Taming time-trials

With road bike only events, time trial is broadening its appeal. But what do you need to get started? Here's our expert guide to taming a TT

- James Witts

Time trial (TT) is known as the 'race of truth'. It's you and your will power against the clock. You may have seen TTS happening at a race circuit or bypass near you. Uniquely everyone rides alone and there's no drafting, which sets it apart from sportives. Peak TT season runs from April onwards, but you can find events over the whole year. And don't think they're just for hardcore time-triallers on stripped-down machines. Governing body CTT are offering childcare at some races in 2024 and there'll be road bike-only races where aerobars are outlawed.

HERE TO HELP

Kate Allan Kate's a competitive time triallist for Team Bottrill and has 10-mile, 100mile and Closed Circuit national championship titles on her mantlepiece

Richard Rollinson Richard is the coach of CPT Cycling (cptcycling.co.uk)

01 FIND YOUR CLUB

If you crave the raw speed of time-trial racing, there are around 1,200 open TT events to choose from every year. These aren't managed by British Cycling but by a separate governing body called Cycling Time Trials (cyclingtimetrials.org.uk). There's no individual affiliation option, you just sign up to your affiliated local club and pay an on-the-day race fee. Most races have fixed distances (10, 25, 50 and 100 miles) or fixed times (12 and 24 hours). Races start from around a tenner to enter.

02 EXPERIMENT WITH KIT