Have you ever taken part in a cycle race?

[pq]

I've raced loads. Track mostly but also time trials, road races, cyclocross, mountain bike, rollers. I've also ridden those events that people these days call races but which really aren't.

[mattsccm]

I don't think you would enjoy yourself if you deliberately made your first TT over hard. No point in riding the unicycle if you have a road bike etc. I am 2.5 minutes faster now than I was at 18 when I was 3 stone lighter . A fair chunk of this is a mix of better riding skills and some nice bought speed, much of which wasn't an issue as a kid. A nice aero position is dead easy to get and make a huge difference. My Cevelo TT bike is old enough to use a 1" headset and cost me 28- quid. Chinese deep carbon rim and a freewheeled HED disc rear. 9 speed Dura ace group set.
I also have a set of plastic disc wheel covers on another wheel. Add a clip on TT bar and and a cheapo seat and seat post which is reversed and a few seconds to fit and you easily convert a road bike to something dead aero.
No one is judgemental at a club TT.