First Unofficial Hilly TT

[HLaB]

I went out with the club last evening up Nivingstone Craigs on my first unofficial hilly TT (I think the official one is next week); I wasn't Lanterne Rouge but was only about 30 secs off it. I'd done a wee bit over the last few day (about 85miles, 5100ft on Sunday and 40miles 1900ft on Saturday), my ribs still hurt stopping me from honking hard, so I could improve a wee bit on the 8:48, apparently a mate of mine done it last year in 5:30 I really need to spin faster and master that technique of being in the zone earlier (I didn't get till halfway up) and using up more energy (I was too fresh when I got to the top, the faster boys were wheezing and sweating more).

 

[Matthew_T]

I went out with the club last evening up Nivingstone Craigs on my first unofficial hilly TT (I think the official one is next week); I wasn't Lanterne Rouge but was only about 30 secs off it. I'd done a wee bit over the last few day (about 85miles, 5100ft on Sunday and 40miles 1900ft on Saturday), my ribs still hurt stopping me from honking hard, so I could improve a wee bit on the 8:48, apparently a mate of mine done it last year in 5:30 I really need to spin faster and master that technique of being in the zone earlier (I didn't get till halfway up) and using up more energy (I was too fresh when I got to the top, the faster boys were wheezing and sweating more).

It is a very pretty place.

 

[VamP]

I went out with the club last evening up Nivingstone Craigs on my first unofficial hilly TT (I think the official one is next week); I wasn't Lanterne Rouge but was only about 30 secs off it. I'd done a wee bit over the last few day (about 85miles, 5100ft on Sunday and 40miles 1900ft on Saturday), my ribs still hurt stopping me from honking hard, so I could improve a wee bit on the 8:48, apparently a mate of mine done it last year in 5:30 I really need to spin faster and master that technique of being in the zone earlier (I didn't get till halfway up) and using up more energy (I was too fresh when I got to the top, the faster boys were wheezing and sweating more).

I recently had my first brush with timed hill climbing, when I went to watch the Surrey Classic at Box Hill. I timed myself on the way up, and found it so addictive I went back this morning during my early spin, and timed it again.

My problem was the opposite, I started out too fast, and was hitting lactate threshold about half way up. Nothing that a bit of practice won't solve. Most TT regulars reckon that the fastest initial time gains are pacing improvements.

For the record my best time was 7.59.

 

[HLaB]

I did the climb again on my other bike (38/52) and I tried going for a longer warm up and using the big ring more (I started in the 52t, dropped round the bend to the 38t, changed up to the 52t in the middle and carried the momentum up two steep bits before crawling over the finish line in the 38t) it made little difference apart from I was more knackered in the mid section I'll hopefully get one more go at it before the club Hill TT and I think I'll try being in the 39t for the first bit changing up to the 53t in the middle and changing down for the steep finish.

 

[VamP]

My understanding is that the optimal pacing strategy would have you at constant power output throughout. How do you achieve this without a power meter? HR is too chancy, most people advise working off your Perceived Effort (PE) which can be quite a good guide once you've become properly attuned to it.

 

[DuncanBeaumont]

For the record my best time was 7.59.

From where exactly to where exactly - please?

 

[VamP]

From where exactly to where exactly - please?

Box Hill is most often timed from the turning into Zig-Zag to the entrance into the National Trust car park at the top. I think there is an alternative start/stop a little higher up, that is used for some official events, but I am not sure exactly where that is.

 

[HLaB]

My understanding is that the optimal pacing strategy would have you at constant power output throughout. How do you achieve this without a power meter? HR is too chancy, most people advise working off your Perceived Effort (PE) which can be quite a good guide once you've become properly attuned to it.

Thanks

 

[Seamab]

I did the climb again on my other bike (38/52) and I tried going for a longer warm up and using the big ring more (I started in the 52t, dropped round the bend to the 38t, changed up to the 52t in the middle and carried the momentum up two steep bits before crawling over the finish line in the 38t) it made little difference apart from I was more knackered in the mid section I'll hopefully get one more go at it before the club Hill TT and I think I'll try being in the 39t for the first bit changing up to the 53t in the middle and changing down for the steep finish.

Changing rings is going to cost you time (a lot of hilly TT records are set on fixed) but knowing the hill pretty well my initial approach would be to start of in the wee ring for that 1st steep bit and not go too hard then change up for the middle section and give it welly - then change down as momentum runs out just before it steepens again. Is the next section where you down briefly and then up included? If so, you should be able to carry some speed into it for a big finish.

Must try it myself sometime...

BTW did you set a new maxHR? I don't think a power meter would help much on this as you'd be too busy honking and suffering to pay it any attention.

 

[HLaB]

Changing rings is going to cost you time (a lot of hilly TT records are set on fixed) but knowing the hill pretty well my initial approach would be to start of in the wee ring for that 1st steep bit and not go too hard then change up for the middle section and give it welly - then change down as momentum runs out just before it steepens again. Is the next section where you down briefly and then up included? If so, you should be able to carry some speed into it for a big finish.

Must try it myself sometime...

BTW did you set a new maxHR? I don't think a power meter would help much on this as you'd be too busy honking and suffering to pay it any attention.

I think the next time I try it I decided too do that When I last ran that middle section in the 52t, momentum easily carried me up the next two steep bits, I dropped for the third steeper bit though. There's no opportunity to change up again on the DCC Hill TT I was going to try that tonight but I came down with a bit of a sicky bug during the Hertz game and I'm not even a Jammy Fart; it'll give my bruised rib more time to recover anyway. The KCC TT finishes a couple of hundred m's beyond on the flat and you could change up for that.

Yip, I've set a new maxHR three or four times now, it now stands at 196, going by 220-age, I'm 24

 

[Seamab]

Yip, I've set a new maxHR three or four times now, it now stands at 196, going by 220-age, I'm 24

And i'm 26 (honest!)

I'm no maroon fan either but that was embarrassing Enough to put any Scottish football fan off colour.

Best not to do these maximal efforts too often. Rest up and recover before your next assault on the hill.

 

[HLaB]

I had another wee go with the Bianchi tonight, I didn't get clipped in until I was round the bend but I used that tactic of staying in the 39t at the start, recovering a bit before shifting up to the 53 in the mid section and powering up the last bit, I can't actually remember if I shifted down again but I probably did. I stopped the computer slightly earlier but I was quite glad with 8:12 (say 8:15 if I'd stopped it on 1.5miles). The official Hill TT is on Wednesday but it was almost perfect weather wise tonight, I doubt it will be on the night, rain is forecast.

 

[VamP]

I had another wee go with the Bianchi tonight, I didn't get clipped in until I was round the bend but I used that tactic of staying in the 39t at the start, recovering a bit before shifting up to the 53 in the mid section and powering up the last bit, I can't actually remember if I shifted down again but I probably did. I stopped the computer slightly earlier but I was quite glad with 8:12 (say 8:15 if I'd stopped it on 1.5miles). The official Hill TT is on Wednesday but it was almost perfect weather wise tonight, I doubt it will be on the night, rain is forecast.

That's a sizeable improvement just from pacing adjustments. Good luck on Wednesday, and don't overcook the start!

 

[HLaB]

Did the official TT tonight, I forgot to set my Garmin but I ended up with 7:40

 

[VamP]

Did the official TT tonight, I forgot to set my Garmin but I ended up with 7:40

Whoa! Big improvement!

Was it better pacing or the adrenaline of an actual event? How did you place?