TT Bike

[Jon H]

Excellent, another convert.

The numero uno thing to get right on a TT bike is your position. You should be aiming to get your torso as horizontal as possible and be able to stay in that position through corners and on fast downhills. Having to come off the tri-bars puts you more upright, increases frontal area and causes more drag from your arms being in the wind.

Secondary to that is getting a decent set of aero wheels (50mm deep or more), then probably a pointy hat and skinsuit. Aero frame and forks is pretty well down the list, as are top notch lightweight components.

[Andrew G]

Carl, Paul, if you're looking for a bike [url=http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=19560]this[/url] has just come up and looks like a good deal if it's not too expensive for you. Excellent level of kit on it, Corima and Record.

[Ivor]

Apologies in advance for hijacking the thread.... but on the subject of wheels... has anyone tried those aero wheel covers? I'm reluctant to shell out a fortune for an aero wheel just yet but would be interested in using those to "try it out"

[Andrew G]

Rich V uses the wheelcovers on a powertap wheel and I can't imagine he'd be using it if it was no good.

[Andrew G]

[url=http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=18112]Giant frame/fork etc for sale[/url] £175

[carl f]

Thanks Andrew,but its to big for me think i'm 52 on a TT bike.
I'm still in that 'shall i shan't i' phase regarding a TT bike
Popped into GB's to look at the planet x the other day and nearly bought the dalkiia frame and wheels,very nice
But resisted it for now.....
Cheers
Carl

[Paul H]

Im undecided on the TT Bike as well at the moment. I really like the Planet X bikes so will hold back and have a think about it. I want a TT bike more for Triathlons but will do some TTs as well.

Ive borrowed a friends Giant TCR Hybrid and will be doing a Duathlon in Swindon next week. Carl - you never know, I may see you in Italy.

Cheers

[carl f]

nice one paul,good luck!
Apparently its a very flat (closed road course on an old air strip) but always windy

[richv]

Ivor if you want to get the benefits of a disk without the cost the aero wheel covers are worth every penny. I've used them for the last two years in preference to a 'proper' disk. I did this because I wanted to get some data from my power-tap but having done it my view is that there is sod all difference (a technical aerodynamic term ) between a disk wheel and a wheel with wheel covers. A wheel with wheel covers is also far quicker on a flattish course than any fancy dan deep rimmed non-disk wheel (with 2 possible exceptions).

[Paul H]

Rich,

Do you know roughly what power you need to put out to go a certain speed? i.e. what would 300w give me?

[richv]

Depends how aero you are, how flat the course is, how good your pacing is, if the course is hilly how heavy you are, traffic, air temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind ....

On a perfect day on a fast course (i.e. flat with a reasonable level of traffic) with a good aero position and good aero equipment it will see you doing slightly over 11 minute 5 miles. On a chilly still morning in May for the SCCU 25 on the G25/53 it would probably squeeze you inside the hour somewhere in the region of 59 minutes. It is highly dependent on aero position and pacing though. I see plenty of reports of people who claim to have put out ridiculously high average power outputs for their relatively meagre results.

[Jon H]

And vice-versa. I can't do anything near 300W, but regularly go under the hour.

[Ivor]

[quote="richv"]Ivor if you want to get the benefits of a disk without the cost the aero wheel covers are worth every penny.

[Andrew G]

[quote="Jon Hemming"]And vice-versa. I can't do anything near 300W, but regularly go under the hour.

[quote="Andrew G"][quote="Jon Hemming"]And vice-versa. I can't do anything near 300W, but regularly go under the hour.