Training for Time Trials

[RoadRaven]

Whew! I suppose it is safe to say that if the TT is indoors, all that aero stuff doesn't matter? That I better work on the power? (Yea, I know, clipless!!! But ya know, it's even more fun to go hard in sneakers... I could tape myself in like in Breaking away, maybe?)

I don't know about indoor TTs, never having ridden indoors at all (though the local club and council are making exciting sounds about a velodrome for this region).

I imagine the aerodynamics are important, but in a different way.

Outdoors you have the wind eddying and shifting, the temperature, cars creating drafts and swirls, inconsistency in road surface, gradations...

Indoors the surface, the air resistance, flatness of course are all consistent...

Any experienced indoor racers shed some light on the aero indoor/outdoor question?

Def clip in pedals/shoes/cleats will improve your speed and power output once you have mastered them. No question.

[Eden]

I don't know about indoor TTs, never having ridden indoors at all (though the local club and council are making exciting sounds about a velodrome for this region).

I imagine the aerodynamics are important, but in a different way.

Outdoors you have the wind eddying and shifting, the temperature, cars creating drafts and swirls, inconsistency in road surface, gradations...

Indoors the surface, the air resistance, flatness of course are all consistent...

Any experienced indoor racers shed some light on the aero indoor/outdoor question?

Def clip in pedals/shoes/cleats will improve your speed and power output once you have mastered them. No question.

I think Geonz's indoor tt was on computrainers... (or something similar) since you aren't actually moving forward no amount of aero gear will do much of anything

As far as indoors in a velodrome goes - yes! aero equipment and positioning will help you! If it didn't the pros wouldn't use it. Even without the inconsistancies in airflow outside you still need to overcome air resistance. Because its safer (no side winds) track racers inside can even use two solid disc wheels. The guys going for the hour record even go as far as to go to a velodrome in Mexico City (I think) because it is the highest elevation velodrome and the air is thinner there. Its debatable whether the decreased air resistance is offset or not by the fact that there is also less oxygen at that elevation.