Getting Started Racing

Note: this page talks about time trialing. There are other types of cycle racing such as cross country mountain biking, mass start road racing and cyclocross, but we’re only interested in time trials (or “testing”) here.

Racing. It’s highly addictive. I warn you now, 1 race and you may well be hooked.

I wasn’t interested in the slightest. I just wanted to ride my bike with my friends and lose a bit of weight – getting faster was simply a biproduct. Sometimes, you end up doing something purely out of curiosity and to shut other people up…

My first race was awful. I went off far too fast and suffered all the way round. As soon as I’d finished and heard my time, I was hooked. I knew immediately that this was what I wanted to do. I was desperate to do the next race and go faster. And the next.

There are 2 types of time trial – a club event and an open event. An open event requires you to be a member of a club and have insurance through either British Cycling or the CTC. You have to apply in advance for an open event using a Cycling Time Trials form, and entrance isn’t guaranteed (some races can be over subscribed and only those with faster times are given a place). Club time trials are run all over the country, usually on a week night, and are for anyone to enter (dependent on age and club rules).

Some clubs operate a “Try It” scheme, where your first time trial is free to ride. Entry is usually a couple of quid, and is the ideal way to get into time trialling.

You can race on pretty much any bike that is road worthy, but I’d not recommend trying it on anything other than a hybrid, road or specific time trial bike. A mountain bike, cross bike or fat tired hybrid will be much slower and give you a misrepresentation of your ability.

A helmet is usually compulsory, but even if it isn’t, it’s my personal opinion that if you don’t wear a helmet, chances are there’s not much in your head worth protecting.

If I was you, I’d drive or ride the course first. I still drive courses now, especially ones I’ve never ridden before, and sometimes ones I’ve not ridden for a while. It gives you an opportunity to become familiar with the road surface, camber, corners, roundabouts, etc. There’s nothing worse than hitting a pot hole at 25mph that you didn’t know was there. However, drive or ride the course before the race night – your fellow competitors will not thank you for riding or driving whilst they are racing!

There’s also a certain amount of rules and etiquette involved with time trialing. The rules are in the handbook, but there are other things to bear in mind. It’s usually forbidden to warm up on the course, or to stop in the finish area. Draughting (where you sit on a fellow competitor’s wheel) is forbidden. You should always say thank you to the starters, and shout your number when you cross the finish line. It is also advisable that if you regularly time trial, that you offer to marshall at least once in a season.

It’s important to understand that the time trial is only about you and your time. If you finish last, but you are happy with your time, that’s a successful outcome.

It’s hard to put into context what a “good” time is for your first race. Every course is different, and weather conditions play a big part in cycle racing, especially for slower riders. That said, anything around 30 minutes for a 10 is decent. A good, fit club cyclist should do a 10 in about 25 minutes. Highly competitive “hitters” can do a sub 20 minute 10 on the right course – but don’t get too carried away too early!

the biggest gain in performance is garnered from good old fashioned hard work and training

If, like me, you get into it, you’ll find yourself looking for every little opportunity or aid to make you faster (aero helmet, skin suit, aero overshoes, aero gloves). If you really get into it, you’ll be after a time trial bike – which is serious money, but the biggest gain in performance is garnered from good old fashioned hard work and training. An aero bike will help, but even a £3000 TT bike can’t make a slow person go fast. One rider turned up to a Tyneside Vagabond’s Club 25 and beat everyone – on a standard road bike!

Time trials are a great way to be a competitive cyclist – but be warned: it’s addictive and can be expensive! Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

For more info on your first time trial, try Cycling Time Trial’s own guide.

Resources

Your First Time Trial (CTT)
An Introduction to Time Trialing (Bike Radar)
Find a Cycling Club Near You (CTT)
10 Steps To You Best Ever Time Trial (Bike Radar)
Aerodynamics Made Easy with Chris Boardman (Bike Radar)
Time Trial Entry Form (CTT)
British Cycling
CTC