x1 or x2?

I’m planning on a new project to help me break the 22mins 10mile TT where I’m currently at 22’57”…. a Felt DA 60 size TT specific frame, forks and cockpit has been bought for complete build as opposed to the existing Felt AR5 58 road bike with add on tri bars.

I’m currently running 172.5mm cranks with Shimano10spd Ultegra compact chainset; do I now forego the compact in exchange for a single chainring, such as the AeroCoach ARC?

Does anyone have experience or thoughts? Purely as a race set up on moderately flat courses?

Intend to keep the 10spd set up but will need to reconsider the cassette ratio as I’m running 12-23 on my disc wheel….

I’m open to suggestions and options!

Dan

 

 

R10/17 TT

Preparation was the key thing here. The week prior was half term and the weekend before was a long weekend camping with family and brothers etc, which I managed to get away with only limited liver damage. I was also beset with a very painful lower back and a course of very strong painkillers due to rowing my kids and the nieces on the Thames, though stretching the night before did ease it off come race day, but it still wasn’t clear and had restricted me throughout the week.

Given all this, my preparation was two-fold; focused riding on the Wednesday & Thursday evening and a spin on Friday after setting the bike up as my being on my bike was comfortable for the back. The second part was possibly more importantly; I read, read and re-read and the previous notes so I knew what to expect and when come race day, the deceptive fast start, that incline at 3 miles, the upward to the roundabout and the final flurry…

Up early and the weather was idyll, gentle wind, cloudy sunshine but warm. All good and got there in plenty of time under the shadow of Sugar Loaf mountain; oh how memories of Abergavenny are shaped in our youth. All good, back stiff, but everything else feeling good, caught up with Simon and John and then a nice warm up to settle in to position and eventually got to the line with a few mins to spare, so I quick pee before lining up.

All set and ready to roll!

First 1k was fast. Maybe too fast! heart rate about 170 and I was above 40k speed and the average was quickly rising, I avoided the huge crater that had opened on the new tarmac and I knew that the road was favourable to start, and with a kick at 2k and again at 4k. The first part was executed well and I pushed hard on the rise of the first slope then maintained it as the road started the rise for a couple of k from 4 to 6; that infamous 3mi mark!

Once over I knew it was favourable run in to the roundabout with a gentle rise to slow me down and then fast exit. I nailed; same time as last time with no traffic anywhere to blight me and then a very fast exit. Halfway and I knew I was going well. Tablet in the mouth which I’m not sure if it helped or not but it distracted me! up the gentle rise and I was feeling it in my legs; heart rate more settled below 170 but I wasn’t certain of overall time and not confident I was sub 23mins. As I tried to push on and hit it hard on the gentle decline it was hard work, luckily, I was overtaken, and whereas taking that as an insult I took this as an opportunity and I knew I had to grab hold of his wheel to give me that boost.

I gave it everything to do so and for a few 100m’s kept him in front of me but couldn’t sustain without blowing up, but it refocused my mind and gave me enough momentum with 2k to go to push on hard up that final little rise to enjoy the gentle descent to the finish; legs and throat burning I pushed it with all I had to scream “52” as I crossed the line, spent… my watch and my computer all said plus 23mins, so my expectations were ambivalent as I’ve been deceived before where computer says YES, but race results ultimately say “No”.

So, after crawling painfully back to HQ and straightening my body, I went in to check the board; the board of facts for the race of truth?

22’57”

BOOM!

I’m glad Simon was there to share my unrefined joy, I was only an aching back away from picking him up and hugging him!!!

45″ quicker than last time; Corima rear disc, HED Deep front, nopinz skinsuit, Specialised TT2 helmet, and some bloody hard work over winter and spring all add up!

my seasons objectives complete – sub 22’ for 2020?

Kinetic-One Castle Combe 10 Mile TT – Race 1

My first proper season of TT racing had two objectives;

Can I break the 24′ time @ Castle Combe?

Can I break the 23′ time for a 10mi TT?

Based on my result at a near windless Castle Combe circuit for race 1 of the Kinetic-1 evening Time Trial Series – 23’26” – the first question is a resounding YES and the second one will be course dependent, but the signs are encouraging!!!

Leaving the stats aside, which I’m very partial to, my lead in to the Weds night was good; punishing ride Monday lunchtime, then easy rides thereafter. Finishing work early (wfh PM), achey gel on knees and shoulder, kids and wife bundled home and off by 17:20hrs, traffic calm so a slow drive due to bike set up on the back I arrived in plenty of time and all relaxed and chilled instead of being late and flustered!

So changed into full race kit & bike set up with disc, 60mm (both fully pumped) I went for a spin.

It felt good, no real wind, a little bit on the bottom corner, surface ran very smooth (mostly) on racing line, and I felt hungry for it, but in control. Three warm up laps nice and easy…

Then off we go!

… instantly in the zone, straight onto racing line and up the hill felt fast and smooth. This was gonna be good! Not too warm so no water or tablet required, just cycling. regular checks on power and all good (210w to 270w) and once fully into the lap the Av was escalating quickly after the standing start. No traffic, all clear so got the gear changes nailed, settled breathing and the first lap flew by. Maintained heart rate, kept the pace high, power consistent and the hill was but a slope! I did get taken on lap 2.5 which meant I had someone to chase, which was perfect. The legs were aching, the breathing more ragged and the head bobbing but I would pull myself together and focused on the line and settled again. two laps to go and I knew that I was nailing it; Average was 40.8 and all I had to do was to hold on. That penultimate lap I didn’t push as hard knowing that I was safely on target if I didn’t blow up, my average went from 41.2 to 41.1 on the hill climb and I knew that I wanted 41.0 minimum!

That last lap therefore I threw myself at it, hitting 41.2 again sweeping round the backbends and then storming up the hill, in pain, legs burning, lungs bursting and throat dry and sore. Pushed on up the top bit and maintained the 41.1 as I flew through the finish, stopping the recordings knowing I had done something a little bit special!

BOOM – 23’26” and almost 45” quicker than my previous PB.

Lesson#1: remove both wheels from the bike when driving as the rear disc kills the set up and almost throws the bike off the rack!

Lesson#2: 110PSI front and 120PSI rear @ Castle Combe

Lesson#3: be patient; one race doesn’t break a season, but one rave can make it! Read More

Season opener: U7B 10mi

After a close season of structured and focused training on riding, having given up on running (knees) and swimming (hassle), and investing on upgrades to the bike and kit, I was looking forward to the Saturday morning race on the 10mi TT U7B course. I practice on the A38 slightly nearer Bristol so know the road quality and likely winds so was prepared for a decent’ish time; anything under 25mins would be OK.

the wind was tough; very friendly out so I tried to pace it accordingly, and just damned tough on the return. The course undulations were not enough to shelter from the wind, but steep enough to dispirit oneself when the speed plummets below 30kmh!!!

I got overtaken which pushed me on for the last 2k, but given I mistimed the end point, hence my effort, I probably had more to give and so seeing the line 500m ahead i burned my legs in effort!

24’52”

Enough to improve on, enough as a marker for the season, and roll on next  race in early April!