My team is contemplating puting on a rather unique race - a 4 person team time trial. I already know the drawbacks and potential logistical problems that this may create from an organizational perspective, but my questions are simple:

Would you be attracted to this type of event? Would you be able to find 3 other people to race it with you? If the rules allowed you to enter only 3 people because only the time of the 3rd person across the line counted, would that make a difference?

Personally, I think it could potentially be a really fun event, but i'd be interested to hear your perspective.

My team is contemplating puting on a rather unique race - a 4 person team time trial. I already know the drawbacks and potential logistical problems that this may create from an organizational perspective, but my questions are simple:

Would you be attracted to this type of event? Would you be able to find 3 other people to race it with you? If the rules allowed you to enter only 3 people because only the time of the 3rd person across the line counted, would that make a difference?

Personally, I think it could potentially be a really fun event, but i'd be interested to hear your perspective.

Sure, I've done a TTT, and it was a blast. Aerobars or no?

Sure, I've done a TTT, and it was a blast. Aerobars or no?

Yep, aero bars would be allowed. I've done a 2 person TTT, but i've never been involved with one that had 4. I just know that they look like serious fun when i'm watching the pros in the grand tours.

Dude, absofreakinlutely. Our club (Reno Wheelmen) does two of them a year (twilights / informal) and they are really a hoot. For someone like me who's only good for thirty seconds or so in the wind, these are awesome. Much different than an individual or even two man TT because you get to absolutely floor it when you are in the wind, and then recover. I'd be all over it and could assure you that we'd bring at least one team down to the race.

I'm assuming that this would be next spring, right? Where? Flat or hilly?

The really cool thing, I think, would be to work one into a stage race.

I've done 100K 4-man TTT's. You need to practice riding with them, or there could be some an ugly accident after 80 or so K's.
If you're just doing it for fun, that's one thing. If you are doing it to be competative, you need to match the team closely. All should have similar 40K times, and all should be able to ride close.
If you want to save a few minutes, the lead rider (when he pulls off), should never drop back. He should force the other riders to "come around" him. This could take 3 or 4 minutes off your 100K time.

Sounds fun to me. When get into good enough shape to race, i'd definately want to do something like that.

Dude, absofreakinlutely. Our club (Reno Wheelmen) does two of them a year (twilights / informal) and they are really a hoot. For someone like me who's only good for thirty seconds or so in the wind, these are awesome. Much different than an individual or even two man TT because you get to absolutely floor it when you are in the wind, and then recover. I'd be all over it and could assure you that we'd bring at least one team down to the race.

I'm assuming that this would be next spring, right? Where? Flat or hilly?

The really cool thing, I think, would be to work one into a stage race.

It looks like we'll be puting on this event during the first weekend of April, before Sea Otter. I will certainly keep everyone posted on our progress and make announcements about the event. They have on in SoCal at Fiesta Island, but nothing like it in NorCal from what I've been able to gather. It will be a flattish TTT with only a few rollers thrown in; most likely an out and back. Personally, I have always wanted to race in something like that so part of the reason we'd be promoting/hosting this event is out of pure fun. I think it has the potential to bring out folks who otherwise would be afraid to race on their own, but would like the support that a team would offer.

I've done 100K 4-man TTT's. You need to practice riding with them, or there could be some an ugly accident after 80 or so K's.
If you're just doing it for fun, that's one thing. If you are doing it to be competative, you need to match the team closely. All should have similar 40K times, and all should be able to ride close.
If you want to save a few minutes, the lead rider (when he pulls off), should never drop back. He should force the other riders to "come around" him. This could take 3 or 4 minutes off your 100K time.

This would be a much shorter event.... under 20 miles total. The teams will be absolutely flying.

There's a 60K 4 man TTT near Chicago every year that's quite popular. There were 44 teams this year.

See the flyer:

http://www.ambikerace.com/2004/flyers/4PersonTTTmg.pdf

and for results:

http://www.ambikerace.com/2004/results/2004_world_championship_60k_ttt.pdf

TF

There's a 60K 4 man TTT near Chicago every year that's quite popular. There were 44 teams this year.

See the flyer:

http://www.ambikerace.com/2004/flyers/4PersonTTTmg.pdf

and for results:

http://www.ambikerace.com/2004/results/2004_world_championship_60k_ttt.pdf

TF

Cool, thanks for the links!

We did 'em all the time in college and while we always shelled one guy, it was a huge comraderie builder, and the average speeds you could put up were pretty awesome. Do it!

Are you in the Monterey area? This would be great. Will it be USCF sanctioned or would you open it to cake eating civilians like myself. If so, I'd love to bring my crew down and fight it out for dead last...

Are you in the Monterey area? This would be great. Will it be USCF sanctioned or would you open it to cake eating civilians like myself. If so, I'd love to bring my crew down and fight it out for dead last...


There will be a "Citizens" category as well so everyone will be able to race. I'm in San Francisco, but the race will be south of S.F. so Monterey is very doable. I travel down for Sea Otter and it's not that bad.

I'm in Marin and will plan the seed with my crew. Sounds like fun.

My team is contemplating puting on a rather unique race - a 4 person team time trial. I already know the drawbacks and potential logistical problems that this may create from an organizational perspective, but my questions are simple:

Would you be attracted to this type of event? Would you be able to find 3 other people to race it with you? If the rules allowed you to enter only 3 people because only the time of the 3rd person across the line counted, would that make a difference?

Personally, I think it could potentially be a really fun event, but i'd be interested to hear your perspective.

