First TT Tomorrow -Any Advice for a Newbie?

Have a blast with it. Don't blow yourself out in the first 1/2 mile but ride the adrenaline rush for that part. Back off a hair when your legs feel like they're "stick a fork in me" done and hold just below that anaerobic threshold for the rest of the first 1/2. The second half is all about hanging on, hammer as you crest the hills and have a blast! The more you do the better you get, the main thing for me is to have a blast out there. (Oh yea, and not cry! )

 

Oh yea, GOOD LUCK!!!

Edited by rstocks3 2009-08-29 6:23 PM

Sweet!!
Thanks for your post!!
I'm cool with crying --just don't want to puke!

This user's post has been ignored.

Edited by kmill23 2009-08-29 6:49 PM

I'm so glad you brought up cadence!!!
Like I mentioned, I'm new to the bike and it seems that whenever I try to keep my cadence up to 90+, I have to go to a much easier gear ... it seems that my MPH is faster with a harder gear but that lowers my cadence ...
I know I have to build on that during the coming off season but, for now, would you say stick to the easier gear and higher cadence versus harder gear and lower cadence ?? Won't I go slower??
Sorry if this is a silly question!!!
And, THANK YOU!

Start off in a big gear, one that you push from a stand still but pedal up into. That way you build speed off the start, settle in and don't have to shift. Get up to your cursing effort and go "hardish" About 3/4 of the way from the finish just go for broke, If you are not about to sick up at the end you left speed on the course. If things start to feel comfortable, click it down a gear.

They usually start racers off in one minute intervals, try to catch your minute man (the person that left in front of you). Don't be surprised if you get passed and you do some passing in a TT. The stage racers usual based on when they registered, not by how fast they are (unless it's a series).

TT's are all about knowing your pace, so don't expect a perfect race the first time out. It's definately better to start off a bit slow and push the pace in the second half than to start off too fast and feel dead already at the turnaround.

Make sure that you have one thing and one thing only to concentrate on during the race, some people use cadence others use HR or Power. You can also try to "chase the next MPH", i.e. always try to reach the next MPH, but with that you are risking to blow up unless you are really experienced. So much is about the feeling.

Probably the best advice is to warm up really, really well. If you're not dripping sweat before the start, then you're not warm. And don't even try warming up on the road! Bring a trainer and do a set warm up routine.

Wow -thanks everyone!
I'm psyched!!
Thanks again!

I'm going to go against standard advice here and say don't be conservative at the beginning. You don't say how long it is, but TTs are usually much shorter than what triathletes typically train at. I think a newbie is more likely to hold back and not give it all than to burn out. If I'm racing for speed, mashing a bit on a bigger gear is faster than spinning on a smaller one. You don't have to run afterwards, so go ahead and push yourself until you feel like you're gong to puke.