A Beginners Guide to Time Trials
What is a Time Trial?
Introduction
Age
Races
You and Your Bicycle
Clothing
Helmets
Entering Events
Race Day
At the Start
During the Race
After the Race
What is a Time Trial?
A Time Trial is a race where a solo rider (most common) or team (2,3 or 4 riders) ride a measured course (most common are 10, 25, 50, 100 miles & 12hr), taking no pace from any other rider, team or vehicle. Each rider/team is set off at 1 minute intervals and the winner is the fastest rider/team to cover the course.
Introduction
For most people new to the sport of cycle racing, time trialling will probably be their first taste of competition. Almost all Time Trials in England and Wales are held under Cycling Time Trials (CTT) regulations, with the remainder falling under the auspices of British Cycling (BC). Though the technical regulations differ slightly, the purpose of the Time Trial is exactly the same. The following information relates to CTT Time Trials only.
You are advised to either buy or, at least, look at the current CTT Handbook. This contains all the information you need about time trialling and has a calendar of Open Events for this season. It can be obtained directly via CTT.
Age
As events are run on the public highway, a minimum age limit of 12 years of age has been set. If you are lucky enough to be between the ages of 12 and 18 you will require Parental or Guardian consent to compete. There is no maximum age limit but open events usually have separate prizes for riders over 40 years of age (Veterans).
Races
Time trials are run over a fixed distance, most commonly 10, 25, 50, 100 miles & 12 hrs. Other distances are used but these are less common. Each course is given a unique code. Our club is in the Midland district and all courses, within its boundaries (see the CTT handbook), are prefixed with a K, the second part of the code refers to the general area where the course is (e.g K37 is Wythall area) and the last part of the code usually indicates the distance of the event and any variation there may be of the same course (e.g K37/25, K33/10R). A list of Midland district courses is available via their website in our links section.
You and Your Bicycle
Safety is paramount when competing, so you should ensure your bike is in a roadworthy condition. Make sure your brakes, gears, tyres, headset etc are all in good working order. The responsibility falls on you the rider to ensure this is the case. Remember, you?ll be riding as fast as you can on roads you probably don?t cycle on normally, so be sure your capable of safely handling your bike round corners and downhill at speed.
You should have basic fitness, its advisable you?ve regularly rode a bike for a period before you do your first race as time trialling can place quite high physical demands on your body, in even short distance events.
Clothing
The most common clothing for a cycling event is a short sleeved racing jersey and lycra shorts covering the upper thigh. CTT regulation 14 states that competitors must be clothed from neck to at least mid thigh with mid upper arm length sleeves. In all events, official club clothing is permitted provided you wear the clothing of the club identified on your entry form. In all but club events, any clothing worn can only bear the name of the manufacturer or the club, any third party name or product is not permitted. In club events, competitors are permitted to wear any clothing they see fit including those containing advertising such as popular trade-team kits.
Helmets
Approved hard shell helmets are only compulsory for riders under the age of 18. Wyre Forest CRC recommend the use of an approved hard shell helmet by all its members in all events, but it is not compulsory.
Entering Events
There are four types of events, these are Open, Semi-Open, Associated and Club. Open, Semi-Open and Associated events must be entered in advance using a Standard CTT Entry Form. If you have any problems filling in the form, contact a club member and they?ll be happy to help. To enter an Associated event you may need to be a first or second claim member of a club affiliated to the promoting Association e.g. South Staffordshire Cycling Association (SSCA).
All events, except club events are listed in the CTT Handbook, which is produced annually. The handbook contains the information about the event, who can ride, the intended course and the event secretary to whom entries should be sent. Club Events for the Midland District can be found on there website, our club events are listed on here.
Club events do not require advanced entry and can be entered on the day by signing on at the start and paying a small entry fee. Entry forms for all other events must be submitted, at least, 11 days in advance of the event, except national championships (28 days).
In the seven days leading up to the event you will receive your start sheet which will contain details of the event HQ, the course, the competitors and the start time for each rider. Following the event (usually a week or two) you will receive a results sheet detailing the prize winners and each individuals time.
Race Day
Allow yourself enough time to get to the HQ, sign on, get your number, get changed, prepare your bike and warm-up. Usually one hour prior to your start is enough. At the HQ sign the signing-on sheet and collect your number. Any info relevant to the event that wasn?t on the start sheet will be posted here. Pin your number onto your lower back so that it is flat. Allow at least 10 mins to warm-up (this usually includes the ride to the start). Starting a time trial cold, runs the risk of injury so ensure you allow enough time for a brisk ride up the road before you start.
At the Start
If you get to the start early you will line up, in order, behind the rider off in front of you. When your minute man (the rider off in front of you) has been released your number will be called and you can move forward to the start line. You will be held up by the starter so you can keep your feet in your pedals. The timekeeper will call out 30secs to go, then 10secs, then 5,4,3,2,1. The starter will let you go and you?re away!
During the race
The skill of time trialling is pacing yourself, too fast and you will blow too early, too slow and you won?t record the best time you can. Remember you?re racing on the Public Highway, marshals can only indicate the direction of the race, they have no authority to stop traffic. You must obey the Highway Code at all times.
After the Race
Ride back to the HQ, perhaps a warm-down. Get changed, hand your number in and wait around the Result Board until your time is posted. Listen to the excuses, have a cup of tea, a piece of cake and take pride in what you?ve just done.
