The time trial bike is re-built, new chain, new tires, new rider. Well kind of. The rider is probably now best described as "re-issued". I'd like to think like a remastered classic album as opposed to a retreaded tire.
Webby and I are making our 2012 open TT debut on Sunday in the Kings Cliffe Flyers sporting 13 miler. Let's see how we get on. Some of our Nomad team mates are in action around the District this week too. Could be a good opening weekend for the club. Or it could mean a period of frenzied training in March to catch up with the competition.
Bikie - a miscelleny of cycling related observations
Friday, 24 February 2012
Monday, 13 February 2012
It's a miracle
Having ridden consistently now for a couple of months, I can now begin to see the investment pay off in terms of feeling fitter and also being able to ride a bit quicker and a bit further. I think I have averaged over 100 miles nearly every week since the beginning of October 2011.
I even managed to sit on the turbo trainer for an hour during a club spinning session last week. Now that is/ was a first.
Turning 40 (hard to believe, but a privilege denied to many) did mean a bit of "down time" so as to enjoy a few pints and the odd bag of pork scratchings but having been active for a few weeks I now begin to feel sluggish and restless if I don't get the miles in over the weekend. It is oddly addictive how riding reasonable distances can be.
It'll soon be time to focus on speed and power but for a few more weeks at least it's still a question of working on the base fitness for me. I've always managed to carry almost no form whatsoever in to the cycling season, this may be a first for me as having a wiser head on the shoulders is making me think about nearly everything as being positive, neutral or adverse to my possible cycling performance. I have managed to cut out the junk food (with the occassional indulgence) and focus on making the most of the time I do have to ride and plan my time. I think my philosophy has changed - if I'm not suffering, it's not training. Or maybe I'm just losing the plot.
This weekend was a real test as it was exceptionally cold, minus 8C was reported for Saturday but having lined up a time to meet with Neil JJ Fraser and Mike Webb, there was less chance of bottling it and simply pulling the duvet back over.
The roads were ok to ride upon, we did however see the aftermath of a couple of cars smashing in to each other - somehow the poor weather exposes the failings of those not adapting to the conditions regardless of the number of wheels per vehicle. In fact there was a high proportion of divots on display.
But boy was it cold. Very, very cold. It got to the point where my bottle froze and then the miracle of the Schnauzer occurred. It must be divine reward or some form of Karmic Cycling experience.
You know you've put the miles in when you begin hallucinating - the vision did not come to me until my post 60 unscheduled miles+ epic with the Nomads at the weekend.
I even managed to sit on the turbo trainer for an hour during a club spinning session last week. Now that is/ was a first.
Turning 40 (hard to believe, but a privilege denied to many) did mean a bit of "down time" so as to enjoy a few pints and the odd bag of pork scratchings but having been active for a few weeks I now begin to feel sluggish and restless if I don't get the miles in over the weekend. It is oddly addictive how riding reasonable distances can be.
It'll soon be time to focus on speed and power but for a few more weeks at least it's still a question of working on the base fitness for me. I've always managed to carry almost no form whatsoever in to the cycling season, this may be a first for me as having a wiser head on the shoulders is making me think about nearly everything as being positive, neutral or adverse to my possible cycling performance. I have managed to cut out the junk food (with the occassional indulgence) and focus on making the most of the time I do have to ride and plan my time. I think my philosophy has changed - if I'm not suffering, it's not training. Or maybe I'm just losing the plot.
This weekend was a real test as it was exceptionally cold, minus 8C was reported for Saturday but having lined up a time to meet with Neil JJ Fraser and Mike Webb, there was less chance of bottling it and simply pulling the duvet back over.
The roads were ok to ride upon, we did however see the aftermath of a couple of cars smashing in to each other - somehow the poor weather exposes the failings of those not adapting to the conditions regardless of the number of wheels per vehicle. In fact there was a high proportion of divots on display.
But boy was it cold. Very, very cold. It got to the point where my bottle froze and then the miracle of the Schnauzer occurred. It must be divine reward or some form of Karmic Cycling experience.
You know you've put the miles in when you begin hallucinating - the vision did not come to me until my post 60 unscheduled miles+ epic with the Nomads at the weekend.
 |
| Alfie the Dog (left) an Isotonic drink at -8C (right) |
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Time trials explained
There was a posting on the HNCC facebook site recently which set out the events for the club time trials (TTs) for the new season. A lot of us take the information that is included in the listings for granted bt in actual fact it's is a completely inaccessible codex to the uninitiated.
I think it's almost like a rite of passage to work out what the hell is going on where. Working out that the F1b/25 is actually a stretch of road from Tempsford to Baldock and not in fact a US Navy fet fighter is important.
Time trialling is one sport which has one foot still in the 1950s (well I think so) and it's only recently that some of this information has escaped in to the mainstream. So here's Simon's top tips - I'll probably get kicked out of the lodge for this....
