Former Tour pro sets masters hour record

Former Tour pro sets masters hour record

Norman Alvis rides 49.392km at age 54

Norm Alvis keeps his 53/13 gear turning en route to a new masters world hour record

Courtesy Norman Alvis

Ben Delaney

Published: October 2, 2017 at 11:59 pm
Norm Alvis keeps his 53/13 gear turning en route to a new masters world hour record - Courtesy Norman Alvis
Alvis tried once earlier this year and came up with a US masters record of 48.112m but fell short of the world record - Courtesy Norman Alvis
Alvis trained primarily on his rollers at home for his hour attempt - Courtesy Norman Alvis
Alvis spent considerable time tinkering with his gear and position - Courtesy Norman Alvis
Giro's Aerohead time trial helmet was employed for the effort - Courtesy Norman Alvis
Alvis did not use a wind tunnel to dial in his position. Instead, he filmed himself on the rollers against a static backdrop - Courtesy Norman Alvis
Like other riders, Alvis found an ISM saddle to be far preferable to a normal saddle for an extended TT effort - Courtesy Norman Alvis
The front end of the Argon 18 with Zero Wake pursuit bars - Courtesy Norman Alvis
Alvis, a former US road champion, Olympian and Tour de France rider, still loves racing - Courtesy Norman Alvis
To practice riding right on the velodrome line, Alvis taped lines onto his rollers and garage floor - Courtesy Norman Alvis
Alvis celebrates his world masters hour record in Colorado Springs - Courtesy Norman Alvis

On Friday, 54-year-old Norman Alvis set a world masters hour record of 49.392km at the indoor velodrome in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Instead of using a wind tunnel to dial in his position, Alvis, a former Tour de France professional, used his iPhone to film himself riding on rollers in his garage.

It was his second attempt this year, and a comeback of sorts from his time as a professional — Alvis, who went to the Olympics in the team time trial, held the US hour record of 51.505km from 1997 until Tom Zirbel beat that with 53.037km in 2016.

Hour record attempts have seen a resurgence in recent years after popular then-pro rider Jens Voigt set a new record (51.110km) in 2014, followed by records by Matthias Brändle, Rohan Dennis, Alex Dowsett and, finally, Bradley Wiggins, who set the current world record of 54.526km in London in 2015.

Alvis celebrates his world masters hour record in Colorado Springs - Courtesy Norman Alvis

In US amateur racing, 'masters' denotes age-group competition, and Alvis' time was good enough for not only his 50+ age group but the 40+ and 30+ age groups as well.

"I’ll bet Wiggins is kicking himself for riding in the pro category instead of 30-34 when he had the chance," Alvis joked afterward.

Evelyn Stevens set the current women's world hour record of 47.980km at the same Colorado Springs track in 2016.

Alvis' background

Alvis raced professionally from 1989 to 1998 for 7-Eleven, Motorola and Saturn. He competed in the 1990 Tour de France, and the 1990, 1992 and 1993 Giro d'Italia. He won the US national road race in 1995.

"The experience helps heaps," Alvis said of his background's effect on his hour record as a 54-year-old. "A smooth pedal stroke and the ability to relax more at effort are probably the biggest factors."

Alvis, a former US road champion, Olympian and Tour de France rider, still loves racing - Courtesy Norman Alvis

"Knowing seemingly small items that have an impact comes from years of trying to find performance improvement," he said. "An example is riding rollers in the TT position so I’m solidly on the black line throughout my ride."

Preparation and last-minute chaos

Alvis trained 8 to 10 hours a week for the 90 days leading into his record attempts. His first attempt in June 2017 resulted in 48.112km — good enough for a new US masters hour record but still about 800m short of Pascal Montier’s then-record 48.892 km.

"I dutifully awoke most days at 4:30 to 5am so I could either ride my rollers in the garage or go to my local track. I varied my riding between a road bike and track bike as training was punctuated with local weekend criteriums," Alvis said. "My training indicated that even in my aero position I would be able to produce 300 to 320 watts for an hour."

To practice riding right on the velodrome line, Alvis taped lines onto his rollers and garage floor - Courtesy Norman Alvis

"Frankly, I felt a bit stupid in how I went about this but also a bit common sensical," he said. "I did not use a wind tunnel. I rode my rollers more than the track or the road and I set up my iPhone to record it. Then I made sure I had a static background to compare positions. Harvey Nitz (one of my heroes) always said rollers are a poor man's motor pacing. So I guess I'll say rollers and an iPhone are a poor man's wind tunnel."

On the day of the successful attempt, UCI officials told Alvis that he had to shorten his aero extensions by 5cm. He did so, but also removed his Garmin Edge computer and forgot to replace it before his time started.

Alvis did not use a wind tunnel to dial in his position. Instead, he filmed himself on the rollers against a static backdrop - Courtesy Norman Alvis

As with any hour-record attempt, Alvis started from a dead start. He chose a 53t chainring and a 13t cog. Without a computer, Alvis couldn't pace himself with the power data coming from his Stages meter. Instead, he went on feel and the time splits that were being called out to him trackside.

"I'm looking forward to next year when I age up so I can try for the 55-59 category," Alvis said. "There are a few more efficiencies to be had so I think +50km is a real possibility."

Alvis' bike, clothing, shoe and helmet specs

Alvis spent considerable time tinkering with his gear and position - Courtesy Norman Alvis

  • Frameset: Argon 18 Electron Pro
  • Tubulars: Vittoria Pista EVO CL, 19mm front and 22mm rear, 180psi
  • Disc wheels: Mavic Comet, front and rear
  • Chain: UFO
  • Cranks: Vision alloy track cranks, 170mm
  • Chainring: Vision, 53t
  • Cog: Dura-Ace, 13t
  • Power meter: Stages
  • Computer: Garmin - inadvertently left off for hour ride
  • Handlebars: Zero Wake modular Argon 18 pursuit bars
  • Pedals: Speedplay Aero
  • Saddle: ISM 1.1
  • Shoes: Giro SLX
  • Socks: no Pinz
  • Skinsuit: Specialized Evade
  • Helmet: Giro Aerohead

Ben Delaney

Contributor

Ben Delaney is a journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for and editing some of the biggest publications in cycling. Having studied journalism at the University of New Mexico, Ben has worked for Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, VeloNews and BikeRadar. He has also previously worked as Global Brand Communications Manager for Specialized. Ben covers all things road and gravel, and can be found logging big miles in the Rocky Mountains that nestle alongside his home in Boulder, Colorado. He has covered the most important bike races in the sport, from the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders, to the Unbound gravel race, and specialises in tech content, showcasing what the pros are riding and putting everyday equipment through its paces.
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