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How Long Does it Take to Close a 1 Minute Gap
As you pass the feed zone, someone yells, "1 minute!". How long will it take you to close the gap? Do you have enough road before the finish line? Use the Stuzio Cheat Chart.
Here is a hypothetical race situation: a break of 5 men is up the road and you are in a chase group. You are rolling through a feed zone when someone yells, "1 minute".
The 1 minute information you received is valuable but that does not tell the whole story. For example, what if you got this information going up hill crawling at 10 mph? Does 1 minute gap mean same if you are cruising at 30 mph? What if you are only 5 miles from the finish? Do you have enough distance to close the gap? How fast do you need go to close the gap before the finish line?
These are all important questions to assess the race situation. The answer requires at least 5th grade mathematics which is not an easy cerebral task during a race. So, here is a cheat sheet.
First, what does 1 minute gap really mean? How long does it take to close a 1 minute gap? The obvious answer is 1 minute. However, this in only true if the feed zone timer (refer to as timer from now on) started the clock and immediately crashed the break riders to the ground and held them down. Then it will take exactly 1 minute for chase group to catch up. Good in theory, not likely.
Another primer: if break was going 20 mph and chase is going 20 mph with 1 minute gap, then they will never catch. The catch occurs only as chase speed becomes higher than the break speed. Duh.
In a simplified problem space, there are 4 variables that factor into the answer:
T
Time to close the gap
S1
Speed of chase group when timer yells the split. Technically, this is an average speed of the chase group during the time period equal to the gap that timer yells out prior to the chase.
S2
Speed of the chase group after the timer yells in order to close the gap.
Sb
Speed of the break away group (S2 - Sb is difference in speed between break and chase group: S delta)
Tgap
Time gap that timer yells out
Ok, enough math. Here is the formula in english.
Bigger the gap, longer it takes to close the gap. Duh!
It takes more time to close a 10 minute gap than a 1 minute gap given same speed differential between chase and break.
Higher the speed, longer it takes to close the gap at same speed difference.
For example, timer yells 1 minute gap as you are going up hill at 10 mph. Then you increase your speed to 12 mph (2 mph differential). It will take you 5 minutes to close the gap assuming the break keeps the constant speed. However, if the initial speed was 30 mph when you hear the gap and then increase your speed to 32 mph (same 2 mph differential), it will take you 15 minutes to close the gap.
Keep in mind that the speed to factor in should be an average speed. For example, when timer tells 1 minute, you should use the average speed in last 1 minute as your base. If there is a small dip on the road and timer happen to stand at the bottom to yell out the gap, you shouldn’t use the instantaneous speed at the timer spot.
Higher the speed, more distance it takes to close the gap at same speed difference.
Again, the timer yells 1 minute as you are going 10 mph up hill. You increase the speed 2 mph and it takes you 5 minutes in 1 mile to close the gap. Now if you are cruising at 30 mph and timer yells 1 minute. You increase your speed by same amount to 32 mph. Now it will take you 15 minutes and
8 miles
to close the gap (vs. 1 mile in uphill scenario). In other words, in an uphill finish, you can close a time gap in a very short amount of distance (1 mile to go) If the race ends with a long high speed down hill, 1 minute represents a longer distance to close and there may not be enough road to close the gap since there's practical limitations to how fast you can go on a bicycle.
Closing a gap is really a problem of closing the distance between the 2 groups. Logically, 1 minute at high speed is longer distance than 1 minute at low speed. In terms of effort, increasing the speed when already at high speed becomes exponentially difficult. This is true for both break group and chase. On the contraray, 1 minute at very low speed such as long up hill represents a short distance. This is why on up hill, even a small increase in speed makes big difference. Also, in a long uphill, a break may seem very near but it could take a long time to close if speed differenece is small.
Ok, there are a lot of scenarios that this formula applies, but here is a simple set of charts to get the raw answers.
Here is instruction on how to use these charts.
