A. Currently it’s set at £3 per event for adults. £2 of that goes to the Cycling Time Trials for insurance, the other £1 into the club coffers. It’s £2 for juniors.
Q. Do I need a time trial bike?
A. No you can ride on whatever you like, as long as it doesn’t have a motor! We have one club member who does rather quick times on a unicycle!
Q. Do I have to pre-enter the Series?
A. No you don’t. As long as you’re a club member you can just turn up. However, if you wish to feature in the overall results, then you need to pre enter. Also unless you’re only planning riding one or two then we would prefer you to pre-enter otherwise we would have no marshals and the Evening Series couldn’t go ahead.
Q. If I’m a 2nd claim member then is there any point in pre-entering as I won’t feature In the overall results anyway?
A. The honest answer is no, however if you’re planning to do quite a few events then we would be relying on your good will to enter so that you help the Series by marshalling one event.
Q. When completing the enrolment form do I just tick the dates I’m unable to attend to marshal or the dates I wish to ride as well?
A. Just tick the dates you are unable to marshal due to work or other commitments. All those who take part in the series are expected to sacrifice one ride that they could have ridden to marshal, otherwise they could gain an extra event on their fellow competitors.
Q. What is the difference between the Evening Series and the bigger open events that have to be entered two weeks before?
A. This is called a closed club time trial, as it’s closed to all but club members, it’s less formal and you can just roll up on the night and sign on. The open events are open to members from any club but have to be pre-entered as they have to be all organised via Cycling Time Trials.
Q. What time do I need to be there?
A. The first rider is off at 6.45 apart from the last two nights on the Hill Climbs which are 6.30 due to the nights pulling in. You can sign on as late as 15 mins before, however if you want an earlier ride then you need to be there just after 6 pm as a queue forms of people wanting early rides.
Q. If there’s more than enough marshals or someone stands in for me on the night I’m meant to marshal then can I ride instead?
A. Yes but you will have to treat it as training as your ride won’t count for that night. Everyone has to drop a qualifying ride somewhere.
Q. Can I swap marshalling duties with someone else in the Series on another night?
A. Yes you can, as long as you arrange it and let the organisers know about the swap.
Q. Can I draft another rider!
A. Absolutely not! This is a major crime against cycling and punishable by multiple Carlton bank repeats on a cold wet day with a trailer on! When a rider overtakes you, you must drop back a little, similarly if you’re going to overtake a rider you need to be confident that you can overtake cleanly and gain some distance immediately.
Q. What happens at the finish line? Finish line etiquette?
A. Firstly your number must be pinned on as low as possible so that the time keeper can see it, also if you have any breath to spare it’s curtesy to shout your number as you cross the line.
Please don’t loiter in the middle of the road before and after riding as cars are coming past there fairly quickly.
Also please don’t distract the time keeper by pestering him for your time. The times are read out at the end, and then published on the website later that week. The time keeper’s time is final! Sometimes errors do occur and you can discuss this with the organisers afterwards, but Strava won’t be accepted as a true time, only a guide. Strava often seems to run three seconds faster, I guess this is due to the delay with the auto pause as you set off plus the Strava segment starts slightly in advance of the start line.
Q. How does the handicapping work?
A. I haven’t got a clue? But all riders are awarded a handicap time and the positions from that generate the handicap competition. The handicapping is meant to even things out somewhat?