In time trialling nobody gets the feeling they're left behind, and every rider sets his own standard. Because you don't need any specialist equipment, it's one of the easiest cycling disciplines to get into.

There are a number of different time trial events available. These are:-

• Club Events
• Inter-club Events, and
• Open Events

These are explained as follows:-

Club Events are those run by individual clubs for their own members. Members of other clubs may also ride these events as guests for an indefinite period. You can ride these events without being a member of any cycling club; however, you can only do this twice before having to join. No pre-booking is necessary. These time trials are ideal for those wanting to try out the experience for the first time.

Inter-club Events are those organised between cycling clubs competing against one another. They will involve members of those competing clubs only. No pre-booking is necessary.

The mainstay of the Essex Roads club events calendar is our Wednesday ‘evening TT’ time trial series running from April through until August every year which uses courses local to Billericay. These are generally ten mile time trials but they may be lengthened or shortened due to available light and prevailing weather conditions.

We also organise a number of inter club (I/C) events with other clubs such as Basildon CC and these are often of 25 miles in length and held on Sunday mornings.
You may attend these events only as paid members of those clubs competing See the Club Events Page for dates and start times.

You must arrive at the start point well before the published ‘start time’. On your arrival, speak to the ‘Time Keeper’ who will ask you to ‘sign-on’ and collect your fee. If you are a member of Essex Roads then you pay £2.50. Non-members pay £3.00. All fees are payable on the night and advance notification is recommended but not required (Email tt[at]essexroads.com), before mid-day Monday. Safety helmets are recommended. You will be given a number that you must pin on your back. Faster riders tend to be set off later than slower riders. If you are new to time trialing you are likely to be set of early.

The start may be at the signing on point or may be further down the road according to which course is used. The Time Keeper will tell you where to go. If you have to cycle to the start, please be aware that other riders may already have set off. It is important to remember your number too, so that you can join the start cue in the correct order. If you arrive late at the start then you will only be allowed to start once everyone else has gone.

Riders start off at regular intervals of one minute and are timed over a set route. When riding on a time trial all competitors must ride alone and without assistance. Riders are not allowed to slip-stream other riders and taking unfair advantage as you will be disqualified. The winner is the rider who achieves the fastest time over the set distance. Even if you finish quite a way behind the winner, you might still have the satisfaction of setting a personal best for the distance of the course. Over the weeks you are likely to see your times shorten as you adapt, but be aware that the weather and road conditions can greatly influence your speed.

Some events are handicapped: that is, each rider is given a time allowance against the fastest rider in the event. Each riders allowance is then subtracted from their time to give the handicap time. This means that everybody can compete on equal terms. Other events are categorised by age and/or ability, which allows any of the riders to emerge as the winner. Please enquire at the event as to whether there are any handicaps operating.

Age is no barrier. Time trialling is particularly popular with older riders, many of whom compete well into their seventies and beyond. Veterans (40 and over) may compete for age related standards. With advancements in technology, many veterans now record times greater than that in their youth.

At the end of the time trial you may collect your time from the time-keeper. All riders’ times are posted on this website if you would like to keep a record. The winner of the evening TT series is announced at the end of the time trial season in August each year.

All time trial courses in Essex have been risk assessed and approved for safety by the CTT. Courses are marshalled at specific points and there are warning signs for the benefit of drivers. All courses have been chosen relative to rider safety and all turns are left hand turns at junctions. ROADS ARE NOT CLOSED DURING THESES EVENTS and riders may encounter slow farm traffic and horses on occasion.

It is very important in a time trial not to take risks given that you are against the clock. When approaching horses from in front or behind please slow right down until it is safe to pass. Horses are easy to ‘spook’ unintentially. It is important that riders take into account their own safety and the safety of horse riders and motorists.

The ‘evening TT’ series time trials are run on Wednesday evenings from East Hanningfield Village Hall in Essex every week from April to August. All time trials are listed each year on the Club Events Page as well as the Events & Results Page and in the CTT Handbook. The courses undulate and there are some steep sections on some where riders may reach over 35 miles per hour. This year we will only be using the E18/06, for 4.95 miles and 10.7 miles (2 laps). Here are the directions: -

Click on E18/06b to see a map of the course. If you would like to see a profile of the course (courtesy Sam Thornton), then click on Profile (2 laps but starting from the "old start" at junction of Old A130 and Old Southend Road).

Any type of roadworthy bicycle can be used. Riders tend to use road cycles with smooth tyres but mountain bikes are also permitted. When starting time trialling, most riders use a cycle which is inexpensive. As their interest develops, more specialist lightweight machines can be bought which provide a definite advantage. However, it's the rider’s ability which really counts, and this improves, the more time trials you do.

Time trialing is called the race of truth because you are pitched against yourself and others. You may pass other riders and be passed by others who are a lot faster, but it won’t be until the end that you know how fast you’ve got round. The first secret then is to ‘focus’. If you can focus on going as quick as you can and believing that you are fast then you will be. Remember, ‘it’s not about the bike’ as Lance Armstrong has said.

The third secret is to get a good position on the bike – knees in, body down and hands on the handlebar drops. Tour de France riders spend a lot of time fine-tuning their position for the ultimate aero shape.

On the technology front, what else can you do? Here’s some more tips to help: -

• Use clipless pedals to help your pedalling to be more cyclical and to help you on the hills


• Wear lycra shorts and a top – however, a skinsuit is the most effective


• Pump your tyres to a good pressure but within that stipulated on the tyre


• Ride on the drops, or better still get some aero bars


• Get an aero hat


• Get some deep section wheels front and back, and/or


• Fit a disc wheel to the rear


• Wear some overshoes


• Get some training in – Essex Roads run a winter training programme right through the winter, so come and have a try – it will set you up nicely for next year!