7 Easy Ways To Improve Your Time Trial Performance

Do you love TTs but want to ride faster? The answer: ride smarter, not harder! Ollie has seven top tips to improve your time trialling skills, from perfecting your TT position and learning the best pacing strategy, to planning and scheduling around the event. You’ll be flying like Remco Evenepoel or Marlen Reusser in no time!

00:00 Intro
00:40 Choose your weapon
01:36 Position is everything
03:21 Recon your route
05:03 Set a schedule
06:50 Pace yourself
09:06 Use photos & videos
11:29 Don’t self-sabotage

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Do you have any TT tips of your own? 🚴 Let us know in the comments below! 💬

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📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sprint Cycling Agency

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[gcn]

Do you have any TT tips of your own? 🚴

[peterdraper]

My very first time trial (indeed my very first competitive cycle event) coming up on Sunday - a 12 hour time trial. At the age of 65! Wish me luck!

[andrewmcalister]

Ollie at his most passionate. TT’ing. ❤🏆

[stephenberghash]

One tip I've learned over the years, is to listen to the sound of the air/wind going by your helmet and body. When you are riding at your most aero, especially your head position, the sound is quietest. You can actually hear the difference. Try it.

[davidf]

Ollie is one of the few people that can make tips videos that aren't just ten minutes of the bleedin' obvious. Thumbs up.
Also: 10 miles in 18 minutes is 33mph! That's bananas.

[bobbysilver]

You have to learn to be able to accept that riding a TT as fast as you can will be painful. You can tolerate more than you think. Don't focus on still another 8 or 22 miles to go etc. Focus on the next mile or on the next hill or uphill drag. (This is all part of pacing, but once you have at least some basic fitness, a TT is often a mental challenge as much as a physical one).

[GeeFunk]

Slightly off-topic, but I like wearing an aero-type helmet at all times, even in a really upright position. The simple reason being is that with that interchangeable shield I can wear my prescription glasses underneath. For the longest time I was just wearing simple protective goggles, so it was an either/or situation (because I don't like contact lenses), but since I switched to one of these aero-mimicking helmets I can see where I'm going.

[ktube]

TT has more to do with positioning than anything, I'd love to see an off the bike series on tips and body work to do that'll help. Main thing I learned over my TT years, lower isn't always faster, smaller is faster. They're independent of each other. If your head is low but your shoulders are 4 inches wider, vs head 1 inch higher, but shoulders 4 inches shrugged because you can relax more, do that. If you're lower AND smaller, then you're a lucky one.

[thsaintful]

Ollie is such a good presenter. always is. thanks for sharing these tips!!

[devidia]

I almost lost it when he took off his visor and said 'who isn't gonna swap right for this'. Comical genius

[leonbroekx]

I love TT content. Thank you, Ollie. And keep this coming.

[twilightofthegods]

Good one Ollie! Not overly technical, just straight up good advise. Thanks!

[nicolasvandermeer]

I love watching Ollie when he’s talking TT, never seen someone enjoy suffering so much 😂

Any tips for the ITT/Kilo on the track?

[thsaintful]

the most important one here is the list of times to do what. really. helps so much to know upfront what comes when and it helps you be relaxed and feel good about the actual race !

[adrianfox]

Excellent video I’m always looking to learn more about time trials 😎

[kaltonian]

nice 1 olli, some good tips for those that are new to tt's, most don't like riding in them, but unfortunately in the big races it's part & parcel of the race, go strong were most don't like, head wind as Olli pointed out & strong uphill, practice cornering on a tt bike & descending, avoid those painted road markings as they can be lethal on a wet day, most of all enjoy the experience

[robertnobles]

I love the seated attack. The visual antagonism in the pack can also be blunted by using the moments when the pack can’t see you to your advantage.

[pritchardstephenr]

Pick an advantageous course. When I set my 18:57 pb 20 years ago it was on a glass flat out only course with a prevailing tail wind. I think I beat my "natural" time by about a minute thanks to that

Plan for an ambulance or at least an oxygen supply at the finish. I was breathing through my arse, my eyes and even my ears when I finished.


Had jelly legs for a week afterwards!

[brannmacfinnchad]

Please do a deep dive on the differences in geometry between a UCI TT bike, and a road bike.

[ethangodridge]

Thanks Ollie and look forward to see your progress. I have started dabbling in some TT's myself this summer after only really doing hill climbs and road races. Hoping it makes me an all-round better rider without scarifying too much of my climbing ability as that is what I would say is my best attribute.