Portsdown Time Trial Series - HRC 22 mile hilly time trial - Sunday 25th March

http://hampshireroadclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/04P845-Map-Profile.jpg

The above course will be familiar to many of you hardened roadmen (and roadwomen). 7.30 am start with signing on at West Stoke village hall, you won't find a tt course better suited to a road bike. Points gained from this race go towards the PNECC points trophy regardless of the type of bike used but also the PNECC Roadmans League award if you make a point of riding it on a road bike.

Many years ago I successfully tackled the descent of long Harting followed by a hard left, gear change and ascent of short Harting and went on to win, albeit a different variation which forced me up West Marden, Idsworth and Bevis' Thumb too. No STIs, no ergos, just a steel frame with down tube friction gear levers and 42x17 as my lowest gear.

Are you hard enough?

No

beckcd wrote:No

Like the honesty I'm off to Thruxton as a Cat 3...I hate having to choose between events.

Really tempted. I'll decide later on the week. It definitely looks good to build stamina that I am really lacking of. And ideal length for triathlon training.

I really enjoyed last weekend, so looking forward to do some TT more suited for a normal road bike!

Go on, go for it and post your experience here!

Anyone else tempted?

I would be up for it but i have a duathlon at Goodwood motor cicuit this coming weekend, nice and flat like dead flat

I know the HRC TT route and it is a lumpy one, certainly should get the lungs working

Have fun!!!

Cheers

Mark

I plan on riding sunday barring any hiccups!! Early night saturday then.
Any official results from last weekends TT being posted?

Once someone emails them to me I can post, but nothing yet

Sorry - not had a chance to type them up yet! Club night Monday where I was handed them, training at the Mountbatten Centre last night and got a text at 4pm today inviting me out training with Sam tonight. Since I got in I've checking on both CTT and BC rules because of member enquiries. No wonder my girlfriend dumped me! Promise to take time out at work tomorrow and get them to Dave G to put on the website, including the Roadmans League table so far.

That link doesn't appear to be working, Paul. Is there anywhere else we can see the route?

Paul Martin wrote:Sorry - not had a chance to type them up yet! Club night Monday where I was handed them, training at the Mountbatten Centre last night and got a text at 4pm today inviting me out training with Sam tonight. Since I got in I've checking on both CTT and BC rules because of member enquiries. No wonder my girlfriend dumped me! Promise to take time out at work tomorrow and get them to Dave G to put on the website, including the Roadmans League table so far.

Yep and after all that, no sympathy, your link is pants

If anyone has suffered from display 'blindness' apologies I've now finished playing with the forum - refresh now. I'll leave it for a while and see how you get on with a 'brighter' forum experience?

Charlie Try this link

http://hampshireroadclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/P845-Map-Profile.jpg

and Paul here's a risk assessment of the course in CTT format (from the CTT site)

http://www.southdc.org.uk/courses/ra/p845_40k.pdf

Every little helps

Aw....well that's the link the HRC gave me. Try this instead:

http://www.southdc.org.uk/courses/p845.htm

Now, Dave, at bit off topic but what is the absolute highest gear, in inches, that Charlie should be riding on track aged 16. I don't have a BC handbook and I've lost the will with the BC website.

Basically he is screwing his gears down whilst using a 52 ring and I want to explore the possibilities with a different chainset, possibly fitted with a 53 ring.

Not to steal the answer from Dave, but I'm limited to 6.93 metres development. With my 52 ring, that means I'm limited to my 16 cog.

Yeah, but I want it in inches (coz I know where I can get my hands on the Cycling Time Trials gear table). Otherwise I need to see British Cycling's gear table.

As you can tell, I'm cooking up a plan re your dodgy bottom bracket.

Heres the link to the British Cycling gear restrictions for racing

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/volunteer/Youth_gear_restrictions_-_A_guide_for_commissaires.pdf

Gear chart with sprockets and rings

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/coaching_tools_forms/gear_chart.doc

Remember iaw CTT there are no gear restrictions enforced for youths.

