Ever wondered how to win one of the many prizes that are awarded each year at the Club Dinner? Wonder no more – the answer is “simples” – ride your bicycle. Now of course there is a bit more to it than that. The Club runs several types of event competition throughout the year:
- Club evening time trials
- Handicap events
- Open time trial events
for which various trophies are awarded. A full list of trophies is in the Club Handbook along with the rules for awarding them.
Club evening time trial events are on Wednesday evenings from April to the start of September. Distances for these rides very between 10 miles (the majority) and 50 miles (for the insane, last year it ran on the hottest day of the year). Start times vary and are published on the racing page of the Club Website and in the Club Handbook (note that the Jack Nunn times in the electronic diary are all set to the same time as it is a repeating event – so do check as start times may vary). There are several trophies available from this evening series but of course the main one is bragging rights and the one that got away as your personal best slips away yet again. If you haven’t ridden a time trial before remember the first one you ride will be a personal best (PB) so satisfaction guaranteed first time out.
Handicap events are run within the evening series so some events, such as the 50 or 25 mile time trials are handicapped. This means that on the night there will be a winner on time and a winner on handicap. Handicapping is very much a black art as it attempts to set a level playing field for all riders by taking into account previous performance, courses on which times have been set, intelligence about the rider (e.g. regularly “smashes” the Structured Training Ride). For events which require a handicap to be calculated riders must pre-register so that the handicap can be calculated prior to the event. The guidance on pre-registering is being updated but riders should register 7 days before the event (e.g. the previous Wednesday) and for certainty of registration it is preferred that this is either by signing on the previous week or sending the Racing Secretary an e-mail (if you do not get an acknowledgement by the Friday you should contact the Club Secretary). The start sheet will have your handicap time. Riders who have not pre-registered may still ride a handicap event – to get a time or because there is an un-handicapped trophy being competed for as well.
Open time trial events are run by clubs all over the country and these are usually on Saturday or Sundays. The Club runs 5 Open Events throughout the year and club riders are encouraged to enter these, especially if they have not raced in an open event before. It is hoped as well that club members will support their club by assisting in the running of these events and you will generally see news articles appealing for help nearer the time of the event. The Club maintains two championship events within these other open time trials and a number of standalone trophies. Some of these are:
- The Club Time Trial Championship – based on results from a 10, 25, 50 and WTTA Hardriders in nominated events.
- The Ted Barlow Cup – based on results in WTTA Hardriders events
- Best All Rounder and Veteran’s Best All Rounder – using times from any 25, 50 and 100 mile events
- 12 Hour and 100 Mile Trophies – based on nominated events