1. Go to chart with time gap (1 minute, 2 minute...)
2. On the first left column, find the average speed at which you are cruising when you hear time gap.
3. Go across the bottom row to speed difference between break and chase.
4. The intersection tells you the time and distance needed to close the gap.
So, lets say you are crusing at 25 mph when timer yells 1 minute. Then you increase your speed to 30 mph (5 mph delta) in order to close the gap. If you follow the 1 minute gap chart (see blue cells), it will take you 5 minutes and 2.5 miles to close the gap.
1 Minute Gap
mph
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
40
40
27.3
20.0
14.0
13.3
9.6
10.0
7.3
8.0
6.0
6.7
5.1
5.7
4.5
5.0
4.0
4.4
3.6
4.0
3.3
37
37
23.4
18.5
12.0
12.3
8.2
9.3
6.3
7.4
5.2
6.2
4.4
5.3
3.9
4.6
3.5
4.1
3.2
3.7
2.9
35
35
21.0
17.5
10.8
11.7
7.4
8.8
5.7
7.0
4.7
5.8
4.0
5.0
3.5
4.4
3.1
3.9
2.9
3.5
2.6
32
32
17.6
16.0
9.1
10.7
6.2
8.0
4.8
6.4
3.9
5.3
3.4
4.6
3.0
4.0
2.7
3.6
2.4
3.2
2.2
30
30
15.5
15.0
8.0
10.0
5.5
7.5
4.3
6.0
3.5
5.0
3.0
4.3
2.6
3.8
2.4
3.3
2.2
3.0
2.0
27
27
12.6
13.5
6.5
9.0
4.5
6.8
3.5
5.4
2.9
4.5
2.5
3.9
2.2
3.4
2.0
3.0
1.8
2.7
1.7
25
25
10.8
12.5
5.6
8.3
3.9
6.3
3.0
5.0
2.5
4.2
2.2
3.6
1.9
3.1
1.7
2.8
1.6
2.5
1.5
23
23
9.2
11.5
4.8
7.7
3.3
5.8
2.6
4.6
2.1
3.8
1.9
3.3
1.6
2.9
1.5
2.6
1.4
2.3
1.3
20
20
7.0
10.0
3.7
6.7
2.6
5.0
2.0
4.0
1.7
3.3
1.4
2.9
1.3
2.5
1.2
2.2
1.1
2.0
1.0
17
17
5.1
8.5
2.7
5.7
1.9
4.3
1.5
3.4
1.2
2.8
1.1
2.4
1.0
2.1
0.9
1.9
0.8
1.7
0.8
15
15
4.0
7.5
2.1
5.0
1.5
3.8
1.2
3.0
1.0
2.5
0.9
2.1
0.8
1.9
0.7
1.7
0.7
1.5
0.6
12
12
2.6
6.0
1.4
4.0
1.0
3.0
0.8
2.4
0.7
2.0
0.6
1.7
0.5
1.5
0.5
1.3
0.5
1.2
0.4
10
10
1.8
5.0
1.0
3.3
0.7
2.5
0.6
2.0
0.5
1.7
0.4
1.4
0.4
1.3
0.4
1.1
0.4
1.0
0.3
7
7
0.9
3.5
0.5
2.3
0.4
1.8
0.3
1.4
0.3
1.2
0.3
1.0
0.2
0.9
0.2
0.8
0.2
0.7
0.2
5
5
0.5
2.5
0.3
1.7
0.2
1.3
0.2
1.0
0.2
0.8
0.2
0.7
0.1
0.6
0.1
0.6
0.1
0.5
0.1
1
mph
2
mph
3
mph
4
mph
5
mph
6
mph
7
mph
8
mph
9
