I’m new around here, and while I’ve ridden an Olympic Tri in the past, I’m more of a road cyclist these days. That being said, there is a 4 times per year TT nearby that I just recently learned about. Even though I’m a recreational cyclist, I do have the competitive itch and am interested in training for the next TT event in October. How soon before the event would you all recommend that I begin preparing for it? And are there any recommended training plans? I have a smart trainer and use Zwift, but can get Trainer Road if it’s more useful. I’m located in San Diego, so I can ride outside most of the year, including the actual race course where I ride at least once per week already.
One further question: I’m planning to enter the Merckx category so I can use my road bike, but if I like it and want to keep competing, I plan to buy a TT bike. I’m not opposed to getting one now, as they’re plentiful, new and used, in my area. Would you all suggest that getting a TT bike for training and competition or waiting it out and trying the Merckx category first?
I’m new around here, and while I’ve ridden an Olympic Tri in the past, I’m more of a road cyclist these days. That being said, there is a 4 times per year TT nearby that I just recently learned about. Even though I’m a recreational cyclist, I do have the competitive itch and am interested in training for the next TT event in October. How soon before the event would you all recommend that I begin preparing for it? And are there any recommended training plans? I have a smart trainer and use Zwift, but can get Trainer Road if it’s more useful. I’m located in San Diego, so I can ride outside most of the year, including the actual race course where I ride at least once per week already.
One further question: I’m planning to enter the Merckx category so I can use my road bike, but if I like it and want to keep competing, I plan to buy a TT bike. I’m not opposed to getting one now, as they’re plentiful, new and used, in my area. Would you all suggest that getting a TT bike for training and competition or waiting it out and trying the Merckx category first?
I have been doing that TT series. How soon to start? Now . A smart trainer is great for dialing in your position. Most my workouts at around target watts
As for bike choice, what is your end goal? A certain time? Trying to place? Obviously the TT bike is faster. Much respect to those doing Merckx category, you can drop your bars low and almost ride the bike TT style.
The SD tri club will do a free time trial (albeit with cars on road) June 29 @ 5:30pm
That’s great to know about the SD Tri Club TT in June. Thanks for letting me know! I don’t know what my goals are besides just to ride, compete, and have fun doing it. As such, placing would be nice. I’ve ridden three laps in the low 33 minute range on a road bike many times and without ‘trying’ for a PR, so i suppose I could be somewhat competitive in the Tri event, but not in the SDBC sponsored event (there are some REALLY fast times!)
Maybe I’ll plan to ride the June event and see how I feel. If I like it, I imagine that I’ll want to pick up a Tri bike and really go for it in the fall.
Any thoughts on training plans? Have you used any of the Zwift plans?
That’s great to know about the SD Tri Club TT in June. Thanks for letting me know! I don’t know what my goals are besides just to ride, compete, and have fun doing it. As such, placing would be nice. I’ve ridden three laps in the low 33 minute range on a road bike many times and without ‘trying’ for a PR, so i suppose I could be somewhat competitive in the Tri event, but not in the SDBC sponsored event (there are some REALLY fast times!)
Maybe I’ll plan to ride the June event and see how I feel. If I like it, I imagine that I’ll want to pick up a Tri bike and really go for it in the fall.
Any thoughts on training plans? Have you used any of the Zwift plans?
merckx record there is 28 min , so dont be scared by the times faster than that, which would be on TT bikes.
As for training on zwift I never followed their week by week plans, I like to pick and choose some of their individual workouts, such as over/unders are great. Not a fan of their recovery intervals, feels too low for me, so most the times I make my own custom workouts.
Since you are on a roadie, some fast guys are there on thursdays 530 or 6 pm if i recall
no need. getting a baseline is a good star. In fact since I hit my 40k TT goal, after this tri season I am going to covert my tri bike to a roadie, and try to hit the same speed for 20k.
I’m new around here, and while I’ve ridden an Olympic Tri in the past, I’m more of a road cyclist these days. That being said, there is a 4 times per year TT nearby that I just recently learned about. Even though I’m a recreational cyclist, I do have the competitive itch and am interested in training for the next TT event in October. How soon before the event would you all recommend that I begin preparing for it? And are there any recommended training plans? I have a smart trainer and use Zwift, but can get Trainer Road if it’s more useful. I’m located in San Diego, so I can ride outside most of the year, including the actual race course where I ride at least once per week already.
