TTT Technique

dyrlac

Following on from our Ventoux jolly, some work mates and I seem to have entered into a long-distance (268 km) point-to-point single-stage team time trial race with another department. As we are considerably keener cyclists* we agreed to a handicap; so we're giving the opposition a day's head start.** :? This means we're going to have to be motoring*** to have any chance of winning.

My group--6 guys--is reasonably tidy in a bunch (and we've all ridden together before over long distances) and includes a broad array of "types" (roulers, sprinters, puncheurs, and one or two wankeurs). Would appreciate thoughts as to the ideal paceline formation (e.g., single v double). How long and at what kind of intensity do the pulls need to be up front to maximize speed over the course of, say, 9 hours? Any other tips, including recommendations for apps to provide simultaneous live tracking for the audience back home? Each team will have a support car.

Thanks in advance!

* imagine a peloton of Cat 5 choppers against a posse of nodders, and you'll get the idea ...
** They start Sunday, we start Monday. 4 riders from each team need to finish via the designated route (on a bike). There are no other rules. We could, of course set off at midnight and win before they even got on the road after their first day (I understand they have picked out a hotel around the halfway mark), but that would be somewhat unsporting.
*** not literally

imposter2.0

My suggestion is that you all go and enter the same sportive.

fenix

I'd have thought a normal club run stylee would work best. You can't expect to TTT for 9 hours. You'll lose concentration and crash at least.

So what almost 170 miles ? Your team could comfortably expect - what 17 mph average.

Lets assume the others manage say 12mph.

So you're only talking about 10 hours versus 14 hours.

I think you'll probably lose. They may even box it off on Sunday.

ugo.santalucia

It seems to me the 1Kmh advantage you will get by riding in perfect formation is not what will win or lose the race... it's down to how long you are able to ride for and how early you are happy to start. Start time need to be agreed, otherwise as you say it's pointless. As a team, given a flat course, you should be able to go around in 8-9 hours.. so start at 4 AM and aim to be there at lunch time... although if they start stage 2 at 6 or 7 Am you are well and truly screwed

DeVlaeminck

Yes I think you could organise this better - maybe a single day ride for both groups arriving at the same destination but the faster riders having a longer route ? Still it is what it is.

I would ride in a single line taking longish turns of a couple of minutes each depending on your relative strength. We did the Flat out in the Fens sportive that way and it worked quite well with 4 of us though that was only 100 something miles. Assuming you all have to finish you have to watch out for the guy whose pride wont let him sit in and who then blows up slowing you all down.

bigmat

You should ride in two lines where safe to do so. That way you can have a chat and actually enjoy it as a bit of a social ride! Otherwise its going to be a long 10+ hours. Just do basic through and off, once you figure out who is going strongest let those people do most of the work and let the runts follow the wheels.

SME

Well, I'm not that fit a cyclust, but I recently done 81 miles in 5hrs40mins saddle time, plus a 40min break after about 55 miles.

Doubling that would be about 11 1/4hrs in the saddle and,say, 1 1/2hrs coffee stops? 13 hrs... ish? And they have a days head start?

cgfw201

Just ride and don't stop for too long. I feel the term TTT for this could be a bit misleading!

dyrlac

Thanks all, agree this is totally daft, and the route is what it is: we start where we start and have to get where we're going. So I guess the real question is what is the fastest way for 6 guys, working together, to ride 268 km (167.5 miles) over flattish terrain.

DeVlaeminck wrote:

... you have to watch out for the guy whose pride wont let him sit in and who then blows up slowing you all down.

This, I suspect, is key. Do you reckon it's like poker where if you don't know who that guy is, it's probably you?

Fenix wrote:

I think you'll probably lose. They may even box it off on Sunday.

If so, it would be well earned, some of them don't have road bikes. Besides, we're not above calling ahead on Sunday and picking up the bar tab at their hotel.

Imposter wrote:

My suggestion is that you all go and enter the same sportive.

That would be too dignified.

cyclingsheep

Majorca style would probable work best.....two lines of riders with the front pair sitting on till they want to change then make it a double change, line closest to the centre line moves forward and across two so the two front riders are now sheltered by the two fresh riders and the group continues in two lines until "change" is called and it happens again. Having two riders sitting in front means machismo is slightly less likely and everyone gets a good long break