Best place to ride a time trial bike
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Best place to ride a time trial bike
Does anyone know of a good stretch of road/roads which are suited for practising on a time trial bike? I've signed up for an Ironman (god help me) and i'm struggling to think of a place that is relatively flat and relatively straight!
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Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
Might be an idea to give people a clue to your location. No point someone suggesting a road in Kent if you live on Stornoway. Also, unless the Ironman is 100% flat, then changes in elevation are usually no bad thing.
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Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
In a time trial, in good conditions. If you’re not used to TT bikes, their handling can be quite ‘interesting’.
Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
Welcome.
I'd have thought the thing to do is join a local club that has weekly time trials. Most will let you come out a few times before you join.
Look for a club that is diverse & runs a variety of events, or is CTT associated.
Some tri clubs do that sort of thing, but so do some multi-affiliated clubs. For example, my old club used to run evenings 10s weekly from the beginning of March, plus a monthly 25 and one hilly each year, even though time trialling was not their primary focus as a club.
You could try https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/find-clubs
Good luck and enjoy the cycling.
I'd have thought the thing to do is join a local club that has weekly time trials. Most will let you come out a few times before you join.
Look for a club that is diverse & runs a variety of events, or is CTT associated.
Some tri clubs do that sort of thing, but so do some multi-affiliated clubs. For example, my old club used to run evenings 10s weekly from the beginning of March, plus a monthly 25 and one hilly each year, even though time trialling was not their primary focus as a club.
You could try https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/find-clubs
Good luck and enjoy the cycling.
“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
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Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
I'm based in Sheffield so most of the good riding roads around here are hilly, and when they are flat they're for relatively short distances where I may get a minute at most on the aero bars. I've also had a look into clubs in my area and non really seem to do non-hilly ride (can't blame them when the Peaks are so close!).
I'm happy to travel around to find a good stretch of road, I can always make a weekend out of it
I'm happy to travel around to find a good stretch of road, I can always make a weekend out of it
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Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
Marcus Aurelius wrote:In a time trial, in good conditions. If you’re not used to TT bikes, their handling can be quite ‘interesting’.
Don't know what you mean by 'interesting'. TT bikes are typically very stable at speed. Wouldn't be much use as a TT bike if it wasn't. Disc/deep section wheels could be problematic in some weather conditions, but that's another issue.
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Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
jimbobsaul wrote:I'm based in Sheffield so most of the good riding roads around here are hilly, and when they are flat they're for relatively short distances where I may get a minute at most on the aero bars. I've also had a look into clubs in my area and non really seem to do non-hilly ride (can't blame them when the Peaks are so close!).
I'm happy to travel around to find a good stretch of road, I can always make a weekend out of it
Rollers are a good alternative if you don't want to travel. Another option would be an outdoor velodrome - if you're in Sheffield then Quibell Park in Scunthorpe would be a good choice.
Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
From Gainsborough up along the side of the Trent to Goole, or thereabouts, is both flat, mostly not too busy, and a decent length of ride (40 km each way). The left bank means main road out of Gainsborough as far as West Stockwith (unless you park there), the right bank means swapping sides to the left at the A18.
On the west side of Sheffield, along the A57 from Malin Bridge out as far as the Snake Inn (25 km) may suit. It's up and down over Hollow Meadows, but not so steep you shouldn't be able to stay on the tribars.
On the west side of Sheffield, along the A57 from Malin Bridge out as far as the Snake Inn (25 km) may suit. It's up and down over Hollow Meadows, but not so steep you shouldn't be able to stay on the tribars.
Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
Bit of a trek, but the guided busway path between Cambridge and st Ives is a magnet for TT bikes.
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Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
If you want your muscles to get used to riding a time-trial bike on the tri-bars then a turbo trainer is a boring but sure way to get time in 'the' position. Unless your iron man is on a pan flat course with no corners then it might be a good idea to also get used to descending and going around bends.
Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
jimbobsaul wrote:I'm based in Sheffield so most of the good riding roads around here are hilly, and when they are flat they're for relatively short distances where I may get a minute at most on the aero bars. I've also had a look into clubs in my area and non really seem to do non-hilly ride (can't blame them when the Peaks are so close!).
