This idea will either fly or flop and vorb is always good for some good-honest-feedback, so here it is...

To develop a national time-trial centre that records the times of individual cyclist’s competing on time-trial courses around New Zealand.

Riders can choose when to ride a particular course and record their own time.

Rider’s can register their times in a national database where they will be ranked within their age categories.

The Time Trial course’s would be graded (like golf courses, river rapids, and ski run’s) so that cyclists could compete on an even playing field. The grading system would take into account factors such as: road surfaces, terrain, number of corners, 360 degree turns etc.
Website set up to support the development of this new idea http://timetrial.co.nz/home/

You can also join and share your thoughts on this Facebook Group http://www.facebook.com/groups/439612076064185/

So kinda like Strava?

Like a big Leaderboard

Gemz wrote:The Time Trial course’s would be graded (like golf courses, river rapids, and ski run’s) so that cyclists could compete on an even playing field. The grading system would take into account factors such as: road surfaces, terrain, number of corners, 360 degree turns etc.

But what about the effects of wind?

mfw wrote: ... But what about the effects of wind?

Double the number of laps to even out wind effect, 4 x 3.25 km.
Alternate course for really windy days, 17 times around the block.

thekiwi wrote:So kinda like Strava?

Yes ideally something like that. But to get started with the concept, details would be recorded how the data was captured, for example, self timed, Garmin, strava, time verified by another person etc.

mfw wrote:But what about the effects of wind?

You choose when you ride and then if you want to post the time.

For those of you at the bottom of the North Island - Course Number 2 is ready to ride in Kapiti. Heads up through the Tunnel of Trees towards Otaki Forks and return. Ride it and set some times... http://timetrial.co.nz/ride-cou/ride-ti ... e/te-horo/

IMO Im not sure what a National database will achieve? Are you going to seed riders based on times? The issues as I see it are that each circuit is unique..and if we are comparing to golf, so are each course. So in reality you are comparing apples with oranges. In ChCh we have a 16km out and back course, dead pan flat on a very dead road. Conditions play such a big role that even the Michael Vinks, Paul Odlins etc can have variations of 2 mins depending on the wind alone.

The concept is great... Just the reality of what it actually means is confusing :-)

This is a 21st Century way to start looking at competitive cycling

With the technology available today it is all doable and we are already in discussions with someone who has done work in this area.

There are several ways to potentially grade a course as there are several forms of data that can be objectively measured.

Also it is extremely cheap to get an "app" made for just about anything these days so this could factor in weather conditions, weight, power and whatever else. So TTNZ riders may have something like this which they would download to their Smart Phone and record their data.

also it is a optional thing.. riders don't have to participate if they think conditions are to variable. this is more to help with TT focus for training etc . IMHO.

great idea, Gemz

In some ways it's not the national ranking aspect that is important - being able to register times and having a sense of community will make a difference to enthusiasm for TTing. Which as we all know is the purest form of cycling competition .

Sounds like a good idea. The idea of seeding riders doesn't need to be the main drive, and if the methods used to 'grade' courses are accurate there could be a good buffer against error anyway. It sounds great for discovering new TT routes, as people will be more willing to share their favs on something like that. And if you're in a different city you can size yourself up against the local times.

Even within TT races there are discrepancies re: conditions. How many times have we seen a pro saying something like 'oh yeah, but the wind picked up during the day...' . With enough data, you'll certainly get a good measure of averages.

Kudos

thekiwi wrote:So kinda like Strava?

Must be just like it . . . .

I logged my club nationals TT and RR (in STRAVA) and suddenly saw a whole lot of people who had raced against me . . . .