• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Become a Premium Member
  • About

Road Bike Rider Cycling Site

Expert road cycling advice, since 2001

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Bikes & Gear
  • Training & Health
  • Reviews
  • Cycling Ebooks
    • Ebooks Training
    • Ebooks Skills
    • E-Articles Training
    • E-Articles Nutrition
  • Member Area
  • Newsletter

Why Should a Fitness Rider Do Training Time Trials?


Time trials aren’t just for Cat. 1 racers and pros. Here are a few good reasons you should add some time trialing to your regular cycling routine even if you typically just ride for fitness and fun.

  • Steady, intense effort is a powerful producer of fitness. Riding at 85-90% of your maximum heart rate for 15-30 minutes will spike your fitness for tours, centuries and weekend group rides.
  • Time trial speed is practical speed. Five miles from home with a thunderstorm bearing down? Time trial to safety before the deluge hits. Suppose you get delayed by a puncture on your evening commute or fitness ride. The ability to ride hard and fast will get you home before the sun sets.
  • A weekly time trial varies your training. Sure, moderately paced rides are enjoyable and not too demanding. But a steady diet of steady riding can bore you and your body. Schedule a weekly effort against the clock and you’ll have something to get excited about. Before long, you’ll notice your cruising speed is creeping up, too.
  • Time trialing improves climbing ability. They’re both continuous, strenuous efforts that reward pacing and concentration. That’s why climbing and time trialing are mutually beneficial. Doing one helps the other.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bill Wightman says

    September 12, 2019 at 10:48 am

    I have to agree completely. I am currently doing a Strava based international 15-week 12 mile TT informal competition. Just getting off your butt, getting out there, and by repetition determining what really matters for new PRs is illuminating. You learn physiologically what works as well as subtle things about the bike. You also learn reasonable HR maximums and what is just too much effort (save that for the finish). Also it is a good “use it or lose it” type activity.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Articles

  • Newsletter Issue No. 1016
  • Anti-Aging: Use It or Lose It, Part 2
  • Saddle Sore Mitigation: Using Multiple Bike Saddles
  • Selle SMP E-Bike and Well Gel Saddles Review

Recent Newsletters

Newsletter Issue No. 1016

Newsletter Issue No. 1015

Newsletter Issue No. 1014

Newsletter Issue No. 1012

Newsletter Issue No. 1011

Footer

Affiliate Disclosure

Our cycling expert editors and writers choose every product we review. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you. This income supports our site.

Follow Us

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Privacy Policy

Still Haven’t Found What You’re Looking For?

Copyright © 2022 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...