Ben, do you have a course profile or guide on the web somewhere for that TT we’re coming over to do so i could get into my head what I’m going to ride round next week ?
You can download a computrainer course of the Hines Park TT(this is a USCF race event held in Aug.)It is the same route as the PATT only slightly longer with a different start point.Go to www.saddle.org Hold your mouse over Member Corner’s tab another tab will come go to Computrainer Stuff then Free Courses.Select Hines TT and either 2D or 3D.Also click view map to see elevation gain(not much) and course map.(looks like a snake not much straightaway)Any problems send out a post and we will fix them.
Just think flat, with a short climb if it takes us past the waste hill. Think Sopley TT (with better road surface) with the rise to Hurn court runabout.
Then take a pill and think about it no more!
Bryce,
Thanks pedalrunner for the assist.
I’m sorry. I cannot respond now. I have entered a deep depression since learning that Julian may not be coming for the time trial.
I thought Julian was coming to participate in our time trial and while here, was incidentally going to swing by Bikesport and pick up a new bike. Instead, he was planning to come to Bikesport and pick up a new bike and incidently going to swing by and give our time trial a go.
Once again I am reminded I am not the center of the universe and the world does not revolve around me. Woe is me.
I tried calling the suicide hot line but got put on hold. I guess I’ll just have to go for a ride on the bike instead. Its very therapeutic you know.
I have ridden it several times, and I plan to be there that day, so…
From the sounds of things, you will smoke me, so with that in mind I suggest you come with a big chain ring no bigger than 30 - 34 teeth, and a mountain bike cogset. Better yet, just bring your mountain bike with the fattest tires you have - that should cover all your bases.
On a more serious note - There is generally a slight headwind on the out section of the course. The last two times it has been very slight, i.e. < 5mph. In my opinion, there must be a gain in elevation on the out section, because the return leg is always faster, even when it feels like there isn’t much wind. So expect to be a little slower on the out section, and a little faster back.
The start is on a very flat, very fast section of road. About a half-mile in or so a small grade starts to the first “hill” To us in SE Michigan, it is a hill, it may be pancake flat to anyone else out there. It is generally flat from there until you hit the next hill, which I believe is the biggest one. This one always hurts on the way back, and I believe it is steeper but shorter on the way back. I guess this is probably around the half-way to just before half-way on the out section. Nothing more really except wind to fight on the way out, then the last mile or so before the turn-around there is a false flat with some slight rises which is always frustrating because I am ready to quit and feel like I’m slowing down more than I should. You turn around and generally the speed picks up with the slight tailwind. You just fly for the last mile because you are coming down that first hill encountered and it is flat at the base all the way to the finish.
Sorry I don’t have more to say, but the middle section is a little fuzzy to me. In short, there are only a few hills. I averaged 23mph last month (25:59), and if I dropped below 20mph it was only momentarily at the top of the biggest hill on the way back. I think I peaked at 28 - 29 mph on the fast section before the finish. Also, my speed was almost never 23mph, it was generally faster or slower. Your results may vary.
So is it fair to say it’s an out and back or a loop ?
I will be using my full tricked Kuota with 54-11 and with Jetlag so expect the unexpected. Any bribes to Tom so that he re-fits me with maximum drag will not be tolerated…
Oh, Ben. What a drama queen you are! Whilst Bryce will be riding for a win (it’s always death or Glory for him) I will be riding in a haze of " look at my pretty spokes spinning in the light, look at the lovely dinky mini bars I am pulling up on, look at the way my legs are melting… SHIT, car UP!
Bryce will be in his new Aero helmet, skinsuit and Lycra booties, I will be in my big old IM UK jersey use the Jetlag sympathy vote and mtb shoes! But I look fast before the wheels turn 
Got a picture of the saddlemen jersey? I am guessing a cool brooks style logo with the brass rivets on it, don’t disappoint me, man. But the most important bit, bagels at Einstein’s after??
Someone mention bagels ?
Sounds like a plan.
Easy Tiger, Einstein powerbagels with PBJ and a fruit bowl, nectar!
Looking for a meltdown?
http://www.consystency.net/obra/ouch.html
I’ll consider under two hours an accomplishment… for me.
Urrgggghhh !!! Just ham and cheese will be fine.
I’m off to polish the bike. I now only have 9 thesis left to mark to complete my work pre summer and this weekends TT to tune up for the US one. No pressure people !!!
Bryce,
Its an out and back course.
Be there at least by 8:00 AM local time and ride it as part of your warm up. I think you’ll like it.
PS They don’t close it to traffic until 9:00 AM so you will have to share the road on your warm up.
Also, on this side of the pond, we ride on the right side of the road. If we implement the centerline rule, we can automatically disqualify any Englishman looking to beat up on some local cycling boys out to just have some fun. You won’t be able to restrain yourself from riding on the left side of the road and consequently crossing the centerline.
A valid point ! I have a habit of losing a fair degree of common sense proportionally to the power output. I caught Julian for 3 mins during a 25 miler last year but at which point I was already cycling in the fast lane of a two lane highway…
I’ll write a note on my handlebars (“stay on the right !!!”).
Are you sure this address is right ? hen i looked at it it was a hrose riding site !!! Are leather saddles for palomino’s legal and if so whats the drag ?
Sweet. Just looked at the course. If only our TT’s over here were as well organised with this much info. going by what i’m looking at it could be 10 miles or 12. Either way it looks hard.
Bryce,
The turn arounds for both courses are within 200 feet of one another. The starting point for the 12 miler (20 KM) is a little over a mile futher east from the 10 mile (16 KM) PATT course.
We will have a nice big orange traffic cone on the turn around so you won’t be able to miss the correct turnaround. You can see it clearly from about a third of a mile away as you come down the last hill and make the easy curve to the left as you head for the flat before the turn around. I drop the cone on the turn around on my way to the PATT start. It should be on the turn around before I show up at the start.
The 20 KM Hines Park Time Trial course is actually a little faster because that additional 1 mile plus stretch is actually pretty flat (rolling) compared to the rest of the course (which is basically the 10 mile (16 KM) PATT course).
I’m looking forward to meeting you next Saturday. See you there. I hope to be there about 7:30 AM. The weather has been hot and muggy lately. How about bringing some cool dry air from your side of the pond? We call that the “fast” stuff. the humid air just feels thick and heavy, i.e., slower.
I know what you mean. Conditions here haven’t been great yet either. I’m pushing to get a low 21 over a 10 at this time of year but the weather has been against me. I’m racing on a drag strip tomorrow to get some leg speed going. If the conditions play out it will be fast.
I’ll probably ride round your TT course if I get myself out of bed early enough on the saturday as part of my warm up. My riding really suffers if I’m not warm !