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Yeah

The VOS course was flat out and back as well. Not perfectlly flat, it's a bit of a dome but not significant. If I remember correctly there was a bit of headwind going out.

Why are you going with shorter carbon cranks? Most people use their standard length or longer.

 

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I've used 54s and 55s

The courses that I do normally have some kind of hill and because of that I went with the larger ring, HUH!?? If you go uphill you have to go down hill and last year I had trouble generating power at cadences above 100 rpms, back issues and bad set up were the cause and I think I have them fixed for this season. So I was getting spun out going over like 32-33 mph DOWNHILL. I can't sustain that speed on the flats. I think I like the 54 the best cause it matches my torque curve, if there is such a thing, the best. The 53 requires a little to much spin for me. I do have a 56T in the garage.

It sucks but the best way to train and compare efforts that remove a lot of variable is to watts. Your watts at your Lactate Threshold will provide the INDICATOR of performance.

I haven't compared TT avg speeds with TTs but in TTs you can get away with using a larger chain ring as there is a lot less accelarating out of corners. I would guess my avg TT speed is higher than crits because of corners and the whims of the pack.

 

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Which part of DOWNHILL didn't you get.

unless you're pros that nobody has ever heard of because you're training in complete seclusion, there is NO need for anything bigger than a 53 for a time trial. i'm sorry, but you cannot tell me in any way that you are "spun out" in a 53 at 32mph. if you have back problems that limit you to 90-100rpm how can you make enough power to sustain that speed anyway? downhills are one thing, but there is no way you can maintain that on the flats and not have a contract. admit it, the 55 is something you bought so you can look cool, right?

Believe me, I've done my share of TTs and training with a powermeter. When I start spinning about 95-100 rpm I can't sustain my TT wattage and therefore I go slower than if I was spinning, with a larger gear, at a lower cadence. That's why I like a 54. It keeps my cadence lower 80-85 rpms is where I work best. You are correct. I can not maintain 32 mph on the flats and if you reread the post you will discover that I never claimed to. I am a pack meat Cat 3 at best and when I'm on form I usually only avg. around 27 on the flats.

I bought my TT bike from a pro and it came with a 55 on it and he was nice enough to throw in a 54 for me. I tried the 55 for 2 races and didn't think it was right for me. I did think I was pretty cool with it though.

And as for the watts question for TTUG, your watts produced at LT (sustained power) is the best indicator of performance for a TT, actually watts per kg. All things being equal aerodynamics, wind, course, desire, motivation, everything, generally the person with the better watts per kg will cover the distance in a shorter time. That's GENERALLY and that's why it's an indicator.

 

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Funny

Go nuts. Get a custom ring and see if you can go 60x10?!?!?!?Hey the skies the limit.

My buddy has this huge 64 and raced it in one of the local TT series. He went pretty slow and didn't look so good when was done.

 

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I think it has a lot to do with cadence

Merckx set the hour record in a 52x14. BIG RATIOS ARE A WASTE unless you have HUGE TALENT TO PUSH THE HUGE RATIO its sort of cute to watch

Spinners like lance or mashers like Jan. You're throwing your opinion around like it's a fact but I haven't heard anything that would suggest you have anything to back up your opinion. Are you really trying to relate a track ride 25 years ago to anything that's done now on the road. Before Merckx did that people thought 52 was huge.

Here's some pretty good numbers for you to crunch. When you're done you can tell me what's possible and impossiible for "club" riders and masters. BTW I think the winner of the 35+ race is like 42. I was 3rd in the 3s. Before you really freak out the course was not 40k it was 37k and rolling like everything around here. And another thing, you picked up on the 32 mph from me when I clearly stated, twice, that it's not an average but when I'm going DOWNHILL. It was pretty windy in 04. My 03 time was 51:26, conditions were better. Must be the thin air. ;-)
http://www.americancycling.org/results/2004/jun/state-TT.htm

 

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Geez

the kind of info. i was asking about.
thank you. encouraging news..

Why didn't you just ask? ;-) I agree. An avg of 25 mph your first time out is an admirable goal.