John Woodburn - former 25 mile TT Champion in 1961 - first rider to win championship using gears
The 25 mile time trial is considered the ‘blue ribbon event’ of time trials. It is the event closest to a tour de France time trial and world championship. It is also closest in proximity to the ‘cycling world hour record’ It requires a combination of speed, endurance and tolerance to pain. It is a popular event because it is not necessary to do hours and hours of training. The key for 25 mile training is specific targeted training.
Michael Hutchinson
Before the advent of gears and aerodynamic equipment, the benchmark of a 25 mile time trial was to ride the distance under an hour. This was first achieved in the 1930s. The advent of time trial bikes, disc wheels and aero helmets mean this target is within the grasp of many clubmen, but it is still a challenge and achievement many seek to attain.
Alex Dowsett - one of Britain's best time triallist here doing a 25 mile TT on H25/8
The fastest every 25 mile time trials were set by
- Dave McCann 45. 54 on 20/09/2009 Course R25/13
- Chris Boardman – 45.57 on 29th May 1993 – Course: H25/13 Average Speed = 32.644mph
- Michael Hutchinson – 46-01……23/08/2009………..R25/13
- Alex Dowsett – 46-35 – 09/04/2011 – E2/25
- Sean Yates – 46.57……28 Sept 1997……H25/13
Others
Graeme Obree – 48-55 – Cornwall 1993
Also worth mentioning Alf Engers who set a time of – 49 minutes and 24 seconds in 1978, averaging 30.364 (this was before modern technology like low pro and tribars) That is really fast.
My fastest Time T.Pettinger
- 49.33 - 14/08 – R25/3 Merthyr CC
Training for a 25 mile Time trial.
A 25 mile time trial requires a combination of speed and endurance. Average speeds for 25 mile time trials tend to be only slightly lower than for a 10 mile time trial.
- It is important to have a good base endurance. Riding 3 hour rides throughout the year is a good base to work from. But, you don’t need to do huge mileage to be competitive in 25 mile time trials. 10-15 hours is a good target.
- Then in the early season, as racing season gets started, it becomes important to train at your race threshold. Interval training should be at race pace, or just above. If you can, complete 4* intervals of 5 minutes at your threshold level, with perhaps 5 minutes of active recover (spinning legs) in between.
- Racing is also one of the best ways to get fit for a 25 mile time trial. When Obree was training for world hour record, his training would involve riding as fast as he could for an hour.
- Doing 10 mile time trials is a good way of working on your speed and will definitely help improve your top end speed for 25 miles.
Pacing in a 25 Mile Time Trial
Like any time trial, it is important to get the pacing right. The simple goal is to maintain a constant effort throughout the race, trying to avoid bursts of speed followed by slow. You can’t just this effort by your speedometer. If you are riding into the wind, don’t despair as you see the speed drop. Similarly when you have the wind behind you, make sure you maintain the same effort and make the most of the tail wind.
- Don’t start too quickly, you don’t want to build up too much lactic acid early on.
- Maintain concentration throughout the race. The real test is keeping your effort level at the optimum pace throughout the race. Avoid the temptation to slow down when you could maintain a higher pace.
- If anything, you want to go harder in the last half of the race. This is when the build up of lactic acid can become higher, as you have less time to endure it. At the same time you shouldn’t be sprinting for the line as this indicates you save too much for the last mile.
Fastest 25 mile Time Trial Courses
- R25/3L in Wales. This is fast as the first 5 miles goes down the valley. But, the finish is at the bottom of the valley. Therefore there is an artificial advantage of a height gain.
- H25/3B on the A34 in Oxford. This course is no longer used because traffic volumes are too high. When Chris Boardman set competition record on this course, he remarked the traffic was like a motorway.
- E2/25 – Fast dual carriageway
- A25/11 – Matt Bottrill did a 47-32 on this course in 2011
Useful Equipment for Time Trials
Related
Former National 25 Mile TT Champions
include:
- Michael Hutchinson
- Stuart Dangerfield
- Graeme Obree
- Chris Newton
- Chris Boardman
- R.Prebble
- Rob Hayles
- Sean Yates
- D.Webster
- E.J.Adkins
- A.Engers
- D.Lloyd
Related Books on Cycle Training
Serious Cycle Training at Amazon.co.uk
Cyclist’s Training Bible – Joe Friel
Great post. I will definitely add that to my next run. You have an awesome blog and I will be following it from now on.
I was a member of Mansfield Vics when Gordon Ian was the 25mile National Champion in the mid 1950s.
I was previously a member of North Notts Olympic before joining the VICS and we regularly joined the Bentinck Wheelers after the races had finished to a nearby hostelry. The names I remember from the Wheelers were Gus Geeson and Lily, Yatty[Atkinson] Mac Mcmanus.The Corbetts, the Stevenson brothers from Hucknall, they used to have their club meetings at the LIMEBURNERS pub across the way from Bentinck Colliery.
The club finished in the 60s I believe, the Vics went the same way and Mansfield Aces now operate from Forest Town Track which was refurbished in the 80s. The N Notts are still going.
If you still follow cycling look for the Downing Brothers from Maltby, S Yorks who rode on the Forest Town Track
when they were young. They are both Professional riders now and one actually rode for the US postal team.
Did you ride a SAXON Paramount twin tube track frame.
If you did I have a photo of 1953 at the Ollerton Sports track meeting taken by the Chad photographer showing a group of N Notts lads
Are you aware of a Mansfield web site
http://www.ourmansfieldandarea.org .uk
There are some articles on the various cycling clubs.
I live in Mansfield Woodhouse and meet ex Vics, Aces and N Notts cylists of that era. There are 4 living within 200 yards from where I live.
Tom Shead
i was member of bentinck wheelers ,eastkirkby notts,and was the first rider to break 2 hours for the eastkirkby-newark 44 mile hilly time trial ie 1951-52 .Is the club still in existance. I now live in New zealand.I also used to ride home from work with gordon ian who was a holder of a 25 mile record title around that time Regards Arthur