A time-trial is bike racing at its simplest – just you, the bike and the clock. But don’t confuse simple with easy.
There are no wheels to follow, no pack to hide in, and it hurts from the moment the starter shouts “Go!” to when you cross the line.
The TT offers a different kind of satisfaction to bunch racing or a cafe ride with your mates. Nobody sits on your wheel and then jumps out to beat you in the last 100m. Barring a mechanical or a sudden change in the wind, the best rider wins, but more than that, it’s a pure test of your ability to ride a bike fast.
Finish your first time-trial and, when you’ve wiped the sweat from your eyes, most riders will have the same thought: “I want to go faster!”
Time trials remain popular because they are a very accessible form of racing – you don’t need any particular equipment or skills, just a bike and the ability to ride it.
Time trialling has two golden rules: keep your head up and watch where you are going. You must ride the course alone and unaided unless you are U16. This means that you mustn’t shelter behind or alongside other riders or vehicles (even that tempting tractor!). If another rider catches you, you must not ‘sit on their wheel’ or take turns at the front with them. If you catch another rider, assuming that it is safe to do so, you must go straight past them.
Colchester Rovers encourage entries on Road Bikes, which provides real competition and challenge without the need for a dedicated Time-Trial bike. TT bikes are also welcome, though. Link here to our 2025 Road Bike TT regulations.
The schedule for this season and booking links for the evening time trial series are available HERE. The series consists of 23 events starting on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025. Events will be run on four courses between 7 miles and 15 miles. We see this year as a great opportunity to encourage new riders to try this easiest of competitive formats and are looking to build a great core of riders for future seasons.
This year, our TT season has been put together by Matt Haigh with volunteers and admin organised by Dave Scrimshaw and Steven Little, who will need the support of riding/non-riding volunteers to enable the events to take place. To help with organising this, a VOLUNTEER SHEET is available for all riders who ride regularly to offer their support. You will appreciate that the events cannot run safely and effectively if all the necessary roles are not covered. When you volunteer, you will definitely be called upon on the night.
All Events are open to enter on Eventbrite, and the entry for each event will close strictly at midnight on the preceding Monday evening.
All events will open to Road Bike and TT bikes.
The Evening TT Championship result will be assessed on the riders best 13 results out of the 23 events. Prizes will be awarded in Female, Male and Youth/Junior categories, for both Road Bike and TT bike classes, subject to sufficient qualifiers.
CRCC have offered neighbouring clubs the opportunity to run an evening Inter-Club TT using a date in our schedule, more info when events are selected.
All competitors must wear a protective helmet and have an operating and clearly visible white front light and red rear light. Full details of the CTT regulations can be found here:
All TT events must be entered in advance via the clubs Eventbrite TT page.
Entry must be submitted on the following timeline:
For all Wednesday Races, entries close at midnight on Monday before the event
Late entries are only accepted at the organiser’s discretion
Rovers members (1st & 2nd Claim) will be £5.50 per event.
Guests from other local clubs can ride a private TT for £6.50 per event
Refunds will be made for event cancellations.
(Please Note that £4 of the entry fee is payable to the CTT who provides our insurance)
Click on the buttons below to find all the appropriate links.