"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Using TT'ing to boost LTP? and other queries:

As the last few targeted RR's of the season finish up (July 27th being the last "A/B" priority race) and my first official TT completed at the Stage Race, I'm heavily considering using TT's (sanctioned and non) to keep me motivated towards continuing LTP-boosting workouts into the late summer. I figure the allure of high speed and a new challenge (getting used to being in the aero position) will be fun and motivating.

I've bought a set of base bars/aerobars from Nashbar on killer sale and mounted them on my training road bike (Trek 5500, FTR). I slammed my saddle all the way forward and tilted the nose down enough to not slide off, but to offer more comfort.

I rode the bike today, doing only a few short intervals at FTP. All in all, it feels pretty good.



Question #1:
So now that I'm dealing with a pretty new position, late in my season, should I expect that doing 1 WO per week on this bike will in any way throw off my comfort/efficiency on the Road bike?

#2:
I'd like to get my saddle even further forwards, but dont know if I should ease slowly into a more "saddle-forward" position or just go for it all at once.

#3:
Will 2x20's (for example) in the TT position have 100% carryover to the road bike, even though I'll be using the muscles in a slightly different way?


thanks,

-L
#4:
Anything else I should consider as I make a mid season foray into TT'ing??



(if I do like the whole TT game, I'll be buying a cheap TT frame with a proper 78 degree STA and get fitted, but until then, this is what I've got to work with.)

I like the kit design. Have you ordered from this company before? I am looking at working with a different company here to do custom team clothing and am interested in what is out there.

the Kits look great. the jersey is nice, the shorts are tolerable in the chamios dept.
They are the cheapest out there.

So, good for the money, I'd say.

-L

#1:
So now that I'm dealing with a pretty new position, late in my season, should I expect that doing 1 WO per week on this bike will in any way throw off my comfort/efficiency on the Road bike?

#2:
I'd like to get my saddle even further forwards, but dont know if I should ease slowly into a more "saddle-forward" position or just go for it all at once.

#3:
Will 2x20's (for example) in the TT position have 100% carryover to the road bike, even though I'll be using the muscles in a slightly different way?

#4:
Anything else I should consider as I make a mid season foray into TT'ing??

-----------

#1: From personal experience, I'll say no. Doing LT workouts on the TT bike helped to improve my efficiency on the road bike, and more importantly kept me mentally fresh in a way that doing intervals on the road bike alone couldn't do. Having the added fun of competition is a huge boost. I find I'm stronger on the road bike when I do a workout or two per week on the TT bike and or MTB.

#2: I did it in two stages. First I went with my road bike seat height, and a flat stem. Then I got an adjustable stem and slammed the sucker as far as it'd go, and raised my seat as much as possible. It's not terribly uncomfortable on a flat course, but it's sort of sketchy to control, and wouldn't be ideal for a course with climbs. If you have flexibility issues, you should do your adjustments slowly. As it is, if you're young and without back problems I think you could probably just go with your race position and keep the workouts shorter at first.

#3: From personal experience, yes. I have a better than 100% carry over, as I can breathe better and am more comfortable on the road bike. YMMV.

#4: A TT helmet and a disc wheel cover. Less than 100 bucks can buy you some big speed. Don't mimick the pro's TT positions, they have to conform to UCI regs, and thus are not in optimal positions for going fast.

thanks Snuff. that is really helpful.

-L