| 1. Don't go too hard at the start. It is a common | | | | difficult things. The concentration required involves |
| mistake that beginners to time trialling start too hard. | | | | keeping yourself within a threshold of pain. The |
| It is easy to be over enthusiastic at the start of a | | | | problem is that in time trials you have nothing to |
| race. However what happens is that if you sprint | | | | chase or follow. You have to be your own motivator. |
| from the start you will build up lactic acid in your legs | | | | 5. Practice Cornering. You can save yourself some |
| right from the beginning. This initial burst of speed will | | | | "free" seconds by practicing cornering and gradually |
| then slow you down for the rest of the race. | | | | increasing your capacity and cornering ability. At the |
| 2. Good Mental Attitude. A good cycling friend of | | | | same time you don't want to take unnecessary risks, |
| mine, spends most of time road racing. His attitude | | | | if it is wet I will take roundabouts quite cautiously, 1 |
| to time trials is that it helps "if you can have your | | | | or 2 seconds isn't worth the risk of a broken arm or |
| brain removed." I think this is a little harsh, but you | | | | worse. |
| do need a strong will to keep pushing yourself. Don't | | | | 6. Power Meter A power meter is more useful for |
| let negative thoughts take hold when racing. | | | | gauging effort than a heart rate monitor. A heart |
| 3. Steady Pace. The real trick to time trialling is to be | | | | rate monitor is an unreliable guide to effort. For |
| able to keep a constant effort. This constant power | | | | example at the start of a race your heart rate will |
| output may lead to quite different speeds, but it | | | | take time to build up. If you strain to reach your |
| becomes the most effective mechanism to get a | | | | "race heart rate" you will probably expend too much |
| quicker time. However there are exceptions. If you | | | | effort. Also remember your heart rate can fluctuate |
| are going very fast downhill, you will probably find | | | | due to changes in the weather e.t.c. A power meter |
| your power output goes down a little. This is OK | | | | is the best guide to the effort you are putting in. |
| because to increase your speed going downhill will | | | | 7. Practice It is only through riding time trials that you |
| have a correspondingly larger effect on aerodynamic | | | | learn how to listen to your body and judge when |
| drag. However the basic principle is to maintain a | | | | you have made sufficient effort. This comes with |
| constant effort throughout the race. | | | | practice. |
| 4. Don't lose Concentration. This is one of the more | | | | |