hello all,
this fall i started doing time trials for the first time. i’m in a small club and am very near the club course record. I’m just wondering what a fast time for a 20k tt is… it’s out and back, and there is one small hill, but it’s mostly flat to rolling. does it make sense to compare times across 20km tt’s on different courses or even different days? I assume it doesn’t totally even out when it’s out and back (EG a hilly course will be slower than totally flat, windy slower than dead calm etc), but how close does it come to evening out? that is, what sort of variability is there? is 20 km out and back the same week after week, or how much will the best time vary based on conditions?
I can’t say how much variability there would be due to conditions…within reason I’d say about 1 minute (this ignores 100+ degree days, and torrential downpours and below freezing weather of course).
The stars of your local triathlons would probably turn in 20K times of about 30 minutes while still swimming and running at comparable paces.
It can be hard to compare courses. Hillier is going to be slightly slower on an out-and-back (as long as the start/finish are at the same place).
As far as wind, a cross-wind can actually be faster, since some people have lower drag in a bit of a crosswind. My fastest 12 mile TT (just short of 20KM) was in those exact conditions: cross/headwind out, cross/tailwind back, somewhere in the low 24:XX’s.
All things being neutral, wind, grade, etc… Anything under 30 is a good time and getting close to 25 is a fast time for a 20K. If you’re under 25 minutes, you don’t need to be asking the question…
A time of about 25 minutes would win the masters world TT championships. See the results here for the various age groups for men and women.
http://www.masterswm.org/v4/?info/en/results
That course has a small hill up to the turn around.
From my personal experience doing a weekly 10 mile (16km) TT in Davis, CA my best and worst times spread about 30 seconds due to slightly varying fitness and weather conditions.
Hope that helps.
It can be hard to compare courses. Hillier is going to be slightly slower on an out-and-back (as long as the start/finish are at the same place).
As far as wind, a cross-wind can actually be faster, since some people have lower drag in a bit of a crosswind. My fastest 12 mile TT (just short of 20KM) was in those exact conditions: cross/headwind out, cross/tailwind back, somewhere in the low 24:XX’s.
You’ve averaged close to 30 mph in a TT? Even if it is just a 12 mile one?
Cat. 1 or Continental Pro??
I just started doing those last summer and was nowhere near my peak abilities (training for an ultra run race, not biking) and logged a 32 on an out and back. I was one of the faster guys, but there were several that were at 30 minutes or below. Slightly hilly and crazy hot in Texas. I would guesstimate that a sub 30 puts you in a pretty fast category.
It was a great way to get in a real hard workout. With a little competition, you might see new highs in your Max HR. I was tested in a lab to have a max HR of 170 something on the bike and I hit 184 trying to sprint to the end of this TT. Incredible workout. With them being a week apart, you can spend the rest of the week recovering and building for the next one and get faster every time.
I was 30:20 on a regular road bike with box section rims and a normal jersey on ( someone asked me if i thought there was a road ride that day). how much do you think i could improve with a full TT set up (aero frame, deep section front, disc rear, aero bars, skin suit and sperm shaped helmet)? how about just 50mm wheels? just a skinsuit? aero bars?
are we talking 5 seconds? 30 seconds? 1 minute? 2 minutes?
With Sperm shaped Helmut and Penis shaped forks, maybe nice round breast shaped disk wheel, and vagina shaped aerobars, with a foreskin suit and booties, I’d say you could save 69 seconds.
Aerobars would make a huge difference to just snap something on and go. Helmet would be next unless cost is no object then get a nice bike, with a proper fit, and a 1080 front and Sub 9 disc (if it fits your bike) would be next. Skin suit is pretty low on the list unless your wearing a really baggy jersey. Just wear a tri jersey instead.
And by the way, thanks for your blog post about how to swim with a Forerunner. Helped me out alot.
With Sperm shaped Helmut and Penis shaped forks, maybe nice round breast shaped disk wheel, and vagina shaped aerobars, with a foreskin suit and booties, I’d say you could save 69 seconds.
That is freakin hillarious!!!
30 minutes would be right there around 25mph average. That’s actually quite fast.
If you aren’t an experienced cyclist (I guess this by the fact that you asked this question) then you are probably looking at a short course…or you have the natural gifting to be world class.
With Sperm shaped Helmut and Penis shaped forks, maybe nice round breast shaped disk wheel, and vagina shaped aerobars, with a foreskin suit and booties, I’d say you could save 69 seconds.
that was awesome, good job. Damn funny
Oh, I forgot road surface. A nice smooth surface vs. some crappy chip-n-seal job can be 2-3mph difference in speed.
"You’ve averaged close to 30 mph in a TT? Even if it is just a 12 mile one?
Cat. 1 or Continental Pro?? "
Roady races in the Seattle area, and around here to win that TT in the *masters *category you pretty much need to average 30 mph. Cat 1/2 is usually a little bit faster…
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i’ve seen one of roady’s 40k power files so i’m thinking very low 24:xx
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Comparing isn’t an exact science. There are lots of external variables (weather, wind, course topography, road surface) and then there’s the rider.
A long time ago, 25mph average was considered pretty good. These days, the combination of aero equipment, training knowledge and some blessed genetics, averages in the 30+ mph range aren’t uncommon at the upper end.
The UK folks have a long tradition of time trails. Here’s the link to the Veteran’s association(over 40yrs):
http://www.vtta.org.uk/index.htm
10 mile times of 19 minutes is just plain fast.
Check out the National records:
http://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/comprec.asp
It’s all relative as there’s always faster and slower riders compared to just about everyone. Aerobars, best fit and a aero helmet will help you the most, as much as 1mph or so.
"…and then there’s the rider. "
Word.
I thought that my 20:54 on that 11 mile course Roady mentioned was pretty darn good… until one of the guys who gets paid to ride came along and took a minute out of me…
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Comparing isn’t an exact science. There are lots of external variables (weather, wind, course topography, road surface) and then there’s the rider.
The UK folks have a long tradition of time trails. Here’s the link to the Veteran’s association(over 40yrs):
http://www.vtta.org.uk/index.htm
10 mile times of 19 minutes is just plain fast.
Check out the National records:
http://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/comprec.asp
One thing I always keep in mind about UK TT’s is that the turn around is generally if not always on a round about. What that means is that instead of coming to nearly a complete stop while making a U-turn around a cone, the UK guys are going close to full speed around a round about. Not only does keeping your speed help, but you don’t have to make that huge effort to get back up to speed half way through say a 40km TT.
Also, they tend to hold TT’s on busy roads with lots of “lorries” that help suck you along. I spent two months in the UK in 1992 and was surprised one morning to see a TT being held on the A-1 motorway. The “A” motorways are the level below their version of interstates, like a US state highway.
I’ve also been told and maybe somebody can confirm for me that the start finish can be chosen within reason to take advantage of terrain. i.e. start at the top of a hill, go out, turn around and finish before climbing back up.
Having said all that, the UK TT guys are phenomenal. While I was there Boardman broke the 25 mile TT record with a ridiculous time of around 45 minutes. And he was complaining that he couldn’t get it in his biggest gear!!! 
As was mentioned, it depends on the course. My best 20k time is 25:38 (29.07mph) - on a rolling course, while my best 40k time is 50:51 (29.3mph), but the course is much flatter.
—Francis