by Angus Brumhead
Firstly; in case you are unaware; What is Time Trialling?
Well, it’s probably the simplest form of cycling competition, a race against the clock, often referred to as “The Race of Truth”, because it is just you, alone with your thoughts, against the stopwatch.
Riders set off, one at a time, at one-minute intervals. Riders are called forward by the time keepers, with one minute to go, you present your bike to the start line. Thirty seconds to go the ‘holder-upper’ will hold you upright on your bike, you clip in to your pedals – “Fifteen seconds” is announced, take some big breaths to get plenty of oxygen into your blood, “ten seconds”, “Five, four, three, two, one – Go”, and off you go.
Now its all up to you, you’re on your own, no race tactics, no drafting, nowhere to hide, just you and your thoughts, with the sole aim of covering the course as fast as you can. Pedalling as hard as you can, at the wrong side of your comfort zone! Riding in the moment, concentrating only on the task at hand.
Once you have completed your first TT you will have ‘a time’, a target for your next race, you’ll get to know the riders of similar abilities, and these gradually become ‘your competitors’.
You will hear the term “Minute man” (not too PC these days, but anything else seems cumbersome), that is the rider who set off just before you, if you manage to catch sight of the cyclist in front of you it can be a great incentive. On the other hand you will have times when the fast guys behind, in ‘skin-suits’ and specialist bikes and helmets, will speed past you, with disk wheels roaring, but don’t worry there is a mix of abilities throughout the list of competitors, with the fastest (scratch) rider going off last say at number 50, second fastest at 40, then 30, 20 and 10, with the sixth fastest at 45, then 35 and so on down to number 5, with everyone else ranked in-between, so everyone (apart from number one) having someone to chase.
As with other cycling events time trials are organised and run by a small army of volunteers, people who give up their time for the benefit of the riders. Required for any event: Commissaire, time keepers, first-aiders and marshals, as well as the organiser and, of course, catering providers and helpers.
Events are always very friendly and welcoming, with plenty of help and advice available, and sandwiches and sticky buns afterwards if you are lucky.
PLUSCARDEN 18 MILE HILLY TIME TRIAL
30th of March Elgin CC hosted the first time trial of the year and, as they announced on their race manual; “Don’t panic about fitness, it’s still early bells, and everyone is in the same boat”. Although this year we all were in a very similar boat, as, due to defective road surface in places, the course was run in the reverse direction to normal. It meant on a cold and blowy morning; riders soon encountered the long drag of the first hill into a head wind, but at least it wasn’t quite as steep as it is from the opposite direction. Riders were rewarded in the homeward leg of the circuit with a following wind and, after making the second long ascent, a few of miles of descent and flat terrain to the finish.
Inverness CC had five entrants (Christine, Fiona, Robert, Angus and Josh) although unfortunately Rob had to withdraw due to ill health, but came along to assist with marshalling. First home from ICC, in a time 57:13, was Josh, one of our youngest riders; whereas, at the other end of the age range, Angus ‘won’ a prize for ‘fastest rider over 70, a bit of a hollow victory as he was the only rider over 70 on this occasion! Fastest on the day was Matiss Robertson of RT23 cycling club in a time of 00:45:46.
YTHAN CC’s 10 MILE TIME TRIAL
Not part of the ‘North Region TT Series League’, but one of the early season’s TT’s that isn’t too far afield, the Ythan TT, on 13th April, as usual had a good turnout with clubs from Edinburgh to Ross-Shire represented. A dry and bright morning, a strong tail wind assisted riders to the turn, though not without some unsettling buffeting side wind in places. After the turn, the climb away from the roundabout, into the teeth of a cold gusting wind was a different story, sapping away the energy saved on the out-leg. Nonetheless, ICC’s Fiona, Christine and Angus had good rides. The overall victory going to Ray Wilson of North Ayrshire club GTR – Return to Life in 00:21:40.
BILL & CHRISSIE MEMORIAL 10 MILE TIME TRIAL
21st of April saw Forres CC’s first time trial of the year, with forty-five entrants. The course runs from just outside the West barracks gate at Kinloss, on the B9059, to the turn in the road, just beyond the speed restriction sign at Roseisle, retracing to finish around 50 m from the start. Although relatively flat for the area, the road surface is a little rough in places and the road at the turn is quite narrow. Being near the coast and unsheltered the course can be a bit ‘drafty’, but on this occasion it wasn’t too bad. With a few of ICC’s riders being ill or indisposed due to work or college etc., we managed to field three riders for this event. The event was again won by Ray Wilson in a time of 00:20:52.
RAYMOND SINCLAIR MEMORIAL 10 MILE TIME TRIAL
On the evening of 7th May and organised by Cromarty Firth Cycling Club, the race is held on the A9 near Kildary and runs from Denly Muir to turn at the Nigg roundabout, retracing to around half a mile short of the start. With the prevailing wind at your back, this can be a rapid course, as the turn is at five and a half miles, so only four and a half miles back into the wind. Unfortunately, this wasn’t an evening for prevailing winds, in fact the wind was the complete opposite, blowing from the north-east … hey-ho, that’s life. The event saw five ICC riders take to the start Fiona, Christine, Angus, Chris and Alan), as well as Tyler. Unfortunately, Alan’s race was short lived as he picked up a puncture just over a couple of minutes into his ride. There were no spectacular rides on the evening, with the best time coming from RT23’s Lewis Dey in 00:21:07 with Tyler taking 5th place in 00:22:03.
ORTON 10 MILE TIME TRIAL
Organised by Elgin CC, and held 11th May, the Orton TT incorporates the Scotland North TT Series Regional Championship 2025. It’s a very early start if you are travelling any great distance for this event, with signing on from 07:00 and the first rider setting off at 08:01, and a full field with the scratch rider going off at 09:00, before the traffic starts to pick up. Although not too hilly, this course heads north from Inchberry Village Hall on the B9015 to turn at the roundabout, before retracing to a few metres beyond the start line. After a couple of initial hills the course, although slightly undulating, drops gradually all the way to the turn, obviously rising here and there at just one or two percentage the return can be a drag, compounded by the two hills at the finish, the second of which always catches me out, not my favourite, but not too bad! Sunday morning was sunny and warm, albeit with a fresh following breeze on the out leg, but not hampering too much on the return leg. Fifty riders entered with only five not turning up or finishing. Christine was happy that she got a PB, and Alan’s day was much better than last Wednesday (puncturing early in the race), having not competed in a TT for a good number years, he did a very credible 00:25:17. No surprise at the winner on the day…..yes, that’s right, Ray Wilson – GTR Return to Life CC.
Photos by Blair Cameron