace to inch-like precision, such specific control..

    Interesting that your highlights of the year are both races that Wiggins won. I wonder how much of an effect this has against you just being a fan of the TT?
  • Well, I lke watching all types of races/stages - sprints, hilly, mountain and TT.

    But being by the start house at Arc-et-Senans, and by the road of the finishing straights in Chartres and Hampton Court rank amongst my highlights as a spectator this year - standing within viewing distance of a big screen for the comparative time splits helped too...

    I like the purity of a TT. Its just the rider out there on their own, no shelter from team mates, no slipstream, in a totally unnatural position on the bike, managing their pace to inch-like precision, such specific control..

    Interesting that your highlights of the year are both races that Wiggins won. I wonder how much of an effect this has against you just being a fan of the TT?


    Fair question: I''ve also enjoyed seeing prologues and TT's won by the likes of Millar and Cancellara, and Cuddles' Tour winning ride last year
  • Fair question: I''ve also enjoyed seeing prologues and TT's won by the likes of Millar and Cancellara, and Cuddles' Tour winning ride last year

    Maybe, I think it's always going to be the way, fans will always talk up the races where their favourite rider wins.

    I was watching some bits of the 1987 Tour on You Tube the other day and they had a TT stage that was just over 50 miles. Wonder if fans would like to see something like that again?
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    IF they're gonig to waste a day with a TT, and sometimes they have to to make the race interesting elsewhere, might as well make it an epic one.
  • mr_poll
    mr_poll Posts: 1,547
    I like the purity of a TT. Its just the rider out there on their own, no shelter from team mates, no slipstream, in a totally unnatural position on the bike, managing their pace to inch-like precision, such specific control..

    This...

    TT can be as exciting or unexciting as any stage if there is something to play for then they can be very exciting especially if a rider you like is at the sharp end. I really enjoyed Paris Nice this year when Westra challenged Wiggins and at one point was up and winning the overall.

    Personally think organisers could do more to make it more of a spectacle such as getting GPS on all the bikes so we can constantly see who is where and how the standings are being affected - especially over the longer TT's when there are loads of guys out on the road.
  • Gotta agree with RR... although Prologues are a fave in the esa house-hold.
  • Turfle
    Turfle Posts: 3,762
    TTs are fab.

    The Wiggins vs Westra battle on Col d'Eze was proper exciting.
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    The only thing more boring than watching a TT is reading an article about Bradley Wiggins riding a TT.
  • IF they're gonig to waste a day with a TT, and sometimes they have to to make the race interesting elsewhere, might as well make it an epic one.

    Yeah, I'd like to see a really long TT tried again. Maybe not in the Tour though. And I'd also like to see it done on a regular road bike as well.
  • And how about a TTT where it's not taken on the 5th rider, just on each indivdual rider. So it's not necessary to wait for the 5th man. It oould be that you have 4 riders who are quicker. (Does that make sense? Probably not...)
  • And how about a TTT where it's not taken on the 5th rider, just on each indivdual rider. So it's not necessary to wait for the 5th man. It oould be that you have 4 riders who are quicker. (Does that make sense? Probably not...)


    *scratches head*

    so basically adding up all of the individual times of the 4 fastest riders?
  • *scratches head*

    so basically adding up all of the individual times of the 4 fastest riders?

    Hmm, no. Don't think I've explained it well. At the moment, in a race like the Tour, the time is taken on the 5th rider. If 4 riders finish ahead of the 5th, they are given the time of the 5th. Anyone who finishes behind them is given a separate time. So usually teams will wait for the 5th rider, if they are struggling to keep up.

    But how about doing away with that, each rider is given a separate, different time for completing the stage. If they finish within a second of each other, they get the same time, like on a road stage.

    In fact, it's like running a TTT stage with road race timings.

    Hmm, I've got bored with that idea now I've had to try and explain it...

