1989Pre 

I turned 60, so I thought I'd take up time-trialing. I figure I could put it off until I'm 80, but why wait?
Are there any of you "gentleman riders" who began time-trialing after fifty years of age?
Frankly, I'm up-in-the-air about this, cause it's going to cost me some cake to put a T.T. bike together ('83 Moser) but it seems I'm sallying forth, because I joined a health club with a plethora of different cycling classes (if I can hack listening to disco and "country"), and yoga and weights, so I'm already feeling some improvement in my cycling (I ride to and from the health club).
One of the trainers there is a time trialer himself, at age 65.
Anybody else do the T.T. thing?

Bandera

Don't bother w/ a dedicated TT bike unless you intend to spent both the considerable $, time and effort to adapt to these specialized machines.
TT events will have a "Merckx" class for standard road bikes excluding the use of deep or disc wheels, skinsuits, aero helmets and such-like gew-gaws. Check with your local club's promoter for specifics.
Show up and have at it.

-Bandera

1989Pre 

Thanks for the good word, Band. Yeah.., I'll probably end up in the Merckx class. I'm just going to go with a road bike frame that I have, a steel Moser that is a 56cm, so fits me better than my road bike, which is a 57cm. A point of contention is the seatpost, so I'll probably have to reverse a set-back seatpost or go with a zero set-back.., whichever gets me onto the proper spot of the Scott aero bars. I'm going to pop an aluminum fork on the bike, to keep the weight down, and maybe even put some 38mm rim-height wheels on it, but I'd have to swap rear hubs on a pre-built wheel, to get it into my 126mm dropouts. Maybe go with 7 speeds.
First time-trials of the series are only 11 miles, so I'll see if the guy in the animated cartoon is right: "It hurts more than you can imagine!"
I don't know why it took me so long to start training in the winter. Riding an exercise bike is not so bad.., but I did not know it was a fixed gear, so that was a surprise...(I coast a lot)...and the handlebar came off when I tried to adjust the height. I am pretty thrilled about all of this, though.

Bandera

Check w/ your local club's promoter but the Merckx class prohibits aero-clip-ons and rims deeper than 25mm here. "Standard road bike" is the idea for a level old school playing field, to keep costs down and to offer a 2nd event for those who own a TT bike as well. No special equipment required.

I'm doing FG TT work for short distances on restricted gearing this winter like the British Medium Gear Time Trials, if a Burton Class is ever added I'm in!

Fixed Wheel

Untitled Document

-Bandera

1989Pre 

It is under 40mm height for Maine Time Trial Series. That is good information, though: I'll make sure I'm clear on the specifics. The 2018 schedule won't be up until Feb 1, but I'll make sure I ask. If there is a 25mm height max, then that would save me money, because the wheels I ride on are 25mm height. No aero bars? That saves me money, too.
Well, I'm off to the health club to my INTERVALOCITY class. This is awesome.

Thanks for the photo of Eileen. She is always smiling.

OldTryGuy

At 67 I've decided to try to complete the 24Hr/400 mile RAAM Qualifier TT at Bike Sebring 12/24.

Rode an easy 156 miles today.

caloso

I've done a handful. I came to cycling from triathlon and the cycling portion is essentially a time trial. And then did an omnium when I was a Cat 4 that included a 10mile TT. I thought about putting clip-on aerobars on my road bike but didn't want to mess with it, so instead I put a 52t ring on my fixed gear and rode that. Worked awesome, mostly because I didn't have to think. Just turn those pedals, boy.

Bandera

Check out the times for the British Medium Gear League restricted to fixed gear 72 GI, 24.19 for 10 miles is smokin':

mgleague17.htm

caloso

Whoa, that's really turning them over. 72 is about what I have on my ride-around-town FG. That will certainly help your cadence work.

1989Pre 

Yeah, baby! That's what I am speaking of! You got any of your buddies to ride up beside you and keep you awake?

1989Pre 

Is that 52x18?

