First TT - ride the PTap Open Pro or plain ol' SLs?
 

My first TT is tomorrow evening, the first stage of the Duluth Classic.

I have a PowerTap laced to Open Pros. I also have a pair of Ksyrium SLs.

Should I TT with the aid of the PT but the heavier/un-aerodynamic Open Pros... or go with the "faster" SLs?

My brain says to go with the PT... but my nerves say the SLs.

Kyserium SL's aren't that much more aero.

If you've been trainig with the PT, having wattage to measure your effort will help more than any slight aero advantage.

Also you'll benefit afterward from the data.

Go with the PT. Proper pacing is worth way more than the SLs. In fact, I doubt the SLs are substantially more aero than an open pro.

+1 to what those guys said. The advantage of the SL's over PT/open pro is mostly weight, aernoness is probably not significantly different, so unless it is a hill climb TT, the SL's will probably not make a noticeable difference. The PT data likely will, though, especially if you have already done your testing and training with it and it can help you pace yourself.

Figured as much. Thanks for the reinforcement.

I still feel like the SLs are faster though!

Perhaps it's just the weight thing. I think I will ride the SLs on Saturday and Sunday's road races. Decisions, decisions.

Ride the one that makes you feel faster. Like Yogi Berra would have said if he was a bike racer: "Time trials are 90% mental and the other half is physical."

I'd ebay the SLs and get a truly aero front wheel. :thumb: There's are precious few situations where that SL rear is going to provide ANY different race results than the PowerTap, and even on a really long climb, the power data may provide more of an advantage than the weight anyway...

PT, no question. I'd even go further and get a CH Aero disc cover for the PT.

to quote my coach, "Don't race blind. Don't race blind. Don't race blind."

I really am going to put together a TT sticky. Really. Really.

Power. Sigh.

Pacing is key especially for your your first TT. As stated above, go to wheelbuilder.com and get you a cover cut for your open pro's. Cheap and certainly more aero than your Ksyriums.

That'd be great DrWJOD.

This is just my last-minute nerves kicking in, combined with the fact that I've never raced a TT before AND the knowledge that my two best placings this year have been without the Ptap!

I'm going to use the Ptap and just do my thing. The numbers don't lie.

+1

That would be greatly appreciated. Hell, I'll paypal you 10 bucks just for your time ;)

The tips on TT'ing I've found here have been great. Negative splits, setting watage goals and the praying flandis helped turn a 8mi, 26.2mph TT into a 8mi, 27.4mph TT in the month of April alone. Further tips would be great for those of us who could benefit from your obvious expertise in the discipline.

For you next TT make sure you buy a disk/cover from wheelbuilder.com for that PT wheel.