Introduction
Age
Races
You and Your Bicycle
Clothing
Helmets
Entering Events
Race Day
At the Start
During the Race
After the Race
What is a Time Trial?
A Time Trial is a race where a solo rider (most common) or team (2,3 or 4 riders) ride a measured course (most common are 10, 25, 50, 100 miles & 12hr), taking no pace from any other rider, team or vehicle. Each rider/team is set off at 1 minute intervals and the winner is the fastest rider/team to cover the course.
Introduction
For most people new to the sport of cycle racing, time trialling will probably be their first taste of competition. Almost all Time Trials in England and Wales are held under Cycling Time Trials (CTT) regulations, with the remainder falling under the auspices of British Cycling (BC). Though the technical regulations differ slightly, the purpose of the Time Trial is exactly the same. The following information relates to CTT Time Trials only.
You are advised to either buy or, at least, look at the current CTT Handbook. This contains all the information you need about time trialling and has a calendar of Open Events for this season. It can be obtained directly via CTT.
Age
As events are run on the public highway, a minimum age limit of 12 years of age has been set. If you are lucky enough to be between the ages of 12 and 18 you will require Parental or Guardian consent to compete. There is no maximum age limit but open events usually have separate prizes for riders over 40 years of age (Veterans).
Races
Time trials are run over a fixed distance, most commonly 10, 25, 50, 100 miles & 12 hrs. Other distances are used but these are less common. Each course is given a unique code. Our club is in the Midland district and all courses, within its boundaries (see the CTT handbook), are prefixed with a K, the second part of the code refers to the general area where the course is (e.g K37 is Wythall area) and the last part of the code usually indicates the distance of the event and any variation there may be of the same course (e.g K37/25, K33/10R). A list of Midland district courses is available via their website in our links section.
You and Your Bicycle
Safety is paramount when competing, so you should ensure your bike is in a roadworthy condition. Make sure your brakes, gears, tyres, headset etc are all in good working order. The responsibility falls on you the rider to ensure this is the case. Remember, you?ll be riding as fast as you can on roads you probably don?t cycle on normally, so be sure your capable of safely handling your bike round corners and downhill at speed.
You should have basic fitness, its advisable you?ve regularly rode a bike for a period before you do your first race as time trialling can place quite high physical demands on your body, in even short distance events.
Clothing
The most common clothing for a cycling event is a short sleeved racing jersey and lycra shorts covering the upper thigh. CTT regulation 14 states that competitors must be clothed from neck to at least mid thigh with mid upper arm length sleeves. In all events, official club clothing is permitted provided you wear the clothing of the club identified on your entry form. In all but club events, any clothing worn can only bear the name of the manufacturer or the club, any third party name or product is not permitted. In club events, competitors are permitted to wear any clothing they see fit including those containing advertising such as popular trade-team kits.
Helmets
Approved hard shell helmets are only compulsory for riders under the age of 18. Wyre Forest CRC recommend the use of an approved hard shell helmet by all its members in all events, but it is not compulsory.
Entering Events
There are four types of events, these are Open, Semi-Open, Associated and Club. Open, Semi-Open and Associated events must be entered in advance using a Standard CTT Entry Form. If you have any problems filling in the form, contact a club member and they?ll be happy to help. To enter an Associated event you may need to be a first or second claim member of a club affiliated to the promoting Association e.g. South Staffordshire Cycling Association (SSCA).
All events, except club events are listed in the CTT Handbook, which is produced annually. The handbook contains the information about the event, who can ride, the intended course and the event secretary to whom entries should be sent. Club Events for the Midland District can be found on there website, our club events are listed on here.
Club events do not require advanced entry and can be entered on the day by signing on at the start and paying a small entry fee. Entry forms for all other events must be submitted, at least, 11 days in advance of the event, except national championships (28 days).
In the seven days leading up to the event you will receive your start sheet which will contain details of the event HQ, the course, the competitors and the start time for each rider. Following the event (usually a week or two) you will receive a results sheet detailing the prize winners and each individuals time.
Race Day
Allow yourself enough time to get to the HQ, sign on, get your number, get changed, prepare your bike and warm-up. Usually one hour prior to your start is enough. At the HQ sign the signing-on sheet and collect your number. Any info relevant to the event that wasn?t on the start sheet will be posted here. Pin your number onto your lower back so that it is flat. Allow at least 10 mins to warm-up (this usually includes the ride to the start). Starting a time trial cold, runs the risk of injury so ensure you allow enough time for a brisk ride up the road before you start.
At the Start
If you get to the start early you will line up, in order, behind the rider off in front of you. When your minute man (the rider off in front of you) has been released your number will be called and you can move forward to the start line. You will be held up by the starter so you can keep your feet in your pedals. The timekeeper will call out 30secs to go, then 10secs, then 5,4,3,2,1. The starter will let you go and you?re away!
During the race
The skill of time trialling is pacing yourself, too fast and you will blow too early, too slow and you won?t record the best time you can. Remember you?re racing on the Public Highway, marshals can only indicate the direction of the race, they have no authority to stop traffic. You must obey the Highway Code at all times.
After the Race
Ride back to the HQ, perhaps a warm-down. Get changed, hand your number in and wait around the Result Board until your time is posted. Listen to the excuses, have a cup of tea, a piece of cake and take pride in what you?ve just done.
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