TTOY

[BHarick]

I'm sure I missed this some where, but what happened to the time trialist of the year competition?
Barb

[Admin]

I think it died.

[KSchaeffer]

Dave Thimsen decided to end it due to lack of participation and enthusiasm. You are the first person to ask about it, so I surmise that he was correct...

Skibbydoesntmissttoyeither

[dthimsen]

Actually, it might be more accurate to say it was suspended for 2008.

One of the purposes of the competition was to get track riders to ride the road time trials. There were only two long time trials on the MCF calendar this year: one in May and the State Road TT on June 7. At the encouragement of the Minnesota Bike Fest folks, we promoted an elite national track event, the Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic on June 7-8, the weekend before the Nature Valley Grand Prix. The track event was a great success and a good time was had by all. We plan on holding it again in 2009 but the date may change.

Unsurprisingly, none of the local track riders wanted to ride the Minnesota State Road Time Trial on the morning of June 7 and then the Fixed Gear Classic in the evening. Ergo, a major objective of the competition would not be met.

If there is a long road time trial (~40 km) in 2009 that doesn't conflict with a national class track event at the velodrome, we'll look at doing the TTOY again in 2009.

Cheers,
David Thimsen

[BHarick]

Can't do the Sate TT & Fixed Gear?!....wimps. Yes, that was unfortunate tehy fell on the same date. Well good, I'm glad it will be back.
Barb

[dthimsen]

As long as I brought up the topic of long time trials (~40k), why aren't there more each year? Time trials seem to be popular (and much easier to organize than multiple category road races). Most, however, are shorter:

Black Dog TT - 11k
Hamel TT - 20k
Henderson TT - 24k
Wrenshall TT - 26k
Granite Country TT - 13k
Synergy TT - 40k and 20k (It's in the middle of May. Who's peaking then?)

Possible explainations:

- Difficult to permit and police a 40k route?
- If it weren't a State Championship, no one would show up for a 40k TT: more pain than it's worth?
- Only TRI's want to do long time trials?
- Other?

I'd be interested in comments from promoters.

Cheers,
David Thimsen