How to Ride a Time Trial on a Bicycle
The time trial is often called "the race of truth" by cyclists. It's just one rider against the clock over a specified course and distance. Riding a time trial requires planning, training, and a good strategy.
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Instructions
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Select a time trial to ride. Depending on your local bicycling scene, you may have many to choose from, or some travel may be involved. Check with local bike clubs or local bike shops for information on time trials and the racing scene in your area. The Web is also a good resource -- USA Cycling's Web site is a good starting point for your search (see Resources below).
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Register for your race. Depending on the race, it may be necessary to pay an entry fee and pre-register, or, in the case of many local races, you may just be able to show up the day of the time trial and do your thing. Check to be sure you qualify -- in some cases, specific licenses are required for bicycle racing events.
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Train for the time trial. Take into account the distance of the event and your current fitness and comfort level on the bicycle. Be sure you are prepared to go into the race before you do it. It's a good idea to do a few trial runs, and train to ride hard for more than the distance of the race -- this provides you an extra measure of fitness.
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Prepare your race strategy. Time trials don't have a lot of strategy -- you just go as fast as you can from the start to the finish. However, depending on the course and your strengths and weaknesses, there are things you can do to ensure the best performance. If you're good on hills, attack them when you ride. If you're a good descender, try to take advantage of that. Be sure to know the course layout so that you can judge your effort at the beginning. Practice riding in the drops to cheat the wind.
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Prepare your bike. Some cyclists will have specific bikes for time trials. Even if you don't, make the most of your bike. Drop extra weight, such as saddlebags, bottle cages and lights. Pump up your tires to max inflation for less rolling resistance. Wear tight-fitting cycling clothing to lessen wind resistance. If your training gives you the time, consider adding aerobars onto your bike to allow a more aerodynamic riding position.
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Tips & Warnings
Training is the best way to improve your time trialing -- so train diligently and know how it feels to ride hard.