mph
10
mph
2 Minute Gap
mph
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
40
80
54.7
40.0
28.0
26.7
19.1
20.0
14.7
16.0
12.0
13.3
10.2
11.4
9.0
10.0
8.0
8.9
7.3
8.0
6.7
37
74
46.9
37.0
24.1
24.7
16.4
18.5
12.6
14.8
10.4
12.3
8.8
10.6
7.8
9.3
6.9
8.2
6.3
7.4
5.8
35
70
42.0
35.0
21.6
23.3
14.8
17.5
11.4
14.0
9.3
11.7
8.0
10.0
7.0
8.8
6.3
7.8
5.7
7.0
5.3
32
64
35.2
32.0
18.1
21.3
12.4
16.0
9.6
12.8
7.9
10.7
6.8
9.1
5.9
8.0
5.3
7.1
4.9
6.4
4.5
30
60
31.0
30.0
16.0
20.0
11.0
15.0
8.5
12.0
7.0
10.0
6.0
8.6
5.3
7.5
4.8
6.7
4.3
6.0
4.0
27
54
25.2
27.0
13.1
18.0
9.0
13.5
7.0
10.8
5.8
9.0
5.0
7.7
4.4
6.8
3.9
6.0
3.6
5.4
3.3
25
50
21.7
25.0
11.3
16.7
7.8
12.5
6.0
10.0
5.0
8.3
4.3
7.1
3.8
6.3
3.4
5.6
3.1
5.0
2.9
23
46
18.4
23.0
9.6
15.3
6.6
11.5
5.2
9.2
4.3
7.7
3.7
6.6
3.3
5.8
3.0
5.1
2.7
4.6
2.5
20
40
14.0
20.0
7.3
13.3
5.1
10.0
4.0
8.0
3.3
6.7
2.9
5.7
2.6
5.0
2.3
4.4
2.1
4.0
2.0
17
34
10.2
17.0
5.4
11.3
3.8
8.5
3.0
6.8
2.5
5.7
2.2
4.9
1.9
4.3
1.8
3.8
1.6
3.4
1.5
15
30
8.0
15.0
4.3
10.0
3.0
7.5
2.4
6.0
2.0
5.0
1.8
4.3
1.6
3.8
1.4
3.3
1.3
3.0
1.3
12
24
5.2
12.0
2.8
8.0
2.0
6.0
1.6
4.8
1.4
4.0
1.2
3.4
1.1
3.0
1.0
2.7
0.9
2.4
0.9
10
20
3.7
10.0
2.0
6.7
1.4
5.0
1.2
4.0
1.0
3.3
0.9
2.9
0.8
2.5
0.8
2.2
0.7
2.0
0.7
7
14
1.9
7.0
1.1
4.7
0.8
3.5
0.6
2.8
0.6
2.3
0.5
2.0
0.5
1.8
0.4
1.6
0.4
1.4
0.4
5
10
1.0
5.0
0.6
3.3
0.4
2.5
0.4
2.0
0.3
1.7
0.3
1.4
0.3
1.3
0.3
1.1
0.3
1.0
0.3
1
mph
2
mph
3
mph
4
mph
5
mph
6
mph
7
mph
8
mph
9
mph
10
mph
3 Minute Gap
mph
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
40
120
82.0
60.0
42.0
40.0
28.7
30.0
22.0
24.0
18.0
20.0
15.3
17.1
13.4
15.0
12.0
13.3
10.9
12.0
10.0
37
111
70.3
55.5
36.1
37.0
24.7
27.8
19.0
22.2
15.5
18.5
13.3
15.9
11.6
13.9
10.4
12.3
9.5
11.1
8.7
35
105
63.0
52.5
32.4
35.0
22.2
26.3
17.1
21.0
14.0
17.5
12.0
15.0
10.5
13.1
9.4
11.7
8.6
10.5
7.9
32
96
52.8
48.0
27.2
32.0
18.7
24.0
14.4
19.2
11.8
16.0
10.1
13.7
8.9
12.0
8.0
10.7
7.3
9.6
6.7
30
90
46.5
45.0
24.0
