I started time trialling because I was short of time. Young kids, job, life... I loved cycling (and it has been a lifesaver for me, post-kids, but that is another story) but there was no way I had time to train for an event that involved hours in the saddle, because to do that, I’d need to spend hours in the saddle. But I could fit in a 10 mile time trial, right?

And they’ve been brilliant. Here’s why I think everyone who cycles should try a time trial, at least once.

• They’re a fantastic workout! I am lucky in that I don’t find it hard to motivate myself to get out on my bike but I do struggle to make myself do harder training sessions. I am inherently lazy but a time trial forces me to stop pottering and start pushing myself!
• Time trials are the “race of truth”: no sitting on a wheel, it’s just down to you.
• Your improvement (or lack of!) is so measureable! Time trials are to cycling as Parkrun is to running.
• Headspace, mindfulness, zen, meditation, call it what you will: time trialling helps me chill out.
• They are addictive! You’re always searching for ways to shave seconds from your times.
• Meeting (great) new people, from all walks of life.
• They always leave me smiling!!!

Worries you might have...

“I don’t have the right kit” – no one does at first! You can do a time trial on any road bike (or non-road bike for that matter, good luck if you do that!)

“I’ll be too slow” – how do you know until you try? And you will improve as you do more! Plus in the words of Tony Dixon: “no one cares about your time except you”. Once you have done one it really is just about beating your previous time and you start to worry far less about what time others have done. And you will have the utmost respect from all riders for being brave enough to turn up.

There is one more opportunity to do a KVRC club 10 this season (Wednesday 28^th August, on Milnthorpe) but if you miss that, start training for April 2020, when it starts all over again!

Some links I’ve enjoyed:

Doing your first time trial https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/articles/view/28

Comparison of time saved versus money spent https://cyclingtips.com/2010/04/biggest-bang-for-your-buck-in-time-trial-equipment/

Pacing a time trial (GCN) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riNzvuQoL6U

Claire Rushton