    OK, how about a TTT on unicycles where they all have to dress as clowns?
  • Vino'sGhost
    Vino'sGhost Posts: 4,129
    short twisty technical prologues are superb long itt snooze fest
  • *scratches head*

    so basically adding up all of the individual times of the 4 fastest riders?

    Hmm, no. Don't think I've explained it well. At the moment, in a race like the Tour, the time is taken on the 5th rider. If 4 riders finish ahead of the 5th, they are given the time of the 5th. Anyone who finishes behind them is given a separate time. So usually teams will wait for the 5th rider, if they are struggling to keep up.

    But how about doing away with that, each rider is given a separate, different time for completing the stage. If they finish within a second of each other, they get the same time, like on a road stage.

    In fact, it's like running a TTT stage with road race timings.

    Hmm, I've got bored with that idea now I've had to try and explain it...

    OK, how about a TTT on unicycles where they all have to dress as clowns?



    Quite like this
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,695
    I actually prefer Scotsmans suggesting for GT's, It means that you don't rule a contender out of the race in the first week becasuse the 8 other riders in the team are nt so good at TTing.

    There would essentially be no stage winner though.
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • okgo
    okgo Posts: 4,368
    I can sustain 450 watts for an hour, so obviously the first 20 minutes is not difficult.

    Brilliant line.
    Blog on my first and now second season of proper riding/racing - www.firstseasonracing.com
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    okgo wrote:
    I can sustain 450 watts for an hour, so obviously the first 20 minutes is not difficult.

    Brilliant line.

    You need to make it clear that you're quoting Wiggins there - sounds a bit braggy otherwise! :wink:
  • okgo
    okgo Posts: 4,368
    Ha! I bloody wish!
    Blog on my first and now second season of proper riding/racing - www.firstseasonracing.com
  • okgo wrote:
    I can sustain 450 watts for an hour, so obviously the first 20 minutes is not difficult.

    Brilliant line.


    I find that adequate restraint and good positioning of electrodes help after 20 minutes.
  • shinyhelmut
    shinyhelmut Posts: 1,364
    I was watching some bits of the 1987 Tour on You Tube the other day and they had a TT stage that was just over 50 miles. Wonder if fans would like to see something like that again?

    I think that if LADA clear Schleck sr for his positive at the Tour then ASO should include one of these next year :lol:
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    I love a time trial but they have to have all the split times shown properly so it helps to build up the tension. I've seen a fair bit of cycling on the TV where they're a bit lazy with that.
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    Just read that extract in the guardian, might have to get that book now!
  • As a stating point I always get a bit disappointed if it's TT day while watching a GT on a daily basis. Lacks the spectacle of the peleton for me. Having said that I was at both the Chartres TdF, and the Olympic TT.

    For olympic TT, stood on the corner in the north side of village called Esher. Watched the women go out, and then walked 200 yds down the road to the main street and watched them come back in. When they'd gone past, turned round and went into the pub in the corner to watch the end of the TT on telly. Barrel on the bar knocking out bitter for £3 a pint. Watched the start of the men's race, then walked up the road to see them go past, back to the main street to watch them go home, and then back inot the pub to watch Wiggo win on telly. More beer at £3 a pint. Guess it's all about the day!
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    Would love to have seen Wiggins smashing it at the Olympic time trial, must have been a great atmosphere.
  • It was absolutely fantastic, incredible atmosphere. I was at the 100/150m point, and there was also a huge screen within sight. Every rider got a big cheer, the likes of Eddy Boss even more so cos the Brits have basically adopted him. But the noise for Froome was mahoosive, and as for Bradders....

    When Fat Pat appeared on the screen presenting the medals, a number of us boo'ed which was entertaining.

    The pubs and bars in Hampton were buzzing afterwards. I drank my body weight in celebration.

    Quite a good day really :lol:
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    When Fat Pat appeared on the screen presenting the medals, a number of us boo'ed which was entertaining.

    Would have been rude not to really! Wonder if he realises no cycling fans like him!