30.0
16.5
22.5
12.8
18.0
10.5
15.0
9.0
12.9
7.9
11.3
7.1
10.0
6.5
9.0
6.0
27
81
37.8
40.5
19.6
27.0
13.5
20.3
10.5
16.2
8.6
13.5
7.4
11.6
6.6
10.1
5.9
9.0
5.4
8.1
5.0
25
75
32.5
37.5
16.9
25.0
11.7
18.8
9.1
15.0
7.5
12.5
6.5
10.7
5.7
9.4
5.2
8.3
4.7
7.5
4.4
23
69
27.6
34.5
14.4
23.0
10.0
17.3
7.8
13.8
6.4
11.5
5.6
9.9
4.9
8.6
4.5
7.7
4.1
6.9
3.8
20
60
21.0
30.0
11.0
20.0
7.7
15.0
6.0
12.0
5.0
10.0
4.3
8.6
3.9
7.5
3.5
6.7
3.2
6.0
3.0
17
51
15.3
25.5
8.1
17.0
5.7
12.8
4.5
10.2
3.7
8.5
3.3
7.3
2.9
6.4
2.7
5.7
2.5
5.1
2.3
15
45
12.0
22.5
6.4
15.0
4.5
11.3
3.6
9.0
3.0
7.5
2.6
6.4
2.4
5.6
2.2
5.0
2.0
4.5
1.9
12
36
7.8
18.0
4.2
12.0
3.0
9.0
2.4
7.2
2.0
6.0
1.8
5.1
1.6
4.5
1.5
4.0
1.4
3.6
1.3
10
30
5.5
15.0
3.0
10.0
2.2
7.5
1.8
6.0
1.5
5.0
1.3
4.3
1.2
3.8
1.1
3.3
1.1
3.0
1.0
7
21
2.8
10.5
1.6
7.0
1.2
5.3
1.0
4.2
0.8
3.5
0.8
3.0
0.7
2.6
0.7
2.3
0.6
2.1
0.6
5
15
1.5
7.5
0.9
5.0
0.7
3.8
0.6
3.0
0.5
2.5
0.5
2.1
0.4
1.9
0.4
1.7
0.4
1.5
0.4
1
mph
2
mph
3
mph
4
mph
5
mph
6
mph
7
mph
8
mph
9
mph
10
mph
5 Minute Gap
mph
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
40
200
136.7
100.0
70.0
66.7
47.8
50.0
36.7
40.0
30.0
33.3
25.6
28.6
22.4
25.0
20.0
22.2
18.1
20.0
16.7
37
185
117.2
92.5
60.1
61.7
41.1
46.3
31.6
37.0
25.9
30.8
22.1
26.4
19.4
23.1
17.3
20.6
15.8
18.5
14.5
35
175
105.0
87.5
54.0
58.3
36.9
43.8
28.4
35.0
23.3
29.2
19.9
25.0
17.5
21.9
15.7
19.4
14.3
17.5
13.1
32
160
88.0
80.0
45.3
53.3
31.1
40.0
24.0
32.0
19.7
26.7
16.9
22.9
14.9
20.0
13.3
17.8
12.1
16.0
11.2
30
150
77.5
75.0
40.0
50.0
27.5
37.5
21.3
30.0
17.5
25.0
15.0
21.4
13.2
18.8
11.9
16.7
10.8
15.0
10.0
27
135
63.0
67.5
32.6
45.0
22.5
33.8
17.4
27.0
14.4
22.5
12.4
19.3
10.9
16.9
9.8
15.0
9.0
13.5
8.3
25
125
54.2
62.5
28.1
41.7
19.4
31.3
15.1
25.0
12.5
20.8
10.8
17.9
9.5
15.6
8.6
13.9
7.9
12.5
7.3
23
115
46.0
57.5
24.0
38.3
16.6
28.8
12.9
23.0
10.7
19.2
9.3
16.4
8.2
14.4
7.4
12.8
6.8
11.5
6.3
20
100
35.0
50.0
18.3
33.3
12.8
25.0
10.0
20.0
8.3
16.7
