"COME & TRY IT"

All the evening 10's are "Come & try it events", this means that they are suitable for beginners and under 16's. You don't even have to be a member of a cycling club, just turn up on a Tuesday evening.

Time Trialling is often the first way into racing bikes on the road in the UK. The basic idea of a Time Trial is to cover a set course against the clock on your own; it is also know as “the race of truth”. This is possibly the easiest form of racing to enter for a novice as there are all sorts of abilities in time trials but the person you are racing against is yourself. For this reason many Cycling Clubs encourage beginners to try time trials first if they want to see how fast they can go. They are often pleasantly surprised!

Benefits of time trialling include a big improvement in your fitness, an introduction to competition for less confident riders, and a way to measure your absolute ability against both other riders and yourself. As they say, it’s the "race of truth", with nowhere to hide!

Can anyone ride a "Come & try it" time trial?
Yes, as long as you’re over 12 years old. (if under 18 you will need a signed Parental Consent form, available at the HQ). You don't even have to be a member of a cycling club. Just turn up at the HQ from 6.30 pm (6.15 for the first 2 events)

What do I need?
You only need your bike, you can ride any bike but a road bike is going to be the easiest/fastest option.

Do I need a helmet?
Technically, not unless you are under 18. However, for your own safety, the Cycle Time Trials (CTT) strongly advise you to wear a hard-shell helmet in all events of this nature.

What sort of time should I be aiming for?
As a beginner, for a 10 mile event, anything under 35 minutes is encouraging, under 30 is excellent. By the way, under 20 minutes and your surname may well be Butler.

Do I need to enter in advance?
No, just turn up at the HQ with your entry fee (£1.50p} sign-on (enter name & details) and pick up your race number. The number should be attached in the middle and at the bottom of of your jersey. The number denotes what time you start.

What next?
Go for a warm up and arrive at the start several minutes before you're start time. At the start you will be held upright while the Timekeeper counts down to your start time. Once you have started, keep your head up and watch where you are going, keep to the left and stay in the cycle lanes where applicable. When you have passed the finish Timekeeper don't stop but cycle back to the HQ, hand in your race number and while you are waiting for the Timekeeper to return with everybody's time, enjoy a biscuit and cup of tea. You've earned it!
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