Firstly, there is an important difference between open events and club events. For the latter (club events) as long as you are a member of a club affiliated to the CTT you can turn up and pay "on the line". It is pretty rare that these events get over-subsribed, e.g. the evening 10s and it is usually first come first served.
Open events require a little more planning ahead of time but you still need to be a member of a club. Buying the CTT handbook is pretty much essential if you want to get your head around what to do and when. It also includes information on what to wear and what the regulations and rules are which apply to events.
All events are based on courses which are referred to by a code, this is something like F1b/25 or 1U/25.
For courses used in open events, the first letter, "F" in our example is the District identifier, in our case London North.
The UK is carved up in to lots of these districts and at various halls and events people will be talking in a form of code which Bletchley Park would struggle to break. "Did you see the time on the K10 last week?" or " We should go to Hinkley to ride the K41..." etc.
The "F1b" is the London North course "1b". The "25" after the "/" is sometimes the distance - but not always.
So, using the following as an example:
17/06/12, 25m, F13/25, 0800, B TAN, Hemel Hempstead CC.
We have the date, distance, course, first person off time and then any special conditions that apply. In this case "B" means it is a British Best All Rounder qualifying event and "TAN" means a tandem event forms part of the gig.
The list of codes is on p113 of said handbook.
Some events have other special conditions which make them easier to enter, more of that in a moment.
Club courses such as the 1U/25 or 6Z/33 are usually described by the club who designs and uses them. If they aren't used for open events then the CTT usually only "approve" them rather than actively promote them. Each club has a TT Secretary who has the lovely job of managing all this stuff.
To enter an open event, you need to fill in an entry form, post it to the organiser with the entry fee (cheque) usually two weeks ahead of time. Popping in a self, stamped addressed envelope so as to receive your start sheet carries lots of brownie points. Sending your entry fee in the form of buttons, stamps, livestock usually doesn't. Someone sent me £6.00's worth of 1p stamps when I ran an event once and got the hump when I said he could think again about entering.
Technically he was in line with the entry procedure.
But technically I was the organiser. Ergo, I was "right".
On the entry form you need to jot the times of your best times over the last three seasons (abbreviated to LTS). For some events, only the quickest 120 get in. There are some reserve places for many events, usually 10 slots. Club events count as qualifying times and once you've done a few your times will start to come down as you improve.
Open event organiser will have 100-140numpties entrants to deal with and will also be pulling their hair out because they are short of marshalls/ tea boys/ results board person.
Love the organiser.
Make them your friend.
Make life easy for them.
Don't for instance demand an "early start" so that you can get home early. This will guarantee a late start (i.e. later in the event) as a form of Karmic punishment for pushing your luck.
The fields are usually set so that the faster riders go off at numbers ending in "0", e.g. 10, 20, 120. The fastest being last. The "5"s are the next fastest and the rest of the field is seeded so that the "9"s are the slowest. This theoretically stops people bunching up at the finish line.
If you get "in", you'll be sent a start sheet which has all the information on it you need, e.g. course description, HQ to sign on at and collect your number etc. The courses are often marshalled but the onus is on YOU to know the course and keep to it though. I used to recce the courses if I didn't know them ahead of the event.
If you haven't got a LTS "best" for a particular distance it doesn't always matter. 10s and 25s are the most common distances to ride and you'll soon get a best by doing a club event. For less orthodox distances, e.g. 50km or 28 miles the organiser will usually extrapolate a time based on the 25 time you have.
I'm special, so very special...
Another neat way of getting a good qualifying time or accessing an event is to enter a Middle Marker event, i.e. where riders with a time of 1.00hr or more get ahead of the queue so as to improve their times. These are good events to keep an eye on.
Other special conditions such as "V" for Veterans are good to go for if you are 40 or older. Yippee. Joining the VTTA (Vets Time Trial Assoc) is a good idea on that front.Some clubs are members of "Associations", e.g. the NORLOND Combine (NORth LONDon) and this gets you preferential treatment in terms of queue jumping where there are limited entry slots.
Open events are stricter in terms of what you should wear too. Ideally you'll be resplendant in club kit. If you wear kit which is not your official club kit, it needs to be clear of sponsorship logos, i.e. do not turn up in a Team Sky jersey and shorts or have "Barry's Kebab Shop" emblazoned across your back-side (unless Team Bazza's Kebab's is indeed your alma mater).
One critical thing for open events is to remember to put your bike in the car and include both wheels. "Obviously", I hear you exclaim. But not obvious enough. It is not uncommon to hear a tirade coming from the back of a Ford Mondeo when the rider in question realises he's forgotten his back wheel/ pump/ shoes/ helmet/ water bottles/ all of the above, and that getting up at 0430h to drive to some flea-pit scout hut is now all in vane.
Preparation is everything.
I think it's almost like a rite of passage to work out what the hell is going on where. Working out that the F1b/25 is actually a stretch of road from Tempsford to Baldock and not in fact a US Navy fet fighter is important.