I'm happy to travel around to find a good stretch of road, I can always make a weekend out of it
Pick your time and the A61 Dronfield bypass is your spot for getting all round training on your tt set up - roundabout turns and a nice fast surface. At the top end of the city, the A629 between Thurgoland and the A628 roundabout at Penistone would be pretty good now that they've resurfaced the worst bits!
If you really think flat and straight is what you need, head out Bawtry / Hatfield way - plenty of straight line riding there although the roads have a tendency to be less than smooth.
Some of the Sheffield clubs do run evening 10's on a course at Cuckney from @ Easter, usually 7pm start, Tuesdays/Thursdays, and private rides are usually allowed for a small fee.
i learnt to use tri bars with a set strapped onto the ATB i was commuting on between Meadowhead and Wales Bar - not exactly flat or straight but after a couple of weeks i could climb, turn and chuck the bike in the right direction without leaving the tri bars apart from braking. Bit scary to start with but nothing compared to stoking a tandem on Manchester velodrome!
Convention? what's that then?
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Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
jimbobsaul wrote:
I'm based in Sheffield so most of the good riding roads around here are hilly, and when they are flat they're for relatively short distances where I may get a minute at most on the aero bars.
If you can do Hathersage to Castleton in a minute or so you must be really flying. There used to be a 10mile TT course there.
I'm based in Sheffield so most of the good riding roads around here are hilly, and when they are flat they're for relatively short distances where I may get a minute at most on the aero bars.
If you can do Hathersage to Castleton in a minute or so you must be really flying. There used to be a 10mile TT course there.
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Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
My son has some learning issues, when he first rode TT's he started on a road bike, we bought him some clip-ons... and I took him out on a straight bit of road near us... got him to try riding with one hand on the TT bar and one hand on the normal bars, as usual ignored me, both arms on the tri bar and he was off like a natural..... if he can do it am sure you can.
Don't over think it...
They are not tricky and are very stable...
While I can think of roads around Sheffield I would not use, I can think of one I would use tribars are on as a practise; A6187Hope Valley Road has a long straight stretch on it that you could do some laps on to try out the bars...
Remember you are not restricted to only riding on the tribars, depending on the road circumstances we often ride on the outriders when conditions require it... on a bit of a hill, junctions etc.
The option is as suggested; find some local clubs who run evening TTs and come and try it.... you will learn how to ride time trials and how the bike handles.
Don't over think it...
They are not tricky and are very stable...
While I can think of roads around Sheffield I would not use, I can think of one I would use tribars are on as a practise; A6187Hope Valley Road has a long straight stretch on it that you could do some laps on to try out the bars...
Remember you are not restricted to only riding on the tribars, depending on the road circumstances we often ride on the outriders when conditions require it... on a bit of a hill, junctions etc.
The option is as suggested; find some local clubs who run evening TTs and come and try it.... you will learn how to ride time trials and how the bike handles.
I stand and rejoice everytime I see a woman ride by on a wheel the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood. HG Wells
Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
Rod Goodfellow wrote: If you can do Hathersage to Castleton in a minute or so you must be really flying. There used to be a 10mile TT course there.
First course i rode on after moving to Sheffield back in '79! Then there were the three A57 courses of course, Bell Hagg - Moscar, Strines - Snake Road and Ashopton Bridge to Snake Inn - certainly put the 'sporting' in sporting course!
To the OP, if you do decide to use the 'Mad Mile' at Hathersage, just bear in mind it got the name due to the driving 'qualities' of many of the motorised users - oh, and the surface isn't great either
Convention? what's that then?
Airnimal Chameleon touring, Orbit Pro hack, Orbit Photon audax, Focus Mares AX tour, Peugeot Carbon sportive, Owen Blower vintage race - all running Tulio's finest!
Airnimal Chameleon touring, Orbit Pro hack, Orbit Photon audax, Focus Mares AX tour, Peugeot Carbon sportive, Owen Blower vintage race - all running Tulio's finest!
Re: Best place to ride a time trial bike
If you can squeeze some 25mm + tyres in why not use the gravel railway lines that run through the Peak District? I did. Also some quite lanes in the Manifold valley