Indoor Time Trial Series at Cool Breeze Cyclery

Fall has come and Winter is approaching. Depending on your location, this could mean moving your cycling indoors. Most riders migrate to a Cyclops or other type of indoor Training. This is a great way to train indoors but lacks motivational effort if you are wanting to maintain a competitive riding style.

There are various local Bike Shops that have stepped up to the plate to address the competition issue. These shops have invested in Computrainer Studios. The studios consist of 3 – 8 stand alone computrainer platforms and allow cyclist to train indoors and also compete against the overhead video screen in which other riders are riding against.

The smart bike shops such as Cool Breeze Cyclery in Mooresville, NC have implemented Winter Indoor Time Trial Series. Local riders now have a great place to go and compete for times in a climate controlled atmosphere. The series generally last for 3 – 4 months which is perfect for keeping up good conditioning during the Winter off season. To make it even more competitive and to provide a challenge, Cool Breeze even offers prizes to the top finishers.

(more…)

Team Time Trial Training Tips –

Team Time Trial Paceline Road Atlanta

Pacelines take maximum advantage of the “drag” effect of the cyclists to the front.

The cyclist in the front travels at the group pace, when no longer able to do so, pulls off to the left and drifts back to the end of the paceline.

The draft envelope behind a single bicycle is about six feet long. The closer your front wheel is to the rear wheel of the rider ahead of you, the stronger the draft.

Riding in a pace line draft can save 20 to 30% of your energy output. allows the group to travel at higher speeds. Concentration is essential. smoothness. trust. All the riders have to be confident that the others in the group will communicate well and ride safely. Not slowly, safely.

If you re not as strong as other cyclists, your turn may be much shorter than the norm.

Two mistakes to avoid are:
1. Staying in front so long you slowly decrease the group speed
2. Staying at the front so long you re cooked by the time you pull over and as a result can’t keep up when you get to the back of the group.

The Golden Rules of Pace Line Riding
1. Be predictable
Follow a straight line or the obvious racing line. Maintain a consistent direction of motion and avoid weaving.
2. Don’t look back
The only time you should need to look back is when you are the lead rider and you are planning to fall back; in this case, you should look back briefly to ensure that there are is not another team behind you; as you look back, keep your speed steady.

Once you have cleared the front of the pace line, decrease your speed and get to the back quickly for a deserved rest.

(more…)

Cervelo P4 ready to roll – Can you say Bad Fast?

The P4 as in Cervelo P4 has arrived. You Bet, I want one!!! Just can’t afford it quite yet.

Cervelo has rocked the cycling world yet again with this amazing framework. This frame is as aero as any I have seen. Complete with hideaway components and cables. The rear brakes are integrated into the frame design. This is a huge aerodynamic wind factor. Cervelo also included an integrated hydration bottle into the frame. Again, another anti aero drag factor. Wind tunnel test have proven the bike to be faster with the bottle than without.

I have been hearing some significant time gains over a 40k time trial. We are talking 30 – 45 seconds. That’s just sick!!

It appears that pre-orders are about to open up and perhaps you could see a frame or two in the LBS by early January 09. Maybe sooner, fingers crossed.

Lowe’s Motor Speedway – Team Time Trial Video

Once a year the Carolina Time Trial Organization promotes a team time trail event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. This year I participated as a rider on Team Wachovia. There were 19 teams in the event including mens, womens and mixed double teams. Our team had one practice session which consisted of 3 riders. This ultimately hurt us because we had trouble staying in a tight pace line. Overall, it was a good experience and we learned what we needed in order to ride competively next year.

Team Time Trials at Lowes Motor Speedway

Kudos to all the teams that rode together and finished the event.

Thanks to Jennifer for recording the event with her camcorder.

Enjoy.

John