Why is Pacing Important in a TT?

Alex Simmons

For your entertainment:

http://alex-cycle.blogspot.com/2008...r-of-power.html

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Ade Merckx

Wow thanks for that Alex. very revealing. Pacing is not important at all - its bloody crucial!

waterrockets

Very cool, thanks for sharing. I was sticking to my pacing guns during a 20m test in my road position yesterday. I had an off-form friend with me, and he was drafting and going off the front every so often, then coming back, and I was constantly resisting the urge to stay next to him, just staying on my pace. I'm glad I did, because I stayed mostly flat until the last two minutes, and barely had anything left to elevate for that. After the finish I was having dry heaves.

(this is a hilly course, if you can't tell -- RunFar TT course in Austin)

frenchyge

Flat power on a hilly course -- interesting. That's some PM discipline right there!

Here's a thread discussing why that might not be the best approach if fastest time is the goal. http://www.cyclingforums.com/t271390.html

Average power testing is another story, however.

thekgb

just curious...what was his w/kg? i didn't see his weight in the blog section.

-Mike

waterrockets

Yeah, this was for testing for sure. I'm all over the variable pacing for a TT

Steve_B

Good write up, Alex. Too bad for your mate.

Perhaps I missed it in the pictures but I can't see the SRM computer anywhere. (Maybe in that last photo of him on the bike?) I realize that he was concentrating on the track and not staring at a display but other than his coach yelling at him, did he have a chance to look at the SRM display (or other information) and tell he was running a bit "hot"? Might it have mattered to him if he did see it?

Will he try again?

Yojimbo_

Interesting report.

What strikes me is why someone as experienced and capable as this chap would ignore his coach's advice and then blow up on the most important ride of his life.

Alex Simmons

Some athlete's are very headstrong.

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daveryanwyoming

Great write up and analysis Alex. Dang what've I gotta do to get my CdA down to 0.2??? I rode a 40K last summer with an AP over 290 and only managed about 41.5 kph. I take it Dunc Gray is indoors on wood? Still, that's one slippery bloke.

-Dave

Alex Simmons

You can see the SRM cranks in the picture of the bike on the rack. The PCV is nestled between the aero bars and is hard to see (esp as it's black as well).

He is considering another attempt.

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sogood

At least the coach can't be blamed for not hitting the objective. Room for "I told you so".

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Alex Simmons

Yes, while I haven't done a full analysis - I suspect his CdA is something like 0.195-0.200. Certainly it must be < 0.21.

0.2 and below is very slippery indeed.

Based on the temp, pressure and humidity on the day I calculated air density to be 1.174 kg/m^3 at the time of the attempt.

So before anyone thinks they too can go that quick on such small power, you better be very streamlined as well.

Yes DGV is a standard, world class indoor wooden velodrome. No climate control though, so you go with whatever the conditions are on the day.

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rmur17

just give him a good smack up the side of the head next time and tell him to listen!!!

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