Road Bike Racing - Excited about Time trials

Ok, I did my first "TT effort" ever yesterday. It was only 13 minutes and 5.1 miles (comp said 23.7 avg), but it got me excited as well as thinking.

I rode the route in the picture below, and did my TT on the "flat" part from miles 8-13 after I'd had a chance to warm up. I didn't realize that it was that dramatic an elevation drop during the last mile (although the 38mph, despite a slight headwind should have been a clue). Next time I think I'll do 4 miles out and back (=8 miles) so that I don't have to worry about elevation change or wind.

So, aside from the fact that a) it wasn't flat, b) there was probably a varying ~5mph headwind; how much trouble am I in?

I now have a total of about 1 hour in aerobars. I "feel like" my position is good, as I have 5ish inches of drop normally, but I'm sure I could use a lot of work there. Also, my hips and ass felt tired very quickly from "pushing the big gear."

One final note -- I was starting to go numb. Should I have a specific TT saddle, or is there something else I should do so I can handle 30+ minutes of TT-ing. In case you didn't get it, I don't have a TT bike, just aerobars on my race bike.

Thanks for putting up with the post and the enormous route map.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s240/jnoffsinger/three-bears-map.jpg

You need to get time in the TT position and the numbness hopefully will clear. Having said that, a TT specific saddle really can help, and there are two types that I recommend. I have no idea how fast the cat 5s will be for that TT but I am thinking of doing it myself. Know anyone out there in any cat who needs a rider for the TTT in March on that course?

dwj - i'm thinking of trying out some TTs this year and am curious how more time in the TT position will relieve numbness? its my understanding that numbness is caused by pressure on that sensitive area and thereby cutting off bloodflow. does more time thereby adapt your body to the position by...what exactly?

and what two types of saddle do you recommend? you omitted that important point (=

Know anyone out there in any cat who needs a rider for the TTT in March on that course?

Let me put the word out.

Last years results:

http://berkeleybike.org/events/bbcttt_2007-results.html#Master%2070+

Didn't realize it but we would got 3rd in the P1/2 also. Not bad for the day after a 75 mile climbing race.

Stretching will also help with the numbness. Make sure your hamstrings are really loose. Groin too. It helped me immensely.

It's tough to say how tough the 5s will be in your area. Around here, most of the good "5s" are elite triathletes who can turn out 27mph+ on a hilly loop. Thankfully the local elite roadies still whoop them, but they sure clean up the 5s.

Don't worry about how fast others are. Just get a time, note it, be proud of it, then let it piss you off, and beat it next time.

ISM Adamo
http://www.blackwellresearch.com/images/products/ismadamo.jpg

Selle SMP
http://www.cbike.com/images/smp_evolutionblk.jpg

More time will make you go more numb. So don't try to push through an hour and a half hoping it will get better. However, usually people have some discomfort the first few times. So what I meant by more time was give it two or three rides. Still having trouble? Then you know it wont get better. Sorry for the confusion.

Don't worry about how fast others are. Just get a time, note it, be proud of it, then let it piss you off, and beat it next time.

+1. Anger and bike racing go hand in hand.

+1. Anger and bike racing go hand in hand.

Especially for TTs.

If you're not swearing like a sailor the second you cross the finish line, you're doing it wrong.

You may want to consider putting your saddle a little nose down. This eliminated the numbness for me. Even though you are running your road bike configuration, you are still going to have to be a little more forward and this moves you on to the narrow nose of the saddle where it is harder to get on your sit bones.

I hate TTs and hate doing 20 min intervals as well.... bleh

+1. Anger and bike racing go hand in hand.

Now, release your anger. Only your hatred can destroy me.

Sorry. My oldest has been watching way too much Star Wars lately. You know, for the last year.

On the saddle/numbness issue: Going over to the SMP solved mine, but created other problems. What I ended up with was my default road saddle and a lot of fine tuning to make sure I was sitting on it within a gnats eyebrow of my normal position.

If you're just using clip ons on your road bike that means you'll be sliding the saddle forward, and tilting it down. Some seat posts will keep you from getting the saddle "nose down" enough, or forward enough.

Most of the pros ride the same saddle on both their road and TT rigs, though some opt for a saddle with slightly more padding in the nose.

+1. Anger and bike racing go hand in hand.

What else is there? You won't get faster feeling warm and fuzzy. Hate somebody enough to want to make them suffer badly and you may have something on race day.

Wow, lots of responses to this thread. Thanks guys.

I'll give it a few more rides, and drop the tip of my saddle, as well as slide it forward. I may have to come up with a good tape method of marking my position. Obviously a dedicated TT bike would be best, but after only an hour in the aero position, I don't think it's justified yet. I'm not really worried about competing against the 5s around here. I may be a 4 before I ever actually enter a TT, then I'll REALLY get my a** handed to me.

I honestly had no idea that the Berkeley TTT would be around the "3 Bears loop" here. I see on the website the end is right after the top of "papa bear". Too bad, that descent is fast, something like 40-50 mph depending on the winds on a road bike -- god save you if you have a 55-11 and good aerodynamics on a TT bike with a tailwind. That being said -- ride the course before you do it if you can. You can see from the route profile that it's no flat out and back TT.
I don't know anyone who is actually riding in the TTT around here. There is a collegiate race that weekend, as far as I know, but if there isn't I may have to come out and watch.

if you go numb with 13 minutes of riding, you need to stay off the bike until you fix that problem... that's not good for you... just keep trying hard, don't worry terribly about position, position is for the pros or the very fast amateurs, and you are neither.


