Road bike vs TT bike

[Jack Hughes]

This year has been a bit of an experiment.

I've now had two seasons of TT:

2010 and 2014

I've tried to do the same courses, with the only change from 2010 being a TT bike instead of the road bike.

I even have the same wheels. Expect I had a powertap in 2010 in the campag mavic carbone. But not in the shimano carbone. And the same tyres. And the same helmet. Skin suit is different.

Different legs. They are 4 years old. Possibly not as broken. But I'm not sure if they were producing anymore power. To be fair, they shouldn't have been. But as I didn't have a turbo, I can't really tell.

Results.

Course 1: 2010 - 29:12, 2014 - 28:05

Very very windy in 2014. But still a convincing differents

Course 2: 2010 - 1:09:52. 2014. 1:07:44

Again, awful weather in 2014.

Course 3: unfortunately, the 2010 course is no longer in use. The 2014 course was similar

2010: 1:10:xx. 2014. 1:05:xx.

2014 was pretty foul conditions.

Course 4: 2010 25:56. 2014. 23:11.

Rather tired for the 2014 race as not recovered from HM. But the day might have been a bit better than the 2010 outing.

So nearly 3 mins improvement over 10 miles. Up to five minutes improvement over 25.

I don't think the engine is really any better.

Of course, I really need a power meter to tell.

It all means that I don't feel that great about this years PBs, as it's clear that some technological doping has taken place.

So, next year: Helmet? Disc wheel? PM?

But if you have a road bike, and what to knock 5 mins off your 25 time (I think I would have knocked a bit more if the weather had been kind) and 3 mins of your 10. Get a TT bike.

[Worrying Will]

your not helping

[Jack Hughes]

your not helping

Surprised to see you on this thread.

Interesting that your road bike times are similar to mine...

[IanM]

your not helping

Surprised to see you on this thread.

Interesting that your road bike times are similar to mine...

Haha Was wondering if you had Will in mind when I saw this posted earlier

FWIW, I think I'm about 2-3 mph quicker on my TT bike than my road bike, for a typical training session. Difficult to be too sure about that though, I think I've ridden my Madone exactly once outside this year But I think that's a reasonable estimate based on a couple of recent rides on the fixed gear. Extrapolate that difference to a race, and that's probably about 2-3 minutes in a 10, 6-8 minutes in a 25.

[Jack Hughes]

I was thinking you should ride a 10 with the road bike and PM.

[IanM]

Yep, may do that next year. Not sure if I'll have the Madone though - contemplating changing it for something, but I can't make my mind up what. Thinking the best option would be something I'm happier riding through Autumn, Winter and Spring, so might be slower than the Madone.

Might do a couple of CP20 tests though whilst the weather is still good, one on the TT & one on the road bike, and see what power / distance diff is.

Had thought about doing one tomorrow, but still in 50 limbo.

[Jack Hughes]

I'm losing track. Is it the Manc. Wheelers 50? If so, wouldn't you have had the reject by now, if you had failed to get in?

[IanM]

Yep, still the Manc 50. Apparently the organiser has had a few things on, start sheet expected in the next few days. As someone else on TTF said, I'd hope that those not in would have heard by now - and I've not heard anything.

[Worrying Will]

But not helping . I meant my desire for one. Been living resting on the bars tapping out a nice cadence. Heather may be wavering to the idea but has set a very tight budget and so hadn't said yes.

[JoddyBear]

Buy a frame that's suitable.
In a month or two buy some bars.
Get parts slowly and keep them out ready for assembly.
Guarantee that within three months she'll be ready for you to buy everything you need just to get it out of her way