CTT Handbook 2010

[tonyt]

The Cycling Time Trial Handbook 2010 is now being despatched - mine arrived this morning. It contains a load of useful information and is an essential guide for anyone thinking about riding open events. Newcomers to testing might want to look initially at the K courses including the K33 for 10 and 25 mile events and the K16 on the A38 dual carriageway at Burton-on-Trent. There is also a very good series of events on distances from 10 to 50 miles on D courses around Hodnet and Prees; not too far to travel and rarely full fields so every chance of having your entry accepted. For people wanting fast times then the A25/11 on the A50 between Etwall and Uttoxeter is a 'must'; whilst it has a few drags, much of the road is concrete surface so you can zing along on that but events on this course are very popular and often full - so enter early and give your fastest time. All necessary information is in the CTT Handbook (£7 + pp) which you can see on the CTT website through the following link:

http://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/Sho ... fault.aspx

[Richard Coleman]

Thanks Tony that's really useful. I'll get the handbook ordered.

If anyone else is interested we can co-ordinate our entries?

[tonyt]

Yes, Richard, it's a good idea to co-ordinate entries for time trials for a number of reasons. Once you have rolled away from the start line, a time trial can be a lonely experience compared to a mass start event so it's good to have team mates around at the HQ for a chat and for help and advice. You might be able to share transport to reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions. And there is always the possibilty of winning a team prize which are offered at most events.

For people who may be new to time trialling, it's important to know that you don't necessarily have to own a £4,000 Cevelo; ordinary road bikes are seen quite regularly especially in the early season events which are often on undulating Sporting Courses (SPOCOs) although tri bars and disc wheels do help a lot on flatter courses.

An early season co-ordinated list of local events might look like:-

Saturday 6th March - Wrekinsport SPOCO from Worfield
Saturday 13th March - Stourbridge Velo SPOCO from Bobbington
Sunday 21st March - Elizabethan SPOCO from Bridgnorth
Saturday 27th March - VC Sevale 10 mile tt from Severn Stoke
Sunday 28th March - B'ham CC 3up Team Time Trial from Alcester. Brilliant!!!
Saturday 3rd April - Echelon/VTTA 10 mile tt from Princethorpe. (First event in a series)
Sunday 4th April - Mid Salop Wheelers 25 mile tt from Prees
Saturday 10th April - Stratford 10 mile tt from Salford Priors
Sunday 11th April - Speedwell SPOCO from Cookhill
Saturday 17th April - BDCA 25 mile tt on very fast course from Etwall near Burton.
Saturday 24th April - Warwcks RC 10 mile tt from Salford Priors
Sunday 25th April - VTTA National 30 mile Champs from Prees (Vets only)

Clearly there are loads of events and it's also interesting to mix in some road races for variety but whatever you do, having a few team-mates around is useful. The team time trial on 28th March should be a 'must' for a club like Stourbridge. Great fun!! All the necesary information is in the CTT Handbook.

Hope this helps.