They have had three 4man TTT's this summer in SoCal, pretty common. I just did a 20m TTT two weeks ago at Fiesta Island, like I do every year - good times - fun racing

Check out the pics: http://www.clintonphoto.com/subjects/event%20photos/fittt04/

I've done plenty of 4-man TTTs in the collegiate season. They're a lot of fun. If you pu t one on, you will see me there. Please let it not conflict with any WCCC races in spring *crosses fingers*

-- n

sounds like a sweet idea... i'd like to keep tabs on whether the race is on or not, and look into your website if you have one.
also, i suppose it will be posted at ncnca?
thanks, joe mudd

now and then. It is a good team building event and is alot of fun. It forces the team to work together or die together. There is nothing more fun than a well oiled paceline flying down the road working together. Unlike other racing your not playing games with each other, instead your work together so there is not the need to hold back when your on the front. Just plow the wind with all you got for a bit of time and rotate around, recover and do it again.

When your done the team slaps each other on the backs for jobs well done. Even if you come in dead last there is satisfaction. Most of bicycle racing is a solo event. Yes, you may have team tactics and work together to some degree. But, there is always that point in the race where it is no longer team and then only you. The TTT is the only event where it stays as a team from start to finish.

sounds like a sweet idea... i'd like to keep tabs on whether the race is on or not, and look into your website if you have one.
also, i suppose it will be posted at ncnca?
thanks, joe mudd

Our current website is here: www.squadrasf.com

However, we are making a brand new site which will be live in the next few weeks. I think that it will probably exist at the same address though. I will be advertising the heck out of this event though so it will definitely get posted here among other message boards once confirmed and will also be listed at ncnca.org. I've gotten an overwhelmingly positive response thus far at every turn so I really think that this event will have legs. I'm excited to race in it myself. Hopefully, i'll have time among the chaos of trying to make things run smoothly.

Our current website is here: www.squadrasf.com

However, we are making a brand new site which will be live in the next few weeks. I think that it will probably exist at the same address though. I will be advertising the heck out of this event though so it will definitely get posted here among other message boards once confirmed and will also be listed at ncnca.org. I've gotten an overwhelmingly positive response thus far at every turn so I really think that this event will have legs. I'm excited to race in it myself. Hopefully, i'll have time among the chaos of trying to make things run smoothly.

Racers are already talking about this potential 4-man ttt in the Nor-Cal area...
Any progression towards this event happening?

Racers are already talking about this potential 4-man ttt in the Nor-Cal area...
Any progression towards this event happening?

Yes, the event is no longer just "potential"... it's a sure thing. We got the ok from ncnca and the date will be Saturday, July 19th. The location, however, is still not set in stone. Canada Road is still our first option, but we are actively seeking the best possible stretch of road for this event and are open to suggestions. We need an approximately 7.5 mile stretch of road for a ~15 mile out-and-back TT. We need a location that could accomodate parking for up to 300 cars. There should be very little traffic and as few cross streets as possible. It also needs to have a suitable area for the turnaround.

If anyone has any good suggestions, we are all ears. One way or another though, the race will happen and i'm confident that it will be a huge success.

Follow up... I'd suggest having an "open" catagory if that's possible for USCF. The reason being that timetrialers of equivalent strength aren't necessarily all in the same cats. I know in my club the best team for me (an aspiring 3) would have a 2, two 3s and me.

Follow up... I'd suggest having an "open" catagory if that's possible for USCF. The reason being that timetrialers of equivalent strength aren't necessarily all in the same cats. I know in my club the best team for me (an aspiring 3) would have a 2, two 3s and me.

I've thought about how to tackle that issue. In regards to practicality, the only way to really pull it off would be to allow the the mixed groups to race with the Pro1/2s. I'm going to have to go through the rule books, however, to figure out what's really doable. It might turn out that whoever is your highest Cat is the Cat in which you'd have to race. In other words, if you have one Cat3 and three Cat4s then you'd have to race as Cat3. Again, i'll have to verify what is and what isn't legal, however, and it's possible that no mixing is allowed. We'll definitely try to accomodate as many people as possible.

come to think of it, just keep the masters cats open, ala the district TT (though you probably don't want to have 5 year age cutoffs?). I'm lobbying for 30+ open...

. It might turn out that whoever is your highest Cat is the Cat in which you'd have to race. In other words, if you have one Cat3 and three Cat4s then you'd have to race as Cat3. .
Yes... that is how the Pinole 2 man ttt is done... the rider of the highest ranked category determines the placed result. example: a cat 2 + a cat 4 = cat 2 team result as listed.
Thanks also for the swift response on this as I am certain many others are looking forward to the race as I .

One thing to consider for this race locale .... the wind factor that kicks in during the late mornings/ early afternoons in july, which is of course stronger in some areas ( Monterey) than others ( the flats off 505...Winters;Esparto, for example)

Also, have you disscussed team entry fee?

My team here in San Jose has a Winter series that goes from the end of October to the middle of Februaury and we have a 4 person TTT along with a mixture of crits, RR, and ITT. It gets a good turn out. I personally don't do the 4 man TTT but I know alot of people who do.

My team here in San Jose has a Winter series that goes from the end of October to the middle of Februaury and we have a 4 person TTT along with a mixture of crits, RR, and ITT. It gets a good turn out. I personally don't do the 4 man TTT but I know alot of people who do.

I am familiar with that training series. Unfortunately, the course is not ideal for our purposes as the teams are doing laps.