Time Trial PB's

[HLaB]

There so much to think about in TTs when trying to chase/beat pb's.

What TT helmet are you using? Is your position right? Wind? Etc etc

Just keep training and keep working on what feels best for you. Some like to be very low at the front, some like to be narrow at the front but not as low.

You will get there and pb's will come

I changed at the start of the season to a Catlike Chrono, it looks cool but I think it was upsetting what was a really good position. Commuted on Tuesdays on the TT bike (actually an 8 year old converted) sportive road bike and felt much more comfortable again in the position. So on Thursdays I went back to my Kask Infinity with closed vent. I managed a 26.06 on that course last year and a 25.20 on another with that set up. Thursday's 26.52 felt right for the effort (lack of to be precise). On hindsight I should've went for something in between like a Bambino. That'll have to wait though as my next purchase when I have cash is a speedsuit

 

[jowwy]

I changed at the start of the season to a Catlike Chrono, it looks cool but I think it was upsetting what was a really good position. Commuted on Tuesdays on the TT bike (actually an 8 year old converted) sportive road bike and felt much more comfortable again in the position. So on Thursdays I went back to my Kask Infinity with closed vent. I managed a 26.06 on that course last year and a 25.20 on another with that set up. Thursday's 26.52 felt right for the effort (lack of to be precise). On hindsight I should've went for something in between like a Bambino. That'll have to wait though as my next purchase when I have cash is a speedsuit

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Those type of helmets need to be kept flat to your back at all times. Any lifted of the head and tail of the helmet will cause a loss of time and aero advantage. The kask infinity being a aero helmet with no tail, means lifting of the head doesnt cause the same time loss. The kask bambino would be ideal for you, but the infinity with shut vents is a damn good helmet.

Also get a club jersey one size smaller so its really tight around shoulders and arms with no rucking up

 

[Cuchilo]

Those type of helmets need to be kept flat to your back at all times. Any lifted of the head and tail of the helmet will cause a loss of time and aero advantage. The kask infinity being a aero helmet with no tail, means lifting of the head doesnt cause the same time loss. The kask bambino would be ideal for you, but the infinity with shut vents is a damn good helmet.

Also get a club jersey one size smaller so its really tight around shoulders and arms with no rucking up

True about the helmet but you lose the gain by having a short tail . I wonder what % of time moving your head would make a long tail helmet pointless .

 

[jowwy]

True about the helmet but you lose the gain by having a short tail . I wonder what % of time moving your head would make a long tail helmet pointless .

Team sky and wiggins dont seem to lost time without the tail......its all about your position and which helmet suits it

Im watching the tour of cali TT at the moment and theres a hell of a lot of stubby tailed bambino type helmets on show.....very few long tailed helmets

 

[SWSteve]

Long tails are always faster, stubby helmets are for those without the discipline to hold the position. Remind me what helmet Wiggo used when setting the hour record again...

I would assume the mass of stubby helmets in Cali is due to the number of riders who are actually bothered, in comparison to those who are just getting round

 

[HLaB]

Long tails are always faster, stubby helmets are for those without the discipline to hold the position. Remind me what helmet Wiggo used when setting the hour record again...

I would assume the mass of stubby helmets in Cali is due to the number of riders who are actually bothered, in comparison to those who are just getting round

There could also be a side wind, I'm sure somebody found that whilst a long tail was faster in a head wind/ no wind a stubby helmet was faster in a side wind/ gusts. I think the best team pick the helmet relative to the conditions.

 

[Cuchilo]

If there is a side wind just spin the helmet round to face it .

 

[jowwy]

Long tails are always faster, stubby helmets are for those without the discipline to hold the position. Remind me what helmet Wiggo used when setting the hour record again...

I would assume the mass of stubby helmets in Cali is due to the number of riders who are actually bothered, in comparison to those who are just getting round

Are you saying that a world champion time trialist Sir Bradley Wiggins isnt disciplined to hold the TT position or world time trial champion vasel kiryenka.

Also the hour record was indoors.....not exactly a lot of wind in there is it.

 

[SWSteve]

Are you saying that a world champion time trialist Sir Bradley Wiggins isnt disciplined to hold the TT position or world time trial champion vasel kiryenka.

Also the hour record was indoors.....not exactly a lot of wind in there is it.

No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that a long tailed helmet is faster, but you have to hold the discipline. When Wiggo was sponsor free, he wore the fastest helmet available. When he rode for a trade sponsored team, he wore the helmet which his sponsors provide.

 

[screenman]

I am not saying get a smaller top as one guy mentioned, get a skin suit. Just putting a tight fitting one on will make you feel faster.

 

[jowwy]

No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that a long tailed helmet is faster, but you have to hold the discipline. When Wiggo was sponsor free, he wore the fastest helmet available. When he rode for a trade sponsored team, he wore the helmet which his sponsors provide.

Well he didnt exactly wear a tailed helmet when doing the hour record and he wasnt sponsor free when doing it either. He was still with kask and rapha

Not exactly a tail on that helmet is it.....more a stubby back. Unlike the tail on HLABs helmet.

Believe you me, i dont think team sky would go for helmet that is less than aero and that would lose time over others

 

[jowwy]

I am not saying get a smaller top as one guy mentioned, get a skin suit. Just putting a tight fitting one on will make you feel faster.

The smaller top was until he could get or afford the skinsuit.....not cheap those things. For a while i time trialled with the castelli aero jersey one size smallr and set my pb while wearing it.

 

[iggibizzle]

How many of you have dedicated tt bikes, or use a roadie with clip ons? Or a roadie converted into a tt bike with full bars , wheels etc. Looking into options. Currently just use clip ons now, on a giant defy with the seat pushed forward. Other than that it's same set up i use for mega hilly 100 + milers. Probably not ideal for tt. But am looking for a bike to use solely for tts.

 

[Cuchilo]

TT bike here . I use it more than my roadies

 

[iggibizzle]

Watching a few on eBay!! Presuming you started on a road bike? Then clip ons? Was the difference instant? Or did you just find it 'better' and get faster as you got fitter anyway?