12h TT August questions:

[Sylv]

* Is it on open roads?

* Would you use normal clip-on tri-bars? Does that mean pushing the seat forward? Do you use a profiled helmet?

* Can I realistically be hoping to ride for approx 11h50? Would like to get to 240 miles and to stop the least possible, only to oil chain grab food & drink which would be taken in whilst riding. Rich will you have a helper (Joyce?) and do they hand you musettes/bidons every so often?

12h @ 32.2kmh = 0 stops
11h52"30 @ 32.5kmh = 6 * 1"15 stops
11h45 @ 32.9kmh = 6 * 2"30 stops
11h30 @ 33.6kmh = 10 * 3" stops
11h @ 35.1kmh = 12 * 5" stops
10h30 @ 36.8kmh = 12 * 7"30 stops
10h @ 38.6kmh = 12 * 10" stops

[George]

Hey Sylv you starting to get a little twitchy already

heres a couple of bits of useful information

[url]http://www.abcc.co.uk/Articles/12hrtt.html[/url]

http://www.planet-x-bikes.com/index.php ... _ITEMS=226

[quote="Sylv"]* Is it on open roads?

[Sylv]

Thanks a lot all. So, George, you are going to start slowly, as advised, right?

I've got no 10,25 or 100tt times to base estimates on, but I have done a couple 24h and a 12h mtb so know I can keep going for that long if I feed and drink correctly. The pacing is tricky though.

I remember for the 12h, starting pretty quick and telling myself all the time that I would never be able to keep going at this pace (it's hard to pace yourself too as you are riding team members who can do 1 fast lap then go to bed for a couple hours). I was thinking that I might bonk out half-way, but that at least I would have given everything. In the end it was fine, I even had some energy on the last lap as the sun rose, and was tempted to hammer it, but didn't want to risk hurting myself.

I hadn't done any super-long rides in preparation either, and I know some say shorter rides at higher intensity are just as good training.

Looking forward to it!We should definitely hold a strategic meeting beforehand

[Jon H]

If you're devising a schedule aiming for a specific distance you definitely need to do the first 80 miles at a faster pace than the rest of the course; the roads are so much faster at the start of the course. Plus you will naturally slow down throughout the day; the ABCC article describes the pacing strategy very well.

Comfort is a big big factor in a 12 hour. Things that are comfortable for a normal ride may be horrendous after 8 or 10 hours. In the one 12 hour that I've done I had back and neck pain from about 9 hours onwards and had to stop every half hour to try and stretch. My shoes became so painful on my big toes that I couldn't get out of the saddle for the last couple of hours - then my toenails went black and fell off. Even if you do a 100m TT, a 12 hour is a big step up - somewhere between 2 and 2-1/2 times as long.

[Jon H]

Marco - skinsuit would be the aero choice, but they don't have pockets for food. So most people use shorts and a jersey. If it's chilly use arm warmers in the morning, whip them off and chuck them at your helpers when it warms up. ECCA also provide two numbers, so you can start off with an extra jersey on, or pin one onto a rain jacket if the weather's looking dodgy.

[Dominic]

For those that are interested, in about the 2nd week of July there is an audax ride called the Faeries Flattest Possible 300k. It starts in Bethersden, Kent and I think starts at silly o'clock even for hardened TTers (2 or 3am I think).

I am thinking of using this as a sort of fine tuning run for equipment prior to the 12. It starts so early because I think the first part of it is on main roads until dawn, dependent how fast you are going. It sounds to me to be a good type course in that it is flat and my target would be to get round in 12 hours or less. I should have most of equipement type stuff sorted in my preceding events but I don't think that doing something like this could hurt. It is far enough away from the 12 to be fully recovered

[Sylv]

Another issue with using clip-on tri-bars is that I would constantly be changing position as the gear/brake levers would still be on the drops - sounds like a nightmare. Probably better off borrowing/stealing a proper TTT bike (that or do it on a fixed ...)

[richv]

Marco's spot on. After a few hours you'll want to change position often anyway. A proper TT bike would be quicker but you have to be able to stay on it for 12 hours. With a road bike you have a comfortable position available on the top or hoods but with a TT bike you don't have that option and the 'hoods' are often very low with a tri-bar set up.

[Mike I]

I won't be able to do this one after all, which is a pity as it sounds as if it might be a bit an ACC outing this year. Still, by reading the article George posted, I can at least brag about what I 'would have' done .

Somewhere on the graphs you will see the name of one-time champion Longland (who I think still holds the 24 hour trike record ). Way back in the 1970s, my dad taught him geography, which presumably is why he didn't go off course on such epic rides .

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Thought I'd wade in here....I don't have the technical data/knowhow, Watts, Joules, Faradays or whatever, but over the years have ridden many 12's with varying degrees of pain, sorry, success.

Firstly, some form of aero bar (I love chocolate ) is a terrific aid in a 12. When you start, you can get in the "tuck" up and down the dual carriageway and sail along. Then later, when you're feeling tired, can lean on them for a short doze after all the guy who invented them based them on a comfortable ride in the RAAM.

I have always used my road bike with clip ons as I know it is comfortable enough to sit there for 12 hours whereas my TT position is just about OK for a 100. Am working on that for this year

I don't think many, if anyone, uses a skinsuit in a 12 as the aero advantage is minimal and the lack of pockets to stuff lardy cake, paste sandwiches and a pizza slice (plus some money for the McDonalds Drive Thru) are invaluable.

240 in your first one is some challenge, but then you have ridden 12 & 24 MTB's before. I'm still trying to make it - after my best last year of 238. I paced myself on heart rate, based on 80% of my max, which I am reliably informed is not the best way , but it meant that the first 4 hours seemed so slow that I felt like I'd just been down to the shops, but the last 4 hours at the same pace were incredibly tough.

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="mrP(Boonen)VT"]the first 4 hours seemed so slow that I felt like I'd just been down to the shops,

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

At my speed, it does take 4 hours

[huw williams]

Richard V - do you have any power data available form your distance TTs?

[Sylv]

[quote="huw williams"]Richard V - do you have any power data available form your distance TTs?