If you're not swearing like a sailor the second you cross the finish line, you're doing it wrong.

what about unable to speak a word, face covered in spittle and snot?

Did you do the UCLA TT this weekend?
I did it as my first ever TT (with HORRIBLY set up aero bars and training wheels) and freaking loved it. At my size I can't climb very well, but I did pretty well in the TTT (racing with the mens B team even though it was my second race weekend ever) and ITT. Now I just need a tt bike...

Did you do the UCLA TT this weekend?
I did it as my first ever TT (with HORRIBLY set up aero bars and training wheels) and freaking loved it. At my size I can't climb very well, but I did pretty well in the TTT (racing with the mens B team even though it was my second race weekend ever) and ITT. Now I just need a tt bike...

So how did you do?

what about unable to speak a word, face covered in spittle and snot?

Well, the swearing is generally mental. For example:

immediately before crossing the line: f**k this hurts, where's the f**king piece of s**t finish line. f**k

then as soon as you cross the line: f**k, I could have gone harder out of the motherf**king turnaround. son of a b***h, etc. etc.

and of course, there's the swearing associated with finding out your official time ;)

Well, the swearing is generally mental. For example:

immediately before crossing the line: f**k this hurts, where's the f**king piece of s**t finish line. f**k

then as soon as you cross the line: f**k, I could have gone harder out of the motherf**king turnaround. son of a b***h, etc. etc.

and of course, there's the swearing associated with finding out your official time ;)

At the end of my last 20-minute test, I had to pull over and dry-heave for a minute. F**k! blueghbughughbugh. F**k! BLUGIGBIGUGLGUGLEE F**K!!!

Destroyed my old power average though :D

So how did you do?

3rd in B's TTT (not bad considering we had 2 Cs and one B on the team) and 4th in C's ITT.

3rd in B's TTT (not bad considering we had 2 Cs and one B on the team) and 4th in C's ITT.

Nice job. That course is tougher than it looks at first glance. The hill before the turn around is a beyotch.

Obviously a dedicated TT bike would be best, but after only an hour in the aero position, I don't think it's justified yet.
Doesn't stop some people. ;)

Thanks for the common sense! good things shall come to you in time.

-bullseye

Nice job. That course is tougher than it looks at first glance. The hill before the turn around is a beyotch.

Yeah, but those little hills were great to fly down. :)
I just wish the turnaround had been wider. I completely blew the turnaround both times, probably lost the 15 seconds that I needed for 3rd right there alone.
Time to get a TT bike.

At the end of my last 20-minute test, I had to pull over and dry-heave for a minute. F**k! blueghbughughbugh. F**k! BLUGIGBIGUGLGUGLEE F**K!!!

Destroyed my old power average though :D

i love that feeling. the "am i gonna pass out here on the side of the road covered in my own vomit?" feeling.

last time that happened i was "racing" traffic. i flew passed a car with some teenage girls that yelled something at me and 10 minutes later they passed me as i was sprawled out on all 4's barfing into a ditch on the side of the road. i think they were laughing, but i was too light headed to really tell or care.:o

ive never felt so alive. :D

I didn't make it out to UCLA this weekend, and I'm sorry I didn't go, but it turned out that it would have been a bad thing anyway.

So, I did my SECOND TT effort today. :D This time I went out on the same course 4 miles and then turned around. I figure out and back is better, plus it was more like 20 minutes. Actually 7.91 miles in 20:34 for a 23.0mph average. I tilted the saddle nose down a little and didn't go numb til minute 17. Maybe it need to go down further, as well as more forward with the seatpost going up. That's quite a few adjustments to make on the fly.

jmechy -- do you have any of the results? I haven't heard anything and can't find a posting of the race anywhere. Did you do the road race, and just exactly how hilly was it?

edit: I'd just like to add that I feel like a rocket when I get down low and have the wind rushing in my ears. I can only imagine how much of a rocket I might feel like if I was actually going fast.

jmechy -- do you have any of the results? I haven't heard anything and can't find a posting of the race anywhere. Did you do the road race, and just exactly how hilly was it?


None of the results have been posted yet, so I only know how a few UCSB teammates did.

I did the road race, and it was a bit too hilly for a guy my size. The climbers won it.
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4953907

The results probably won't be posted until later in the week. The results are submitted to the conference director, who then has to tabulate and update the individual and team onmiums.

None of the results have been posted yet, so I only know how a few UCSB teammates did.

I did the road race, and it was a bit too hilly for a guy my size. The climbers won it.
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4953907

ugh. kill me now. Maybe next year i'll be superman-climber guy

How many laps for the C's, and was there a D's race?

ugh. kill me now. Maybe next year i'll be superman-climber guy

How many laps for the C's, and was there a D's race?

The guy who won the B's weighs about 160 lbs.

ugh. kill me now. Maybe next year i'll be superman-climber guy

How many laps for the C's, and was there a D's race?

C's and D's raced together, scored apart. Both did 2 laps.
I fell so bad for the A's that did 5 laps, 2 was plenty enough for me. Then again, I heard that the first lap of the C race was the fastest lap of the day for all categories...