1989Pre 

Band, do these guys race on roads? Do they ever race on grass? (I'm not sure if anyone races on grass anymore).

Bandera

I don't know anything beyond what's posted in the website but they are riding the TT distances on the road.

If you are interested in the peculiarly British fascination with the TT Les Woodland goes into the history and personalities in his book "This Island Race: 135 Years of British Bike-Racing". Great stuff.

BTW: The pic above is of the inestimable Beryl Burton setting yet another TT record on her proper FG machine.

-Bandera

caloso

52x15. Pretty close to what I would be spending most of my time in on a geared bike. It was a flat path along a canal with a couple of “bumps” up and down the levee.

sch

Back when I was racing, the only racing magazines were British and full of time trial results. In the late '70s
it was not unusual for 25 mile TT times to be in the 46-47 minute range and 100mi TT in the 3H 50' range.
Can't recall his name but one premier TT rider had lost a knee cap somewhere in his younger days.

fietsbob

Yea, It is an old British thing.. done with your mates in the village on those 1 lane roads..

I just do un hurried rides , alone.. its america we don't have mates .

Bandera

"In 1955 Ron Jones turned a single 90-inch gear to record 26.667 mph for a '30'....in 1980 Tony Doyle rode at 124 RPM for 56:30 to win the Crabwood '25'.'"

-"This Island Race: 135 Years of British Bike-Racing"

Gerryattrick

TT has always been popular here in the UK and the intransigence of the cycling authorities over the matter of mass start racing was the main reason why the country wasn't a power in the Tours and other professional racing until relatively recently.

It is still very popular over here, ridden on open roads, and this article shows that it isn't just the young that take part.

'Sadness and shock' at death of 91-year-old killed during time trial record attempt - Cycling Weekly

caloso

I keep thinking I would like to build up a TT bike. For one, I could plausibly enter a local stage race. Two, I really enjoy building up bikes from the frame. Three, they're just so damn cool looking.

I've had my eye on this frameset: carbon fiber bike, carbon bike, carbon fiber bicycle, high modulus carbon fiber, carbon bicycle, stormtt, gray storm tt. Semi-local and a bargain.

Bandera

The BF sub-forum Masters Racing (All Disciplines) has regular posters who are very experienced and successful in the TT discipline, among others.
Discussions on the modern state of the event from the search for aerodynamic position that doesn't compromise power, proper training schedules and appropriate guff are frequent and enlightening. That's where the serious fast people of a certain age hang out.

-Bandera

1989Pre 

Mr. Dare was an inspiration to all cyclists. He shouldn't have been killed like that. I hope they prosecute the driver who hit him from behind.

1989Pre 

I enjoy projects, too. I just bought a bunch of stuff for the Moser, so I am halfway there.
All I need now is b.b., chain, aero bars, brake calipers and shifters. I have no idea what it is going to look like when I turn my seatpost "wrong way round", but hopefully, it won't be too heinous. I got a shorter, 90mm stem, to bring the bars closer, too.
The Gray TT looks like a real find. It seems the top tube will be sloping down when the bike is assembled. Interesting what they said about the short headtube bringing more stiffness to the frame. I'm surprised to see so much rake, but I know very little about the current state of the technology.

1989Pre 

Thanks for the heads-up on that. I'll scout around in that sub-forum and see what I can extract.

big chainring 

Time to thumb thru my stash of old "Sporting Cyclist" mags. See what Arthur Metcalfe is up to. And get the latest racing news from the Continent. "Dad, when I grow up I want to be a Coureur".

I ride alone too. Actually I ride bikes because I don't like being around people.

Bandera

I for one applaud the introduction of a Merckx class in local TTs for some low cost "run what you brung" head-to-head racing.
The total preparation for District TT "back when" was:

1) Install straight block
B) Bury stem
III) Wind stopwatch
*) Have at it

Although never competitive in the TT myself it's the only type of racing I'd consider doing now, especially in Burton/FG mode.

-Bandera