Right, having done my homework, 52x16 = 6.84 metres rolling distance according to British Cycling which is 87.8" in old money (actually the diameter of a penny-farthing bike front wheel - yes really!) according to them. However Cycling Time Trials makes 52x16 to be lower at 86.4".

I know that, for decades, CTT measured gears assuming everyone was still riding 27" diameter wheels which, of course, no serious cyclist has for the last 30 years. Consequently CTT changed their table to 700x23C which lowered the gears, in this case, to 86.4". Converting THIS measurement to metric comes out at 6.89 metres which is quite near the mark. By the looks of it, BC are still using the wrong table when trying to quote gears in old money.

Anyway, the upshot of all this that 53x16 comes out at 6.97m (4cm too long) but only 88.0" according to the correct imperial table. I don't want to encourage Charlie to use an illegal gear but I bet you anything you like that there are Juniors out there riding nice expensive bikes fitted with 53/39 chainsets and still using a 16 sprocket too.

I need some spies at the next BC race please!

Paul Martin wrote:53x16 comes out at 6.97m (4cm too long)...

I need some spies at the next BC race please!

They measure by rolling the bike between two lines so they shouldn't miss something like that regardless of what the BC table says. Sorry can't spy on the youths for you...they start too early!

Hi Paul, there is a caveat that gears/chainrings alone are not to be calculated regarding restriction i.e. a 'roll-out' on a measured surface will always take into account the wheels, tyres etc.

Have researched the current British Cycling Rules

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/bcst_rulebook_and_constitution

TR 3.3 Gear Restrictions

For BC sanctioned TT events rule TR 22.11 "compulsory wearing of a hard/soft shell helmet. Junior riders gears restricted as TR 3.3

TR 24.2.5 covers gear checking but in regards to Track

Cycling Time Trials

Gear tables
http://ctt.org.uk/Information/RiderInfo/GearTable/tabid/93/Default.aspx

For joint BCTT events conditions regarding restrictions apply
http://ctt.org.uk/Competition/BTTC/Conditions/tabid/403/Default.aspx

From a BC Coach point of view I would recommend your bike Charlie is restricted and should remain so for your time trials, purely from the aspect of you knowing the limitations of your bike, and remembering that you race against the clock from 'your' perspective always trying to improve 'your' time

I'll post above links onto our Youth pages where required, although I've already posted 'setting up restricted gears for youths' and gear tables from BC.

Yep, I get all the above (done my share of pre-race machine examination in my time).

It sounds like the only way to see is to measure out the distance and roll Charlie's bike backwards. I'm glad that BC recognise that measuring teeth proves nothing, thanks to tyre thicknesses.

Charlie, I spoke with Dick (our Club President) this morning and he happy for me to try his late brother's chainset, complete with bottom bracket, on your bike. This is why I'm trying to keep my options open regarding chainrings.

Dave, I think that it is worth emplaining the difference between BC and CTT rules regarding time trials e.g. Not compulsory the wear a helmet over 18 in CTT time trials although it is advised and that all PNE time trials are held under CTT rules, not BC?

Yep agree, and you can compete in a CTT event if you're 12 or over with relevant parental consent form

I'll definitely try to ride the TT this Sunday. I would imagine that we can sign in right there?

Is anyone riding to the start line? I'll be leaving from Waterlooville. Early morning they call it! and weather forecast looking great

Yes, you can sign on on the line. Entry fee should be four quid but a take few pennies extra. The HRC always lay on tea and cakes at their clubhouse afterwards anyway!

Make sure you allow for the clocks going forward and ten mins to ride from the HQ to the start. Most importantly although the HRC will have marshals, the onus is on you to know the course including which left hand turns to take! First rider starts 7.30am so work backwards and it will be barely light if you are riding out. I recommend you race with mini flashing lights front and back anyway.

I know I'm making this sound like a lot of faffing but just imagine how you can brag about this later!

Hmm... Very interesting. I might just go along to the TT. I don't suppose there'll be many people out on the club run?

Well Rich, Keith and myself will be on the club run.

I think I'll go TT-ing. Bring on the hills . Is anyone riding up there?