"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Question for TT bike owners

Hypothesis: A decent TT bike should last the average (full-grown) amateur rider a lifetime.

Data: How much time/how many miles on your dedicated TT bike per year?

Around 4000

Around 4000

No, that was a serious question.

On the off chance that was a serious answer... :eek:

I figured that average, sane TT rider did 90% of their training on a road bike, intervals and TTs on the TT bike. Maybe I'm totally clueless?

Yeah, he's a freak. I'm more like 85/15 or even 90/10. I'd guess only 800-1000 miles on my TT bike(I know, should be more) not counting races.

No, that was a serious question.

On the off chance that was a serious answer... :eek:

I figured that average, sane TT rider did 90% of their training on a road bike, intervals and TTs on the TT bike. Maybe I'm totally clueless?

As the good Dr. O-D has come close to cracking the 30mph barrier in a 10mi TT, perhaps you should take that as a serious statement.

I plan on riding mine at least one day a week this year, so that will be 2000+ miles.

Around 4000

So, Dr. O - do you even own a road bike!? :D

7 races this year, one 40k, one 7 miles, 5 @ 20k.

Probably 500+ miles of the 6,000+ this year have been on the TT bike. Last year was more (and did more time trials in 2006 as well)

So, do you guys agree with my hypothesis?

I purchased a dedicated TT bike in July of this year. I ride 12K-13K miles annually. I put in about 500 mi on the TT bike between July and September. I would guess that next year I'll ride the TT bike 1000-1500 miles or so: that's about 10% of the time, but I may ride it less. 4000 miles on a dedicated TT bike? That does strike me as excessive. I think you can get quite comfortable on a TT bike riding it much less than that, I certainly did. But to each his own. The more you ride a TT bike, the more natural it feels, so maybe Dr. W. has the right idea.

When I first rode a TT bike after 20 years on a road bike, my first reaction was 'I can't ride this thing'. I started riding it a couple of times weekly, and within a few weeks I was relatively comfortable on it. Now I enjoy riding it. But it does take some getting used to.

So, Dr. O - do you even own a road bike!? :D

Seriously. Answer the question Doc. BF minds (or what passes for them) want to know.

Hypothesis: A decent TT bike should last the average (full-grown) amateur rider a lifetime.





It depends. How is that for an answer? The word "average" needs to be defined. At 1,000 miles per year, as long as it's kept up (lubed, worn out parts replaced) it should last longer than most people will want to ride it. Now if you are a serious amateur triathlete who does not even own a road bike, your mileage may vary (haha) as to longevity.

Seriously. Answer the question Doc. BF minds (or what passes for them) want to know.

He lists his other bikes in his sig...

this is BF -- who wears out a bike? (crashes don't count)

Yes, I have a road bike, but I put about 4-5 days a week in on the TT bike normally. So it is a large percentage of time. Plus the miles roll by faster on the TT bike than they do the road bike. For me it is not about just being comfortable, it is about being a part of the bike.

Besides, I cannot justify spending gobs of money on a bike and then not use it. Wheels, yeah, but an entire bike?

Seriously. Answer the question Doc. BF minds (or what passes for them) want to know.

From this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=337882):

http://www.velocitynation.com/slideshow/1680/G9HN4771.jpg

To be fair, though I have logged about 8k miles on the p3 in the past few years, my coach also thinks it is too much and so he wants me to cut the time on it in half. So would it make you all feel better if I said 2k miles? What is that? 50 miles a week? I am not a math whiz, but 50 weeks times 50 miles is 2500 miles. Thats what? 2.5 hours per week on the TT bike (depending on terrain)? To me, does not seem like much.

65/35 split Road/TT if I had to guess, though not so much in the off season. TT bikes will last longer than a road bike, though, to answer your question, if I had to guess. Mostly, because you won't crash it as much!

65/35 split Road/TT if I had to guess, though not so much in the off season. TT bikes will last longer than a road bike, though, to answer your question, if I had to guess. Mostly, because you won't crash it as much!

Apparently you don't go to many triathlons...

:D

Haha, I did one. I ended up in the top 5% of the cyclists on my road bike :(. With no clip-ons.

30-50 miles a week + races. Out of 180-200 a week. so about 2-2.5K a year.

When I first rode a TT bike after 20 years on a road bike, my first reaction was 'I can't ride this thing'. I started riding it a couple of times weekly, and within a few weeks I was relatively comfortable on it. Now I enjoy riding it. But it does take some getting used to.

My experiences in life have shown me that, with adequate time, you can get used to almost anything.

As the good Dr. O-D has come close to cracking the 30mph barrier in a 10mi TT, perhaps you should take that as a serious statement.



I take it, then, that cracking 30 for 40 km is no small thing....

30 for 40k is uh.... Well, good luck with that.

30 for 40k is uh.... Well, good luck with that.

Pro?

Pro?

If you have Levi's position and a crap-ton of EPO, HGH, etc, sure!

If you have Levi's position and a crap-ton of EPO, HGH, etc, sure!

I shall strive for 25 mph, then...

Actually, I lied... I pulled up numbers from the final TT of the '06 tour (56k), and the winner averaged 31.15 (roughly) miles per hour.

Still, over 40k, at an amatuer level, I'd shoot for 25-26mph is a max. That puts you well sub 1-hour, and is a realistic goal.

Actually, I lied... I pulled up numbers from the final TT of the '06 tour (56k), and the winner averaged 31.15 (roughly) miles per hour.

Still, over 40k, at an amatuer level, I'd shoot for 25-26mph is a max. That puts you well sub 1-hour, and is a realistic goal.

Roughly? How rough is .15 mph?

Also my goal is to hit 30 for a ten mile TT. I have missed it by about 2 seconds per mile and so want to overcome that. 30 over 24 miles is probably outside of my genetic potential. 29 is not, but 30? what is that? 49:42. I am not sure I can clip off another 2 minutes from my 40k.

Roughly as in, I pulled times and distances from ESPN.com's listings and typed it into Matlab (at work). I wanted my bogus significant digits, though!

We have an 8 mile TT that I run regularly. The Texas State Champ (ex pro, Cat 1, very fast) Time Trialist did 30 on that. Courses matter, etc, but 30's daaaang fast.

I could do 25mph on my Honda. No problem. Faster even.

I shall strive for 25 mph, then...

I think 25 is a difficult-but-attainable goal for average people.

30 MPH requires somewhere in the neighborhood of 70% more power, if you keep aero constant.

I think 25 is a difficult-but-attainable goal for average people.


Incorrect. Average people don't even attempt to race.

25mph is a difficult-but-attainable goal for average racers.

Incorrect. Average people don't even attempt to race.

25mph is a difficult-but-attainable goal for average racers.

Hi,

I am a VERY average racer and my fastest official TT is 29:52 for 20K which came out to 24.97 per the official results. :) Mind you, my Garmin showed a (ahem) slightly slower average speed for the race (shorter time but also shorter distance). I have been trying to break the 25 MPH barrier for 40K for waaay too many years and have been unsuccessful to date. :(

However, failing to find the courage :rolleyes: to medically induce some speed, I made another purchase in an attempt to buy some speed through technology. It should be built by Christmas and photos will follow.

Regarding the OP's original question, since January 2006, I've ridden about 10,300 miles and of that, I rode and raced my TT bike 460 miles. I guess I need to put more miles on the TT bike.