One further question: I’m planning to enter the Merckx category so I can use my road bike, but if I like it and want to keep competing, I plan to buy a TT bike. I’m not opposed to getting one now, as they’re plentiful, new and used, in my area. Would you all suggest that getting a TT bike for training and competition or waiting it out and trying the Merckx category first?
TT’s are not everybody’s cup of tea. They are hard and painful!!! Don’t jump to buy extra stuff, too many people buy, before they try a new discipline - a TT bike is a big investment and takes a lot of time to fine tune a TT position - I suggest you just try the Merckx TT first, do some TT focussed training to prepare, then decide if you like doing TT’s enough to invest in a TT bike. TT focussed training is quite straightforward……do an FTP test every 4-6 weeks and once, max twice per week do some TT intervals….start with 2x15’ @FTP with a 10’ easy between intervals, then progress to 2x20’ @FTP. Start this at least 8 weeks, ideally 12 weeks, before your planned event. If you are still into it after this training and the event itself, then think about buying a TT bike. If you don’t own a powermeter, I suggest to buy this way before you buy a TT bike.
I’m new around here, and while I’ve ridden an Olympic Tri in the past, I’m more of a road cyclist these days. That being said, there is a 4 times per year TT nearby that I just recently learned about. Even though I’m a recreational cyclist, I do have the competitive itch and am interested in training for the next TT event in October. How soon before the event would you all recommend that I begin preparing for it? And are there any recommended training plans? I have a smart trainer and use Zwift, but can get Trainer Road if it’s more useful. I’m located in San Diego, so I can ride outside most of the year, including the actual race course where I ride at least once per week already.
One further question: I’m planning to enter the Merckx category so I can use my road bike, but if I like it and want to keep competing, I plan to buy a TT bike. I’m not opposed to getting one now, as they’re plentiful, new and used, in my area. Would you all suggest that getting a TT bike for training and competition or waiting it out and trying the Merckx category first?
TT’s are not everybody’s cup of tea. They are hard and painful!!! Don’t jump to buy extra stuff, too many people buy, before they try a new discipline - a TT bike is a big investment and takes a lot of time to fine tune a TT position - I suggest you just try the Merckx TT first, do some TT focussed training to prepare, then decide if you like doing TT’s enough to invest in a TT bike. TT focussed training is quite straightforward……do an FTP test every 4-6 weeks and once, max twice per week do some TT intervals….start with 2x15’ @FTP with a 10’ easy between intervals, then progress to 2x20’ @FTP. Start this at least 8 weeks, ideally 12 weeks, before your planned event. If you are still into it after this training and the event itself, then think about buying a TT bike. If you don’t own a powermeter, I suggest to buy this way before you buy a TT bike.
Totally agree with all here except TT’s being painful. I feel crit races are harder… Constant surges to 150%+ of your ftp
Just Do It…I did my first FI TT at age 70. Like you I just wanted to try it and see if time trailing was something I would want to commit to. With three laps around the island (20K) and doing some practice laps its relatively easy to maintain a goal pace…either watts or time. I set a modest goal to average 20mph for my first effort. Did a little better the next time. Currently sidelined recovering from “runner’s knee” but I’m looking forward to doing another TT.
After an injury kept me from running I started time trial racing, and haven’t looked back! It is a blast. Get a TT bike; make sure it’s UCI legal in case you ever want to do nationals. One possible issue with the Merckz category is that, at least in my area, those tend to be open divisions. In other words, you could end up racing someone much younger than yourself. If you’re the least bit competitive that could be frustrating.
I think Trainer Road is the best training program for TT. If you have a power meter, that can be very helpful, but it is possible with TR to get “synthetic” power estimates. Before I got a power meter, I was able to pretty accurately correlate the synthetic estimate with heart rate, then race using heart rate.
Hey there! The best answer as to when to start training is yesterday or as soon as possible. You have to get that aerobic engine firing on all cylinders and get your body adapted to you position.
Try the roadie TT first and if you like it, go from there. I would normally caution trying to penny pinch as in my experience I usually end up spending more in the long run than if I would have just bought what I wanted in the first place.
