I’m not sure why, but on one of coldest days of the year, I thought it would be good to get the time trial bike down from loft and have a quick ride.
My ski gloves are bigger than those.
I wanted to go on the time trial bike, because I’m conscious I’ve entered my first race in less than two weeks! It’s good to get used to the time trial bike as it is quite a different position and uses some different muscles.
Because it was so cold, I wore three pairs of gloves, including one pair of thick ski gloves. It’s really difficult to ride a time trial bike with narrow tribars and ski gloves! I’d also forgotten how difficult it is to ride a time trial bike. My arms and shoulders are aching more than my legs. To get aero, doesn’t mean to get comfortable.
- By Comparison, The winter training bike is 12 Kg, the Time trial bike, with super smooth tubulars on a Zipp 404′s is 7Kg and super fast!
Riding a time trial bike in January is like a kid opening a present three months before Christmas. Winter usually means slow cycling @ 15- 16mph. To get a quick glimpse of the time trial bike, cruising along the flat at 28mph is a nice reminder of why I’m doing all this winter training.
I finished the 12 mile RR circuit at average speed of 25.7mph – quicker than same course on winter training bike last week – (av. 23.1mph). I would have been faster if my water bottle hadn’t fallen out and I had to stop and go back and pick it up. But, the difference in speed from last week was all due to the better bike.
warm but not ideal for time trialling.
My selection of gloves.
Also, on any kind of descents I didn’t use the tribars, I didn’t trust myself to stay upright.
The ride was good, I really reminded myself of:
- Why I don’t usually enter races in February.
- Why I advocate wearing two pairs of shorts, when it’s really cold! (cycling in sub zero temperatures)
- When you average 15mph on a winter training bike, it doesn’t mean you are slow – it’s the bike!
- Time trial bike is superfast, but it’s hard work keeping the aero position. I need to go and do some pushups or something.
- Breathing with tongue at top of mouth is said to warm the air flowing in. The air definitely needed warming up!
- When it’s cold, it’s a very good reason to have a low mileage week.
@ doug
rapha do a very thin but warm merino one. highly recommended.
there are cheaper skullcap things too. gore/northwave/castelli.
Thanks PJ
I’ve entered two Feb 13 and Feb 20th.
Hilly time trials in Surrey 12 miles and 18 miles. Haven’t got a handbook yet.
oooh. mine is 19th feb. first hilly is 4th march. should be ok!
which race have you entered?
Shiver me timbers!
Although I haven’t cycled much this year (so far) it’s my head and ears that get so cold the most. How do other cyclists solve this problem? I’ve got a fairly thin hat which I’ve tried to wear under my helmet but it still makes my helmet too small no matter how much I try to adjust it.
Is there a warm hat around which is really thin? Above all, I don’t want to replace the helmet for a woolly hat.
Doug.