TT on road bike
12-06-11, 09:03 AM
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TT on road bike
I'm interested in racing a few TT's next year, but I don't want to put down the money on a TT bike without racing a few first. Do most TT's have a road bike division? Also, I'm curious as to how many can break an hour on a road bike. I'm thinking of making this my goal, but not sure how realistic that would be. Right now, I could probably do 20mph for a flat to rolling TT on a road bike.
12-06-11, 09:12 AM
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Ok I'll bite. By break an hour on a road bike what exactly do you mean? A 40km tt? If so, yes I can.
Is there a seperate division? Sometimes yes it is called a Merckx TT - no aero equipment allowed.
My recommendation would be to give it a try, you can put on a simple pair of aero bars (clip ons) and go.
Don't overthink and complicate it, just race, you'll figure it out as you gain experience.
Is there a seperate division? Sometimes yes it is called a Merckx TT - no aero equipment allowed.
My recommendation would be to give it a try, you can put on a simple pair of aero bars (clip ons) and go.
Don't overthink and complicate it, just race, you'll figure it out as you gain experience.
12-06-11, 09:31 AM
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Ok I'll bite. By break an hour on a road bike what exactly do you mean? A 40km tt? If so, yes I can.
Is there a seperate division? Sometimes yes it is called a Merckx TT - no aero equipment allowed.
My recommendation would be to give it a try, you can put on a simple pair of aero bars (clip ons) and go.
Don't overthink and complicate it, just race, you'll figure it out as you gain experience.
Is there a seperate division? Sometimes yes it is called a Merckx TT - no aero equipment allowed.
My recommendation would be to give it a try, you can put on a simple pair of aero bars (clip ons) and go.
Don't overthink and complicate it, just race, you'll figure it out as you gain experience.
12-06-11, 09:36 AM
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Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - you're going to spoil my secrets. I only need 9 more points - just ordered my new TT bike with Di2 and all the carbon bits I need to get me there...
Don't forget the time in the wind tunnel, coach, dietician, massage therapist, hooker, therapist, etc.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh 9 more points....
Don't forget the time in the wind tunnel, coach, dietician, massage therapist, hooker, therapist, etc.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh 9 more points....
12-06-11, 10:21 AM
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fuggitivo solitario
i thought you also needed a coach, a disc, normatec space legs (for recovery), and a computrainer. that should do it, right?
12-06-11, 10:29 AM
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I'm interested in racing a few TT's next year, but I don't want to put down the money on a TT bike without racing a few first. Do most TT's have a road bike division? Also, I'm curious as to how many can break an hour on a road bike. I'm thinking of making this my goal, but not sure how realistic that would be. Right now, I could probably do 20mph for a flat to rolling TT on a road bike.
12-06-11, 10:36 AM
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12-06-11, 10:48 AM
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fuggitivo solitario
ok, i'll bite. On a really flat course (net elevation gain/distance ~0.2%) with no aero equipment (maybe just a skin suit), a 70kg rider with reasonable CdA (0.32) requires 325W. That's 4.64 w/kg. If you are aero like Nate or RacerEx, you can get it down to 308W, but that's still 4.40w/kg. Of course, the slight downhills on the course might reduce the wattage required a bit, but not much.
https://www.analyticcycling.com/ForcesPower_Page.html. A really aero road rider can have a CdA of ~0.30
Many on this forum has 4.0w/kg for an hour as a goal. Those with 4.40w/kg are all Cat3 or well on their way to earning their cat3 by points. You get up to 4.64, you are into Cat2 territory.
https://www.analyticcycling.com/ForcesPower_Page.html. A really aero road rider can have a CdA of ~0.30
Many on this forum has 4.0w/kg for an hour as a goal. Those with 4.40w/kg are all Cat3 or well on their way to earning their cat3 by points. You get up to 4.64, you are into Cat2 territory.
12-06-11, 11:03 AM
#9
Making a kilometer blurry
The bike doesn't make a huge amount of difference, but the position does. A TT bike will allow you to get into a position that generates significantly less drag. The bike and components will further impact this.
12-06-11, 11:08 AM
#10
fuggitivo solitario
Ok I'll bite. By break an hour on a road bike what exactly do you mean? A 40km tt? If so, yes I can.
Is there a seperate division? Sometimes yes it is called a Merckx TT - no aero equipment allowed.
My recommendation would be to give it a try, you can put on a simple pair of aero bars (clip ons) and go.
Don't overthink and complicate it, just race, you'll figure it out as you gain experience.
Is there a seperate division? Sometimes yes it is called a Merckx TT - no aero equipment allowed.
