Callville Classic Time Trial. Normal or TT Bike?
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Callville Classic Time Trial. Normal or TT Bike?
What do people usually ride for the TT at Callville? It's mostly uphill, with a 400ft elevation gain over 3 miles. The grade averages around 3 or 4%, but the final push is between 6 and 10%. It's out only, no back.
Anybody with experience want to weigh in?
Thanks,
B.
Anybody with experience want to weigh in?
Thanks,
B.
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It's faster than it looks. The top guys in most categories were over 20mph. I used a TT bike and didn't regret it at all. I was in my TT position for everything but the one 0.5 mile stretch near the top where the grade kicks up.
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thanks. I would hate to pack a TT bike if I wasn't going to use it. I'll be there in the category 2 field, will I be racing with you?
B.
B.
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20+mph means probably not needing to shift out of the big chain ring at any point? (of course except for the final 0.5 mi)
Last edited by danahs; 02-14-11 at 03:48 PM.
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I should see you out there, but I'll be in the P/1. Look for me on a Blue AC1 in a 'A Road Bike 4U' kit.
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It's more rolling and not as steep, except for near the top. It's also much more straight.
edit: I wouldn't call it flat, it's still a solid amount of elevation gain.
edit: I wouldn't call it flat, it's still a solid amount of elevation gain.
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that's impressive power pacing given the rolling nature of the course. Is that 9:30? I should essentially be aiming for my 10min power?
Thanks for the help... I won't be pre-riding much and I'm a firm believer in "knowing is half the battle".
Thanks for the help... I won't be pre-riding much and I'm a firm believer in "knowing is half the battle".
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You'll probably ride and drive the course at least 4-5 times before the TT. It's the only road into the marina and it's the start for both road races.
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Most of the faster guys use TT bikes, but my opinion is that you're not giving up a lot of time by using your road bike. I'd say it depends on how comfortable you are climbing on your TT bike and how much trouble it is for you to bring the extra bike to possibly save seconds on a 10 minute TT. I think a road bike with clip-ons or IAB is a good alternative to a TT bike for this course.
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Ex, you don't still have that spare Kestral frame by any chance do you? I'm toying with getting a real life TT frame instead of the old Ciocc.
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Yeah, but he also won San Dimas and Redlands.
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Most of the faster guys use TT bikes, but my opinion is that you're not giving up a lot of time by using your road bike. I'd say it depends on how comfortable you are climbing on your TT bike and how much trouble it is for you to bring the extra bike to possibly save seconds on a 10 minute TT. I think a road bike with clip-ons or IAB is a good alternative to a TT bike for this course.
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I wasn't aware, but according to spinwax, the fastest time was set on a road bike. I don't know about the other pros, but I remember noticing last year that Landis used a road bike as well.
Point is, if you want to bring your TT bike and are comfortable doing some light climbing on it, bring it. If you don't have a TT bike, don't want to bring it, or don't like climbing on it, you are not at much of a disadvantage (if any).
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Mainly observing results of riders, but also a quick consideration of the trade-offs. You are gaining some weight with the TT bike and (generally) sacrificing a bit of power for aerodynamics. There is some grade for each rider where performance would be the same on both the road bike and TT bike - I think this course is close to that grade for a lot of people.
I am not claiming that either bike is superior or that I have done extensive calculations, just that based on the above explanation, I don't think most people will see much difference between the two types of bikes on this course.
I am not claiming that either bike is superior or that I have done extensive calculations, just that based on the above explanation, I don't think most people will see much difference between the two types of bikes on this course.
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So you're guessing. Not to be unkind here but that's a pretty half assed approach to a stage race. If your doing it for sheets and grins and results don't matter to you then that's fine, but I wouldn't go handing that out as advice. Understand that I've had three occasions where a podium spot or win came down to a few seconds or in one case the TT as a tie-breaker, so I actually do the calcs to determine what I end up riding.