Improving my speed...an unfortunate conclusion

[Citius]

But would that come at a noticeable loss of performance?

No, it would improve performance. In most cases, banging your tyres up to max pressure is likely to make you slower, not faster.

 

[LocalLad]

Will give it a go with less air next time I'm out and see how it feels..thanks for the tip

 

[Joffey]

There is always EPO...

 

[LocalLad]

Interesting, and not a terrible idea...though I bet I'd still get a bigger impact from getting off my ass more!

Let's put that one on the backup list

 

[jonny jeez]

I knew you would all say that

I've easily got another stone in me, and I need to get out pushing some hills...need to keep motivated over winter I guess.

Sounds as though any new toys would give marginal gains in performance

Not so.

Sometimes its the new toy itself that provides the motivation to go and play.

Do whatever makes you happy and allows you to enjoy the experience

 

[fimm]

I agree with all the lose some weight and do some training advice you've been getting so far (just time on the bike is good, but if you are getting serious then look into hill reps and intervals). One other thing to think about is your descending - if you are getting a bit of extra assistance from gravity anyway, then that is all free speed. Descending fast has its risks, of course, so don't break yourself!

(For triathlon, there's also time to be made up in transitions - now you've done one, you'll know if you want to do more, and if so there are some things that are quite cheap to speed things up a bit.)

 

[Milkfloat]

As well as the obvious engine upgrades, another small/medium improvement can be made with your positioning on the bike. Look at getting into a more aero position - even if it is just spending more time on the drops or swapping a few spacers over.

 

[LocalLad]

Some more great ideas here - thanks everyone.

I'm a sucker for a new toy, but might leave them for when I'm struggling to sort the engine out. (Though swmbo caught me perving at wheels online last night...)

Positioning on the bike is pretty obvious...I tend to be most comfortable on the hoods, and don't drop unless I'm going down a decent hill. I think this is because it's not that comfortable, which thinking about it is probably because I only really set the seat height when I got the bike, and haven't set up much else.

Interestingly, my strongest bit of the tri was the transition...perhaps I need to join a team as the transition man?

 

[*Dusty*]

I know what you're saying about the engine, don't forget to put the right fuel into it though. Eat right and you can go harder for longer, not miraculously so but all the little gains add up to large ones.

 

[LocalLad]

I've been fuelling pretty well generally,with a weight loss of a bit shy of 2 stone this year (plus muscle gained, so quite a chunk of flab gone)...I sometimes perhaps under eat whilst training...for example, I did a return trip to work in July (30miles each way), and tried to do it off not much more than my normal days food. Needless to say I lost all power before I got home - bad times!

I'm planning to focus on more "right food" as I ramp up my training over the winter...so far, it's been less calories which isn't always right

 

[2clepto]

id buy the wheels now and loose the stone buzzing off them. id ride in the ice just slower and not lean into corners but love icy hills on a racer. i ride with my tyres hard most of the time and love it. get some gatorskins and some vitorria randoneurs. i wish we lived close im desperate for a winter training partner. the miles pile up.

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

id buy the wheels now and loose the stone buzzing off them. id ride in the ice just slower and not lean into corners but love icy hills on a racer. i ride with my tyres hard most of the time and love it. get some gatorskins and some vitorria randoneurs. i wish we lived close im desperate for a winter training partner. the miles pile up.

You know you're gonna fall off don't yer? Icy hills on a racer with tyres pumped to their maximum - not for me, I'm afraid (literally!).

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

And just to add, am I the only one that thinks a proper road bike will buy the OP some free speed when compared to something that's made for flailing around in the mud?
Training and getting fit is all very well, but sitting your ar*e on something that makes the event easier and faster is great to!

 

[LocalLad]

Think I might struggle to justify a new bike just now...having only bought this one a couple of months ago!

Hence the thought process of perhaps changing tyres, or wheels to improve its road capability.

This will be the first winter riding, but can't see me feeling good on ice.

I'm current thinking stick with the current setup over winter and invest in some wheels and road tyres next Easter

 

[Citius]

This will be the first winter riding, but can't see me feeling good on ice.

Nobody feels good on icy roads. If it's icy, stay indoors.