My recommendation would be to give it a try, you can put on a simple pair of aero bars (clip ons) and go.
Don't overthink and complicate it, just race, you'll figure it out as you gain experience.
12-06-11, 11:15 AM
#11
Making a kilometer blurry
Here's an old test done by some magazine. I believe this test was at a velodrome:
Originally Posted by ripped off
They put Uwe Peschel on a normal bike:
Needed Watts for Speed = 45 km/h :
Stevens San Remo bike with normal handlebar 465 Watts needed to go 45 km/h
Same bike Hands down the drops: 406 watts needed
Same bikeEaston Aeroforce bar: 369 Watts
Same bike Triathlon position (5.5 cm lower bar, saddle forwards): 360 Watts
Same bike Triathlon position (5.5 cm lower bar, saddle forwards) and
carbon Tri spoke wheels front and rear: 345 Watt
Cervelo + Tri spoke front 328 Watts
Cervelo + Tri spoke front + disk rear wheel : 320
Cervelo + Tri spoke front + disk rear wheel +Giro helmet: 317
Cervelo + Tri spoke front + disk rear wheel +Giro helmet + speed suit: 307
Cervelo + Tri spoke front + disk rear wheel +Giro helmet + speed suit +
saddle 3 cm further back: 293 Watts
From 465 to 293 watts... That's a lotta savings.
Needed Watts for Speed = 45 km/h :
Stevens San Remo bike with normal handlebar 465 Watts needed to go 45 km/h
Same bike Hands down the drops: 406 watts needed
Same bikeEaston Aeroforce bar: 369 Watts
Same bike Triathlon position (5.5 cm lower bar, saddle forwards): 360 Watts
Same bike Triathlon position (5.5 cm lower bar, saddle forwards) and
carbon Tri spoke wheels front and rear: 345 Watt
Cervelo + Tri spoke front 328 Watts
Cervelo + Tri spoke front + disk rear wheel : 320
Cervelo + Tri spoke front + disk rear wheel +Giro helmet: 317
Cervelo + Tri spoke front + disk rear wheel +Giro helmet + speed suit: 307
Cervelo + Tri spoke front + disk rear wheel +Giro helmet + speed suit +
saddle 3 cm further back: 293 Watts
From 465 to 293 watts... That's a lotta savings.
12-06-11, 11:17 AM
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Case in point, many disagree with my training methods, but it works for me. What you like for equipment may go against the grain but if it works for you that is all that matters.
Technology does not win you races, sure once you are at a certain level it will help but when you are starting out I believe it can be a distraction - put it this way - when you develop a big motor it doesn't matter what you ride.
12-06-11, 11:19 AM
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12-06-11, 11:38 AM
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That's from a 40k TT I did with a road bike. IAB, a skinsuit, and an aero helmet I borrowed. Take away the aero helmet and skinsuit and I bet it would still be under an hour.
I'm definitely not good at TTs either. My FTP was around 4.6 W/kg at the time.
12-06-11, 11:46 AM
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12-06-11, 12:01 PM
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12-06-11, 01:34 PM
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ok, i'll bite. On a really flat course (net elevation gain/distance ~0.2%) with no aero equipment (maybe just a skin suit), a 70kg rider with reasonable CdA (0.32) requires 325W. That's 4.64 w/kg. If you are aero like Nate or RacerEx, you can get it down to 308W, but that's still 4.40w/kg. Of course, the slight downhills on the course might reduce the wattage required a bit, but not much.
https://www.analyticcycling.com/ForcesPower_Page.html. A really aero road rider can have a CdA of ~0.30
Many on this forum has 4.0w/kg for an hour as a goal. Those with 4.40w/kg are all Cat3 or well on their way to earning their cat3 by points. You get up to 4.64, you are into Cat2 territory.
https://www.analyticcycling.com/ForcesPower_Page.html. A really aero road rider can have a CdA of ~0.30
Many on this forum has 4.0w/kg for an hour as a goal. Those with 4.40w/kg are all Cat3 or well on their way to earning their cat3 by points. You get up to 4.64, you are into Cat2 territory.
To the OP, in my first 40k I broke 56 minutes (55:48) on a road bike with clip-on's, a cheap disc cover, and 404 front wheel at 309w. I think I also had a skin-suit and helmet. I'm not a small guy. It can be done cheaply.
12-06-11, 02:15 PM
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12-06-11, 02:16 PM
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fuggitivo solitario
12-06-11, 05:30 PM
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Did you just clip on the bars and go or did you have to adjust the saddle height and position?