7.2
14.3
6.4
12.5
5.8
11.1
5.4
10.0
5.0
17
85
25.5
42.5
13.5
28.3
9.4
21.3
7.4
17.0
6.2
14.2
5.4
12.1
4.9
10.6
4.4
9.4
4.1
8.5
3.8
15
75
20.0
37.5
10.6
25.0
7.5
18.8
5.9
15.0
5.0
12.5
4.4
10.7
3.9
9.4
3.6
8.3
3.3
7.5
3.1
12
60
13.0
30.0
7.0
20.0
5.0
15.0
4.0
12.0
3.4
10.0
3.0
8.6
2.7
7.5
2.5
6.7
2.3
6.0
2.2
10
50
9.2
25.0
5.0
16.7
3.6
12.5
2.9
10.0
2.5
8.3
2.2
7.1
2.0
6.3
1.9
5.6
1.8
5.0
1.7
7
35
4.7
17.5
2.6
11.7
1.9
8.8
1.6
7.0
1.4
5.8
1.3
5.0
1.2
4.4
1.1
3.9
1.0
3.5
1.0
5
25
2.5
12.5
1.5
8.3
1.1
6.3
0.9
5.0
0.8
4.2
0.8
3.6
0.7
3.1
0.7
2.8
0.6
2.5
0.6
1
mph
2
mph
3
mph
4
mph
5
mph
6
mph
7
mph
8
mph
9
mph
10
mph
7 Minute Gap
mph
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
40
280
191.3
140.0
98.0
93.3
66.9
70.0
51.3
56.0
42.0
46.7
35.8
40.0
31.3
35.0
28.0
31.1
25.4
28.0
23.3
37
259.
164.0
129.5
84.2
86.3
57.6
64.8
44.2
51.8
36.3
43.2
30.9
37.0
27.1
32.4
24.3
28.8
22.1
25.9
20.3
35
245
147.0
122.5
75.5
81.7
51.7
61.3
39.8
49.0
32.7
40.8
27.9
35.0
24.5
30.6
21.9
27.2
20.0
24.5
18.4
32
224
123.2
112.0
63.5
74.7
43.6
56.0
33.6
44.8
27.6
37.3
23.6
32.0
20.8
28.0
18.7
24.9
17.0
22.4
15.7
30
210
108.5
105.0
56.0
70.0
38.5
52.5
29.8
42.0
24.5
35.0
21.0
30.0
18.5
26.3
16.6
23.3
15.2
21.0
14.0
27
189
88.2
94.5
45.7
63.0
31.5
47.3
24.4
37.8
20.2
31.5
17.3
27.0
15.3
23.6
13.8
21.0
12.6
18.9
11.7
25
175
75.8
87.5
39.4
58.3
27.2
43.8
21.1
35.0
17.5
29.2
15.1
25.0
13.3
21.9
12.0
19.4
11.0
17.5
10.2
23
161
64.4
80.5
33.5
53.7
23.3
40.3
18.1
32.2
15.0
26.8
13.0
23.0
11.5
20.1
10.4
17.9
9.5
16.1
8.9
20
140
49.0
70.0
25.7
46.7
17.9
35.0
14.0
28.0
11.7
23.3
10.1
20.0
9.0
17.5
8.2
15.6
7.5
14.0
7.0
17
119
35.7
59.5
18.8
39.7
13.2
29.8
10.4
23.8
8.7
19.8
7.6
17.0
6.8
14.9
6.2
13.2
5.7
11.9
5.4
15
105
28.0
52.5
14.9
35.0
10.5
26.3
8.3
21.0
7.0
17.5
6.1
15.0
5.5
13.1
5.0
11.7
4.7
10.5
4.4
12
84
18.2
42.0
9.8
28.0
7.0
21.0
5.6
16.8
4.8
14.0
4.2
12.0
3.8
10.5
3.5
9.3
3.3
8.4
3.1
10
70
12.8
35.0
7.0
23.3
5.1
17.5
4.1
14.0
