Originally Posted by Rowan

Take it easy from the start. Spending all your dollars on the first uphill and where it flattens out won't do you any good at all. Probably spin rather than mash through to where the bike lane starts. You'll also probably have a seabreeze to contend with (the northerlies/westerlies are likely to blow out by then).

The rise up past Taroona High School is deceptive and can also give you the false sense that you should surge, especially as it comes straight after that little downhill. If you get to the Taroona pub and the first time check without spending all your dollars (your breathing rate is Ok and you don't hear your heart throbbing wildly in your ears, start getting into it for the uphill past the Shot Tower. Try to stay on the *outside* of corners (depends on traffic).

The straight after the Shot Tower is either a bit of a recovery stretch or a chance to surge the speed up a bit. After the last hairpin, you've got about 300 metres left, and if you've got even one dollar left in bank, now is the time to spend it and go into debt (anaerobically). If you do, you'll probably feel like puking when you get to the finish just before the crest, and if you go over the top to spin the lactic acid out of your legs, remember you've got to pedal back up again to get your time (otherwise just keep on coasting down to Kingston and get your time when Pimmy posts it on the atta site).

Warm-up before the start is good. You'll probably get a bit of a one by riding from work, but a climb or two up Wayne Ave and back around Churchill Ave past Alexandra Battery might be helpful. You'll probably post a reasonable time against other TT novices from last year -- the resurfacing of the Channel Highway is inevitably going to make things a bit faster.

And don't get too demoralised if you see Sid, Pete and some of the other hotshots, including a few women, go past like you're standing still uphill past the Shot Tower. Sid did the Longley-Pinnacle Time Trial early this year in 53 minutes and passed a car going up.

This is your first TT and you want a time that you *know* you can improve on a fortnight later. Breaking 20 minutes would be a good start.

FWIW