Time trialling, often referred to as the ‘Race of Truth’, is the simplest kind of bike race – and it’s easy to get involved in. Just join a club that’s running events in your area. Most of them have regular competitions on weekday evenings, normally over ten miles or less.
These “club event” races are relaxed and informal, and are the ideal way to begin. All you need to do is get there early enough to sign on before the event starts (usually 30 -40 minutes beforehand is enough) with a roadworthy bike including a working front and rear light and a small entry fee – normally its £4 or £5. NB You must wear a helmet to race.
You’ll be asked to read and sign an official entry sheet (if you’re under 18 you’ll also need a signed parental-consent form). Then you’ll be given a number and a starting time. The course will usually be a simple out-and-back turning at a roundabout, or a left-turn-only circuit. There are usually marshals to keep you on track. From there you may wish to try the longer distances as you gain more experience.
Once you have experienced club events and enjoyed the experience you may wish to progress to open events. Open events are open to all clubs members whose club is affiliated to Cycling Time Trails (CTT). Remember you do not have to be exceedingly fast to compete just enjoy the experience of competing on different courses, making new friends and there will always be someone at your level. It doesn’t matter what your fitness level is, whether you’re 22 or 82, male or female. If you can ride 10 miles on a public road then you can ride a time trial.
How do I enter an open event?
Entering an open event is quite simple, either by entering on-line via the CTT Website or by filling in a postal CTT entry form (available to download from the CTT website) and posting it in plenty of time before the closing date. It is that simple. A list of open events up and down the country which you can enter is also available on the CTT Website.
The Points Competition
Competitors, who ride for a club or team affiliated to the N&DCA can qualify in our season long Points Competitions.
The categories individual riders compete in are; Overall, which includes all qualifying riders, Masters for male riders aged 50 and over and female riders aged 40 and over, Juniors, for all riders under the age of 18, Youth, for riders under the age of 16 and Women, for all qualifying female riders.
Categories by age take the age of the competitor as of 31st December that year.
Points are allocated for all categories of riders in each TT Seies event based on position of qualifying riders.
Short Distance Championship
This is a stand-alone championship with the trophy being awarded to the fastest individual member of a club affiliated to the association in a nominated association 10-mile time trial event. One of the TT Series events over a distance of 10 miles will be designated as the Short Distance Championship and points will still be awarded in this event towards the season long TT Series.
Road Bike TT Series
New for 2023 we are organising a Road Bike TT series over the same course and on the same day as our regular TT Series events.
The criteria used for these Rode Bike events will be the same as those used for CTT National Road Bike Championships.
No tri bars, clip on bars or Spinaci bars. No disc wheels. Both front and rear wheels must have a minimum of 12 spokes each.
The maximum rim depth on all wheels is 90mm. No tear drop or pointy style helmet or a helmet that covers the ears are allowed, visors are allowed if they are not an after market addition.
Riders must not ride with their forearms resting on the handlebars at any time.
Safety
When time trial courses are designed, safety is a major consideration. However, a competitor’s safety remains entirely his or her own responsibility. Events are held on open roads, and competitors must obey the relevant laws and the Highway Code before, during and after a race. Competitors must avoid creating situations that are unsafe for other road users.
There are a number of other points that will help everyone to enjoy safer racing: Cyclists are less visible than most other road users. You should remember this when approaching junctions.
To improve visibility from the rear, race numbers are printed on a bright, reflective background. The number must be placed on your shorts from the waistband downwards, and must not be covered by other clothing. Your number cannot be positioned in the middle of your back, as with a runner’s number, because it would then face upwards when you’re in a riding position.
You should avoid doing U-turns in the road, both while warming up for an event and after you’ve passed the finish. Drivers do not normally expect other road users to make this manoeuvre, which means it can be dangerous. It is CTT policy to eliminate U-turns from courses, and to reduce their use where they cannot be avoided.
You must avoid riding with your head down. Even on a Clearway, cars may stop for a variety of reasons, and the responsibility for avoiding them rests with the rider. In the event of a collision, the fact that the car was contravening the Clearway regulations will not be an excuse. A rider can expect a suspension from competition for any failure to watch where they are going.
Any road junction or roundabout can constitute a hazard in a race. You will often be approaching much faster than drivers expect of a cyclist, which can lead to errors of judgement on their part. Be ready for this. Care is particularly necessary at slip roads joining and leaving dual carriageways and other major roads, due to the long period when a cyclist can be between two lanes of merging traffic or exposed to vehicles leaving the main carriageway at high speed.
Remember the marshals are there for your benefit to help and assist you and should you experience mechanical problems that inhibit you from finishing the event then contact the nearest marshal and ask for help.
It doesn’t matter what time anyone else got – first and foremost, you’re racing against yourself and enjoy the race.
Personal Information
The N&DCA uses personal data provided by you [the competitor] through the CTT online or paper entry form. This data is limited to; your name, email, date of birth (shown as year of birth), gender and affiliated club. In the case of prize winners contact information, as provided by you on the entry form, is also used. The N&DCA uses this information ONLY for the purpose of providing the results published on this website, and for contacting prize winners for the purpose of providing prizes. If for any reason you should wish your information removed from our site/records please contact our webmaster.