3.5
11.7
3.1
10.0
2.8
8.8
2.6
7.8
2.5
7.0
2.3
7
49
6.5
24.5
3.7
16.3
2.7
12.3
2.2
9.8
2.0
8.2
1.8
7.0
1.6
6.1
1.5
5.4
1.5
4.9
1.4
5
35
3.5
17.5
2.0
11.7
1.6
8.8
1.3
7.0
1.2
5.8
1.1
5.0
1.0
4.4
0.9
3.9
0.9
3.5
0.9
1
mph
2
mph
3
mph
4
mph
5
mph
6
mph
7
mph
8
mph
9
mph
10
mph
10 Minute Gap
mph
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
min
mile
40
400
273.3
200
140.0
133.3
95.6
100.0
73.3
80.0
60.0
66.7
51.1
57.1
44.8
50.0
40.0
44.4
36.3
40.0
33.3
37
370
234.3
185
120.3
123.3
82.2
92.5
63.2
74.0
51.8
61.7
44.2
52.9
38.8
46.3
34.7
41.1
31.5
37.0
29.0
35
350
210.0
175
107.9
116.7
73.9
87.5
56.9
70.0
46.7
58.3
39.9
50.0
35.0
43.8
31.4
38.9
28.5
35.0
26.3
32
320
176.0
160
90.7
106.7
62.2
80.0
48.0
64.0
39.5
53.3
33.8
45.7
29.7
40.0
26.7
35.6
24.3
32.0
22.4
30
300
155.0
150
80.0
100.0
55.0
75.0
42.5
60.0
35.0
50.0
30.0
42.9
26.4
37.5
23.8
33.3
21.7
30.0
20.0
27
270
126.0
135
65.3
90.0
45.0
67.5
34.9
54.0
28.8
45.0
24.8
38.6
21.9
33.8
19.7
30.0
18.0
27.0
16.7
25
250
108.3
125
56.3
83.3
38.9
62.5
30.2
50.0
25.0
41.7
21.5
35.7
19.0
31.3
17.2
27.8
15.7
25.0
14.6
23
230
92.0
115
47.9
76.7
33.2
57.5
25.9
46.0
21.5
38.3
18.5
32.9
16.4
28.8
14.9
25.6
13.6
23.0
12.7
20
200
70.0
100
36.7
66.7
25.6
50.0
20.0
40.0
16.7
33.3
14.4
28.6
12.9
25.0
11.7
22.2
10.7
20.0
10.0
17
170
51.0
85
26.9
56.7
18.9
42.5
14.9
34.0
12.5
28.3
10.9
24.3
9.7
21.3
8.9
18.9
8.2
17.0
7.7
15
150
40.0
75
21.3
50.0
15.0
37.5
11.9
30.0
10.0
25.0
8.8
21.4
7.9
18.8
7.2
16.7
6.7
15.0
6.3
12
120
26.0
60
14.0
40.0
10.0
30.0
8.0
24.0
6.8
20.0
6.0
17.1
5.4
15.0
5.0
13.3
4.7
12.0
4.4
10
100
18.3
50
10.0
33.3
7.2
25.0
5.8
20.0
5.0
16.7
4.4
14.3
4.0
12.5
3.8
11.1
3.5
10.0
3.3
7
70
9.3
35
5.3
23.3
3.9
17.5
3.2
14.0
2.8
11.7
2.5
10.0
2.3
8.8
2.2
7.8
2.1
7.0
2.0
5
50
5.0
25
2.9
16.7
2.2
12.5
1.9
10.0
1.7
8.3
1.5
7.1
1.4
6.3
1.4
5.6
1.3
5.0
1.3
1
mph
2
mph
3
mph
4
mph
5
mph
6
mph
7
mph
8
mph
9
mph
10
mph
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