by Gary Tingley -"Every second counts" and efficient time trial turnarounds can lead to quicker TT times. Practicing turnarounds can also lead to more confident bike handling. In the off season I practice the following routine on a closed street with a road cone. I've found that the fastest way to navigate a turnaround is to
- Approach the turnaround as far to the right of the course as you can ride
- Keep your speed up until the very last moment
- Shift up two or three cogs, then sit up and get on the brake hoods
- Brake, pass the cone by one meter, look over your left shoulder, then begin to corner
- Scrub just enough speed to corner and take a tight line with the cone on your left
- Sprint back up to speed, out of the saddle
- Get back up to speed quickly and then get back into the aerobars
- Shift down and quickly settle into your TT pace
Gary Tingley is a USA Cycling Certified Level 2 / CPBT Power-based Training Coach, 6x Calif state Time Trial Champion (ITT/TTT), 2x USAC Masters Road Nationals medalist, and USCF road Cat. 2 cyclist. http://www.garytingley.com/
