Time Trials, need some clarification
rides4sanity
Posts: 1,269 Member
Our local club has started doing a monthly time trail, 20k 12.4mile. Standard times are given, then we ride. I am the only girl ride the tt, and my age gender std time is 34:42 which I can probably hit on a flat course, but am so far from meeting on this course. Currently riding it 40 - 41 minute (18.1-18.6mph), which is a +6 minutes. Only one guy in the club beats his standard time and he is a sponsored racer avg 25+mph, then there are a few who are close and then there are the rest of us struggling to be mediocre (range from +0:30 to + 11:00). Yes, I am too competitve for my own good, but that's okay. So my questions are...
1) What is a standard time?
2) Does the time standard change based on the course?
3) What are some tips for improving (other than aero bars)? Is it better to sit or stand on hills? Is there a "best time" to drink?
1) What is a standard time?
2) Does the time standard change based on the course?
3) What are some tips for improving (other than aero bars)? Is it better to sit or stand on hills? Is there a "best time" to drink?
0
Replies
-
Hiya-
Friend and fellow cyclist - but in UK, so won't comment on questions 1 & 2 and i'm not a tester(time trialist) so will leave it to the experts, but here is my 2 pennisth worth on No 3!
a)Improving time- not wanting to sound sarcastic, go faster!
You are very fit (I've seen how many miles you do) and you must be sooooo strong but you are stuck at that pace- You need to inject some speed intervals to improve you speed to get a quicker time.
Do you have a static trainer? If not you can replicate this on the rode-
warm up
15 mins hard 20 + MPH
10mins recovery pace
10mins hard 20mph+
10mins recovery pace,
5mins hard 20+ mph
Cool down
Try this twice a week.
b) In my humble opinion, sit or stand on hills depend on:-
the hill you and what feels best(fastest) for you.
c) If you are hydrated before you race, over that distance you shouldn't need to drink. But hydrate immediately after too.
Im not a couch but have been riding and racing a little over 30 year now.
Good luck with the improving- keep us posted.0 -
Thanks Chez. I'm having a hard time with the heat & hydration, but hopefully it will level out as I get acclimated.0
