Gearing for a 10 mile TT - G10/46 - on fixed.

[GrumpyGregry]

I think the last time I rode this course was in 1977 or '78 on a bike with 10 gears. I think. I've no idea what my time was back then. I've no idea what my time will be next month either.

So what gearing (in inches) would you use on this course?

 

[Basil.B]

48 x19
Just guessing though!

 

[GrasB]

It's rolling as far as my categories go so I'd expect 26mph ave speed. I like to aim for a cadence of around 95-100rpm on flat/rolling TTs, giving a top speed of around 40mph at 160rpm. So something around 90" would be the the order of the day.

 

[ayceejay]

You did ask what I would ride, which may be of no help at all considering differences in age/fitness etc. but I would be close to Basil's guess maybe 48 X 18.

 

[Rob3rt]

48:15 so ~85"

 

[e-rider]

on a flat course, and if you're aiming for about 25 to 26 minutes, then 53x17

 

[Old Plodder]

At the age of 45/46 (weighing around 14 stone) I rode 80" on my local 'hilly' 10, if that helps, (about a 28min ride).

 

[GrumpyGregry]

It's an all abilities all comers club members only 'game for a laugh" club TT

I aiming to...

...get round,

...as quickly as I, at 52-years-old and 100kg, can...

...and I've no idea how slow that might be.

 

[Rob3rt]

If you aren't sure, IMO it is best to be slightly under geared this time than over geared for a number of reasons, some of which are just my personal preference, others more general.

I would recommend that you go recce the course, or ride the course on the day before signing on, this will give you some idea of the wind etc (which may influence wheel choice for those with different wheels) too, then switch your gearing accordingly. I always recce a new course before hand, usually on the day and make a mental note of hazards, best lines through bends, which bends can be taken on the tri bars and which will be taken on the outriggers, where I will be able to conserve energy and where I will be going over my limit etc.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Cheers Rob3rt you confirmed a plan to have a recce that was forming in my mind.

 

[GrasB]

Cheers Rob3rt you confirmed a plan to have a recce that was forming in my mind.

As Rob3rt said. However at 8m/1km of climbing you shouldn't be much bellow your ideal flat road gearing. That said you'll find that on soothing like that optima effort will be near constant. I your feeling brave try to exhaust your ATP reserves over the last 1mile or so. If you don' know how to do that in a controlled manner the don't bother & go with a sprint finnish, not as effective but still gains you a bit if time.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

As Rob3rt said. However at 8m/1km of climbing you shouldn't be much bellow your ideal flat road gearing. That said you'll find that on soothing like that optima effort will be near constant. I your feeling brave try to exhaust your ATP reserves over the last 1mile or so. If you don' know how to do that in a controlled manner the don't bother & go with a sprint finnish, not as effective but still gains you a bit if time.

It looks like English but....

 

[Rob3rt]

I think he means "go for broke"

Wind it up over the last mile and really suffer, if you can't do it just wait until the finish is in sight and sprint. Experience helps to gauge the last mile.

Biggest thing I would say is, don't go off too hard. It is tempting to bolt hard and sprint away from the line and up to speed as soon as the holder pushes you off, instead keep your cool and roll away bringing yourself up to speed more gradually. It takes time for your HR to catch up to the effort so ease into the effort for 1-2 minutes, if you hit 95% MHR in the 1st minute, you most likely went off too hard! Bolt too hard in the 1st mile and you will lose loads of time at the end.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I think he means "go for broke"

I'm fairly sure I'll be broke at the end. I'll just have to ride as fast as I think I can sustain for as long as I can sustain it and if I run out of juice I'll have to slow down. No idea what my ideal flat road gearing is, nor indeed how I might find out.

I think something in the mid- upper- 70" 's for a first go.

 

[Rob3rt]

IMO, if you have no idea of your sustainable limit, it is better to post negative splits, break the race into 2 mile sections, try to get faster in each section, that way you will be more likely to go a bit easier at the start and hit your sustainable limit somewhere along the line, rather than set off at a guess and over estimate and slow at the end.

I basically know exactly what I can sustain for 1 hour, I just calculate what I should be able to do for 10 miles based on that and ride to that value, if I feel good I up the effort toward the end. In most events it has worked. It went wrong this weekend and I died off at the end, but I still posted a PB.