Remember those spurned extra beers and sausage rolls, the early nights in bed and early mornings out training? Well, the result of all the abstinence and hard work is about to be laid bare. Once out on the course, there is nowhere to hide.
The ‘Race of Truth’, as time trialling is often known, is the ultimate test of form and fitness. Although its origins are shrouded in intrigue and mystery, it is cycle racing in its simplest form. It’s just you against the clock.
At Centreville, a club with a storied tradition in cycle racing, we’re keen to promote time trialling to our members and to assist them in any way we can to join in and represent the best of themselves and the club. With Covid-19 restrictions starting to ease, maybe there’s never been a better time?
Time-trialling as we know it began way back in 1890 when the National Cyclists’ Union, through fear of a ban of all cycling on UK roads, saw fit to outlaw racing on the roads.
In a bid to circumvent this ban, rebel groups organised races in a way which was less likely to attract the attention of the police – races would start at dawn on courses which had been given secretive code names in order to avoid them being recognised. There would be no mass starts and competitors would dress in dark clothing, starting individually at one minute intervals and racing against the clock.
To this day, the code-names and the quintessential Britishness remains intact – therefore we have courses called the likes of J 4/4, J 2/12, J 9/11 and race HQs taking up space in village halls or pub car parks. And, if you’re lucky, you might be able to avail yourself of a sausage roll (or cake, mainly cake) after the main event.
Although time trials are usually over 10 and 25, or even 50 and 100 miles and ‘flat’ routes there are also ‘Spocos’ (Sporting Courses) or Hilly ‘mountain’ time trials locally to stretch the legs on – and then there is the short, sharp shock of the hill climb season towards the end of the year.
Pace Yourself.
You don’t need to go all out straight from the start. This stands true in the TTs themselves but also when it comes to the gear required. Sure, you can save watts with the latest aero bikes, helmets and skinsuits but you don’t need to adopt the superman pose devised by Graeme Obree and utilised to brilliant effect by Chris Boardman in the 90s straight away – clip-on bars to add to your existing bike are available quite cheaply to help you tuck into a more aerodynamic position – or you could just use use your road bike as it is to test the waters.
And remember, your first time equals your best time. It is also the target to beat next time!
To get a feel for this particular discipline, I can do no better than direct you to this article written by Joe Laverick, a young cyclist on AG2R’s feeder team in France:
Inside the Weird and Wonderful World of the British Time Trial –
https://cyclingtips.com/2020/04/inside-the-weird-and-wonderful-world-of-the-british-time-trial/
For more insight and information on Time Trialling generally there is a Eurosport documentary called Race of Truth available to watch through the CTT (Cycling Time Trials) website: http://www.theraceoftruth.org.uk/race-of-truth/ to be continued…
Stuart Howard-Cofield
An informed introductory article that will surely whet the appetite of club riders both past TT’ers and those considering having a go at TT’ing to get out and have ago.
The ‘art & science’ of TT’ing can get complex and confusing with over complexity taking over and some basic mis – understandings stifling performances I will ‘add my sixpenth’ of advice after part 2 of this article is posted.
Note: there maybe a comeback or at least completing a TT this season for it will be 10 years come the first weekend in May when I completed my last 10 on Chelford before the day after having my horrendous RTA. My first ever TT was a Centreville ’10’ on the club Birch course when it started at the lay-by in front of what was ICI ( before the move to the Gardeners) – in the ’80s !!!!