Time trialling is one sport which has one foot still in the 1950s (well I think so) and it's only recently that some of this information has escaped in to the mainstream. So here's Simon's top tips - I'll probably get kicked out of the lodge for this....
Firstly, there is an important difference between open events and club events. For the latter (club events) as long as you are a member of a club affiliated to the CTT you can turn up and pay "on the line". It is pretty rare that these events get over-subsribed, e.g. the evening 10s and it is usually first come first served.
Open events require a little more planning ahead of time but you still need to be a member of a club. Buying the CTT handbook is pretty much essential if you want to get your head around what to do and when. It also includes information on what to wear and what the regulations and rules are which apply to events.
All events are based on courses which are referred to by a code, this is something like F1b/25 or 1U/25.
For courses used in open events, the first letter, "F" in our example is the District identifier, in our case London North.
The UK is carved up in to lots of these districts and at various halls and events people will be talking in a form of code which Bletchley Park would struggle to break. "Did you see the time on the K10 last week?" or " We should go to Hinkley to ride the K41..." etc.
The "F1b" is the London North course "1b". The "25" after the "/" is sometimes the distance - but not always.
So, using the following as an example:
17/06/12, 25m, F13/25, 0800, B TAN, Hemel Hempstead CC.
We have the date, distance, course, first person off time and then any special conditions that apply. In this case "B" means it is a British Best All Rounder qualifying event and "TAN" means a tandem event forms part of the gig.
The list of codes is on p113 of said handbook.
Some events have other special conditions which make them easier to enter, more of that in a moment.
Club courses such as the 1U/25 or 6Z/33 are usually described by the club who designs and uses them. If they aren't used for open events then the CTT usually only "approve" them rather than actively promote them. Each club has a TT Secretary who has the lovely job of managing all this stuff.
To enter an open event, you need to fill in an entry form, post it to the organiser with the entry fee (cheque) usually two weeks ahead of time. Popping in a self, stamped addressed envelope so as to receive your start sheet carries lots of brownie points. Sending your entry fee in the form of buttons, stamps, livestock usually doesn't. Someone sent me £6.00's worth of 1p stamps when I ran an event once and got the hump when I said he could think again about entering.
Technically he was in line with the entry procedure.
But technically I was the organiser. Ergo, I was "right".
On the entry form you need to jot the times of your best times over the last three seasons (abbreviated to LTS). For some events, only the quickest 120 get in. There are some reserve places for many events, usually 10 slots. Club events count as qualifying times and once you've done a few your times will start to come down as you improve.
Open event organiser will have 100-140
Love the organiser.
Make them your friend.
Make life easy for them.
Don't for instance demand an "early start" so that you can get home early. This will guarantee a late start (i.e. later in the event) as a form of Karmic punishment for pushing your luck.
The fields are usually set so that the faster riders go off at numbers ending in "0", e.g. 10, 20, 120. The fastest being last. The "5"s are the next fastest and the rest of the field is seeded so that the "9"s are the slowest. This theoretically stops people bunching up at the finish line.
If you get "in", you'll be sent a start sheet which has all the information on it you need, e.g. course description, HQ to sign on at and collect your number etc. The courses are often marshalled but the onus is on YOU to know the course and keep to it though. I used to recce the courses if I didn't know them ahead of the event.
If you haven't got a LTS "best" for a particular distance it doesn't always matter. 10s and 25s are the most common distances to ride and you'll soon get a best by doing a club event. For less orthodox distances, e.g. 50km or 28 miles the organiser will usually extrapolate a time based on the 25 time you have.
I'm special, so very special...
Another neat way of getting a good qualifying time or accessing an event is to enter a Middle Marker event, i.e. where riders with a time of 1.00hr or more get ahead of the queue so as to improve their times. These are good events to keep an eye on.
Other special conditions such as "V" for Veterans are good to go for if you are 40 or older. Yippee. Joining the VTTA (Vets Time Trial Assoc) is a good idea on that front.Some clubs are members of "Associations", e.g. the NORLOND Combine (NORth LONDon) and this gets you preferential treatment in terms of queue jumping where there are limited entry slots.
Open events are stricter in terms of what you should wear too. Ideally you'll be resplendant in club kit. If you wear kit which is not your official club kit, it needs to be clear of sponsorship logos, i.e. do not turn up in a Team Sky jersey and shorts or have "Barry's Kebab Shop" emblazoned across your back-side (unless Team Bazza's Kebab's is indeed your alma mater).
One critical thing for open events is to remember to put your bike in the car and include both wheels. "Obviously", I hear you exclaim. But not obvious enough. It is not uncommon to hear a tirade coming from the back of a Ford Mondeo when the rider in question realises he's forgotten his back wheel/ pump/ shoes/ helmet/ water bottles/ all of the above, and that getting up at 0430h to drive to some flea-pit scout hut is now all in vane.
Preparation is everything.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)