My First TT

[Jon George]

Well done - I'm currently aiming for a solo version of 20 miles in under 1 hr (19.5 mph today) - and I have feeling it's dangerously addictive!

 

[medavidcook]

Yesterday i did my first ever time trial - it was to be the hardest 10miles of my current cycling life.

My start time was 10:46 being rider number 46 i was in the middle of the pack of a starting number of 90, but 16 of them didnt turn up.

After a 10min warm up on the turbo, i rolled upto the starting grid as number 39 was leaving the station, i looked on as the countdowns ran down, then the starter asked for number 43, no one, then no 44 again no one, then 45 yet again no one, then it was 46 yup thats me, i roll upto the line knowing the last man went out 4mins ago, ah well no one to chase down then. Then it was 10, pause, 5,4,3,2,1 and im off.

Out of the blocks like a whale hitting the beach front, slowly i clicked through the gears and upto speed, the road rising slowly towards the r'bout and a left turn onto the carriageway.

Within what felt a matter of seconds i heard the whistling sound of a steam train, that was rider 47 going past like the wind and only done 2 miles, christ i thought.

Anyway i got into a nice rythm and lost lung number one, its ok i still had one left, so i thought. As the legs churned away the miles of tarmac disappearing under and only 4 miles gone, i blew lung number two, bugger all i got left now is will and detirmination.

Then we hit the flyover, left slowly rising up over the road below, around the r'bout and there was range rover man, he couldnt wait 5secs as he pulled out on me, causing heavy braking and a lil swerve (that campese would habe been proud of) then a quick left down the slip road and back onto the carriageway.

Both lungs blown, heart rate at 177bpm i start the climb towards home, the headwind pushing me back, speed rising, then slowing as i hit the short sharp ascents of the homeward bound slog.

Lactic was building in the legs, heart was pounding, spit was flying and the sweat was pouring down my face as i hit the 7 mile mark, the worst part of the race. It felt like i was climbing the eiger, legs kept pumping, speed slowing, no amount of gear drops was helping, as the the thighs were screaming. Up over the brow i could see the mile to go sign on the road. Little burst of extra will and i get to the r'bout, sharp left and 50yds to the finish.

As i crossed the line, my heart rate hit its max of 183bpm, i was dead, legs were dead, head was banging and my lungs were back at mile 4. I'd finished in 28mins 30seconds thinking what the hell had i just done.

But i do it all again in two weeks time.

awesome mate, good job nice story, good luck 4 the next one

 

[Trull]

Great story and great result mate!

I'm not entirely lightweight either (101kg) and my 10M PB was set on the Kirkliston 10 course outside Edinburgh when I was 80kg, on a Raleigh Randonneur (touring bike), 20 years ago. I'd like to try a couple this year and I think you might have just given me the inspiration to just do it.

 

[Demonclimber]

Vai Vai!! Great account of first TT - takes me back to when I dabbled my toes (or was it belly flopped?) into the 10m TT waters for a brief spell. Turned up on my trusty triple speed, flat barred, Giant - the people at VCC were incredibly welcoming, albeit a tiny bit amused. Must have looked quite a sight trying to go as fast as possible along side Bassenthwaite, I suspect bobbing around a bit too much for a TTist; and I managed a time of something like 29m 59.999 secs - anyway it was a hair under 30mins and the Club were unbelievably supportive. For the season that I did these I was always first in my age group (M45-50 from Windermere) and they were ridiculously addictive - keep up the good work

 

[superwheels]

Sits down and starts to sing 'hero'

 

[Hugh Manatee]

A bit late to the party as usual but well done! I'm looking to have a go next summer. The bit about a 67 year old is in someways comforting as it means I have plenty (well over 20) to reach that time. On the other hand, it will be a little demoralising to have eighty year olds sliding past me.

188bpm is also my resting rate! Also, I'm not even sure I would be allowed to ride the TT bike I have.

 

[HLaB]

I'm not even sure I would be allowed to ride the TT bike I have.

Has it no got 2 wheels? I've saw all sorts on TTs, as its an individual event, it doesn't really matter what bike you are on; Coppi used to race on his butcher's bike (well technically his boss's bike), complete with delivery basket and beat everybody ;-)

 

[Rob3rt]

Has it no got 2 wheels? I've saw all sorts on TTs, as its an individual event, it doesn't really matter what bike you are on; Coppi used to race on his butcher's bike (well technically his boss's bike), complete with delivery basket and beat everybody ;-)

There are rules regarding bikes and rider position, albeit very relaxed compared to UCI rules. However they are generally not enforced unless another rider reports you, and even then it is probably rare that someone is disciplined, such is the CTT circus.

On another forum, I have seen a CTT National committee member try his hardest not to acknowledge the fact that someone had used an illegal front wheel (front wheel must have an open area of at least 45% of the total area, the wheel in question probably had <30%) in a National competition when he was informed of the incident. Excuses included that people should be telling someone else not him, he doesn't click every link posted in threads, doesn't read all posts only ones directly addressed to him etc, in the end someone posted a picture in a post, directly addressed to him and he still didn't acknowledge it! So unless you turn up, doped to the gills riding a prone recumbent, you will probably get away with it!

 

[Hugh Manatee]

Looks like it fails on the 45% area rule. All i really need is a nice course. I don't actually need the event itself. I swore a while ago; no more races! This is more of a personal thing. Here's the bike. Those aren't my legs by the way!

Please excuse the pedals. Those were just to test it. I have better ones.