milliWatts

You know who you are - so please don't be shy. If you aren't a strong TTr yourself, but can answer on behalf of someone who is, please do so!


Were you naturally a powerful rider from the start?

Did you know early on that you had potential as a TTr or did you just realize greater-than-average returns from training?

lightbulb

I'm definitely not as strong as Dr. O'Donnell, but I'd say that my TT is my strongest ability.

I would say that I originally thought I'd be a decent sprinter, and knew I'd never be a great climber. Before I really started racing, I'd do really well in the town line sprints on our lunchtime hammerfest rides. I found myself doing a lot of "training rides" at a high intensity for long periods of time, and enjoying it.

When I started racing this year, I showed up to the first club TT and beat all of the cat 4s and 5s with just my road bike, no aero equipment, aerobars or anything. That's when I started thinking I might be a decent TTer.

To confirm that theory, I rode off the front of quite a few club races this year, and ended up winning most of them by a decent margin. I still haven't done it on anything that really counts, but it's nice to think that some day I could.

BikeIndustryGuy

I suck at TTs. The best TT guys I know are big, strong, lots of leg muscle and ability to push big gears.

kensuf

1. No.
2. Yes.

Years ago I used to be a decent distance runner (10 & 15k's, half-marathons, and marathons), but lousey short distance runner (<=5k). I've always had decent endurance.

kudude

so are you asking "if i suck at TTs now, will i always suck?" ?

If that's the case, I'd like to know the answer too

tanhalt

Although I am by no means an uber-strong TT'er, I do consider TT'ing to be my best event...but not because I'm a "powerful rider" now, or ever. So no, I was not a powerful rider from the start.


No...early on, my results at TTing were pretty fair to poor. It wasn't until I realized that sometimes TTing isn't just about being uber-powerful, but it's more about getting the most speed out of the power you have, that things started to click. It's not just about watts...it's about watts/CdA

IMO, if you don't have the "big engine", going fast on a TT bike is ALL about paying attention to a whole host of details that seem insignificant when taken individually. This means making sure your position is good for YOU, taking care of your tire/tube selections, wheel selection, frame selection, helmet, etc.

In a way, it's the ability to combine the physical aspects with the "engineering aspects" (i.e. equipment evaluation and selection) that seems to be the appeal of TTing to me.

Just my 2 centavos...

tanhalt

Although, in general that is true since larger guys tend to have much more power for not much more frontal area...I'd have to say that some of the best TT'ers I know aren't quite so big.

In fact, the guy I would consider the best amatuer TT'er in my community only weighs probably 150-155 lbs...but he seems to be one of these guys who's naturally "aerodynamically gifted" and has a Cat 1 engine to boot. It also doesn't hurt that his TT frame of choice is a P3C

Like I said in a post above, it's not so much about pure Watts (although a cottage of wattage can make up for a lot of sins in equipment selection and positioning), but it's really about Watts/CdA.

sfcrossrider

My track background laid a good foundation for TT's. The ability to keep consistent power, and a moderately high cadence (in bigger gears) for an extended period of time can't be overemphasized. Luckily, I had those attributes from track before I started road racing, so TT's weren't a weakness. In fact, it's what I do best.

One way to improve your TT without doing TT specific work is to spend more time pulling in fast group rides (as long as they're cool with it).

Good luck!

wfrogge

Historically I have sucked at TTs but last winter my main focus was to improve. Result was I placed top 10 in most TT events and even won a duathlon relay race (only cyclist to beat my time was the regional TT god).

This year I have purchased a TT (Cervelo P2c) bike. Lets see if my results improve..... Point of this post is to prove that one can get dramatically improve at TTs if they work at it.

milliWatts

Um, thanks, I think.

"The ability to throw 3 touchdown passes in the 4th quarter to come from behind and win the Superbowl can't be overemphasized" - Joe Montana

Creakyknees

I knew early on that I was a fast rider / big engine / whatever you call it back in the days before power meters. But I never was much good at TT'ing until I studied it as a discipline. The preparation and techniques and mental focus count for a lot.

Frankly, just having a big engine is not enough - you also have to have the ability, either innate or by practice, to suffer. I've been caught and passed by guys I know are weaker than me, but they had the ability to suffer more than I was.

CrimsonKarter21

I'm not as good as some of the other guys around here, but my first time trial was I think my 5th race ever and I won it.
I guess I'm just pretty good at finding my limit early and keeping it there. Plus, I always hide my speed so I feel like I'm going too slow and push a litte harder where it counts.

merlinextraligh

I suck less at TT's than other aspects of the sport because:

1) being bigger is not such a disadvantage in relatively flat TT's

2) my one athletic gift is an ability to suffer.

sfcrossrider

Well, now you know what it takes to be fast! What, did you think the answer was more expensive equipment, and less training. Get on a program and improve your sustained power. Yes, it's that simple!


If you're going to be a jerk when someone gives you honest advice...next time, I'll just mock you for being slow.

milliWatts

Wasn't meaning to be, just sounded like your answer to how to be a good TT rider was "ride fast". Easy to say, of course...

derrickhackman

i started MTB racing back in the late 80's and made the transition to road racing as a training mechanism for MTB racing. i found that the torque applied and low cadence of MTB riding translated well to TT's and I did and still do quite well... gives me a good edge up on stage races :-)

anyhow i think a TT is a mindset.... you have to want to lock it into a monster gear and grind on a solid cadence until you are dead ... you have to keep trying to up the pressure and power ... keep trying to go faster ... make time where you can ... never soft pedal ... blah blah blah.

and like was said above ... you have to want and like to suffer ... suffer like a mofo ... because the more you suffer, the more you make the others suffer... so it is really not you that suffers but them :-)

sfcrossrider

NP

I was hoping it sounded like "get your leg speed, and power up through training". Also, find what cadence that you produce your best sustained power at. Mine is at 125, my bros is at 90. When you know what numbers you can push at what RPM for how long... you'll be well on your way to kicking ass.

milliWatts

Gosh, you make it sound like work...

milliWatts

Yeah. I have known a number of elite, and a few world-class, athletes over the years. My experience has been that most of them did not know/appreciate their genetic gifts. They all seemed to think anyone could be like them if they just worked hard. Made me want to smack them in the head.

sfcrossrider

If you race long enough you will develop strengths that others consider "gifts". Use these to minimize losses in your weaker areas (my repeat power is *****), and to crush when the time is right.

With any luck the finish of your event will be tailored for your strengths, so you go home feeling like a champ, and not a chump.

wanders

Very nice. You have successfully passed waterrockets course in racing humility.

"Due to my limited training time this year, I have only been able to enter 9 races this year. Of those, I only won 3 and placed a mere top 10 in the rest. Here is a kick ass picture taken of on of my wins."

CrimsonKarter21

Thanks. Did I mention it was a regional championship that I raced at by sheer luck?

Racer Ex 

1) Not really

2a) Yes

2b) Yes, though you'd probably want to define average.

milliWatts

If you weren't really powerful, in what regard did you see your early ability?

king-tony

Great....a full off-season of training and a fast bike, that's all I needed to hear.