With the caveat that if you are willing to give up time to the true TT bikes, you can go with clip-ons on the road bike if dead set on not being in the Merckx. But with those on the bike you couldn’t do the road bike only class any longer.
Training wise, TT strategy isn’t super complex for average joes, but will kind of depend on how much time you have. The more time you have, the less intense the lower intensity stuff can be. I’m shorter on time, so my lower intensity stuff is upper Z2 into tempo. If I had 8 or more hours a week I’d go more true Z2 and then my intervals.
Also, I would get used to simulating a TT for your workouts. Invent a Strava segment to do. Maybe short enough you can do 2x20’s or 3x15’s on. Practice the standing start and holding your position and good pacing.
I started out with clip-ons on the road bike, then got a nearly free TT frameset in need of carbon repair I used for a couple years, then finally moved on to dedicated expensive bike.
Also, if you live somewhere like I do…officially timed TT’s are more rare. I’ve taken up just enough running to pose a legitimate threat to the pure runners in the local duathlons. Or get super lucky and they make the bike a fair distance and you can threaten a win. Otherwise for me, the nearest TT’s other than USAC Regional Champs is many hours away and not often. We have a super local super small club group, but I really dislike the route to get to the start point with my fancy TT bike as it is busy town traffic to get there.
I’ve wanted to ride a crit, but can’t justify entering a race that has such a high risk of an accident or injury. They look like lots of fun, though!
I’ll jump right into some interval work this week. I’ve got to do some cross training due to a 2 week hiking trip coming up in a few weeks, so my training will be totally insufficient for the end of June race. But, once that’s done and I have a feel for it I can start working toward October’s FI TT.
The shame is that I had a P2 for riding Tris until the beginning of the pandemic when I started to clear out some things I wasn’t using. I wish I’d held onto it now.
I’ve wanted to ride a crit, but can’t justify entering a race that has such a high risk of an accident or injury. They look like lots of fun, though!
well if interested june 12 there is a crit in otay ranch area
It’s not USAC, it’s the local officials who will often be more flexible about pulling the womens, probably because there are so few racers and often all the Cats have to race together.
It’s not USAC, it’s the local officials who will often be more flexible about pulling the womens, probably because there are so few racers and often all the Cats have to race together.
One further question: I’m planning to enter the Merckx category so I can use my road bike, but if I like it and want to keep competing, I plan to buy a TT bike. I’m not opposed to getting one now, as they’re plentiful, new and used, in my area. Would you all suggest that getting a TT bike for training and competition or waiting it out and trying the Merckx category first?
Some questions:
Were you pretty fast on your tri bike? Did you like the bike leg and training for it? What do you think the odds are that you will enjoy TTs and keep it up?
How many hours/week do you ride now, and what sort of training… and would you be willing to increase the time? Do you like riding outside?
Some thoughts:
I was pretty disappointed in the answers until I got to synthetic’s reply:
“TT focussed training is quite straightforward……do an FTP test every 4-6 weeks and once, max twice per week do some TT intervals….start with 2x15’ @FTP with a 10’ easy between intervals, then progress to 2x20’ @FTP. Start this at least 8 weeks, ideally 12 weeks, before your planned event”
Ideally 12hrs+/week total, nearly all at an easy pace (50-75% FTP) with one day per week of intense race focused efforts… intervals at a little over your race pace. Don’t do this twice per week unless your are very time limited. Ride outside as much as possible, and definitely do the intense day outside. IME it only takes 6 weeks for me to get in shape, but 8 would be safer. Of course you can start early, but I don’t think I’d go 100% on the intervals until you were 8 weeks out. Focus more on just hours in the saddle and getting used to the position, and refining your position.
Oddly trainers kinda suck… for training. Some new ones are better, but they all suffer from a lack of momentum, which changes the feel and muscle engagement. That’s the main reason I’d recommend doing the hard efforts outside.
If this is an activity that you are pretty sure you’ll enjoy, I wouldn’t wait to get a TT bike. Merckx TTs are kinda like road rides on a MTB… sure you can do it, but it isn’t the optimal tool for the job. A lot of the fun of TTs is optimizing your position and equipment to… you know… go as fast as possible. You’ll be missing out on that aspect until you actually get the bike. And from the tone of what you’ve written I think you really want it…
. A smart trainer is great for dialing in your position. Most my workouts at around target watts