John Archibald has clocked one of the fastest 10-mile time trial times in the UK at 17:19, and in this conversation he breaks down exactly how he got there. We dig into the training volume that actually works around a full-time job, the equipment that's worth your money, and the pacing strategies that separate the fast from the very fast.
Key Takeaways
- You don't need 20+ hours a week to be competitive—8-12 hours with consistency and recovery will get you results; the sweet spot is finding what you can sustain without overtraining
- Do your high-intensity intervals in the TT position (75-80% of your session time in the skis), not just on the road bike—this is the only way to learn how to hold power and breathe properly when it matters
- Skip the expensive gear lottery: test your helmet, skin suit, overshoes, and calf guards at a wind tunnel or testing facility first; tires, big chainring, and oversized jockey wheels don't need testing because they work for everyone
- Weight loss below 10kg makes almost no difference to time trial performance—aerodynamics and power matter vastly more, so don't stress minor diet changes
- Pace strategically using tools like Best Bike Split, but adapt for terrain: go hard on hills that drag or have no recovery, and treat corners as free recovery zones by coasting through them rather than braking
- Fuel conservatively for a 10-miler: eat 2.5-3 hours before the race to avoid rebound hypoglycemia, take modest caffeine (150mg for most people, not the 3-6mg/kg recommendation), and skip gels unless you're racing 25 miles or longer
Expert Quotes
"If you reduce your frontal area by lowering stack height and saddle and moving things forwards and backwards, you realize you've reduced your CDA but now you can only put out 20 watts less than you were doing last week—you lose power."
"If the intensity is so hard you have to come out of the skis, it's too hard—that's fast."
"It's only as good as what you can put on paper—results are what matter, not who you could have beaten."