Rules and Regulations
TIME TRIAL RULES
TO RIDE A TIME TRIAL, FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES IT IS NECESSARY TO BE A MEMBER OF CCS OR TO BE A MEMBER OF ANOTHER CTT (CYCLING TIME TRIALS) AFFILIATED CLUB.
TO ASSIST THOSE NEW TO TIME TRIALS. IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF CYCLING TIME TRIALS (C.T.T.) THE FOLLOWING REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN SUMMARISED BELOW.
NOTE BEFORE YOU TAKE PART IN ANY TIME TRIAL WHETHER IT IS AN OPEN EVENT OR A CLUB EVENT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THE FOLLOWING AND THAT YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
These notes are extracts from “Time Trialing for Beginners” and “The young Riders Guide” the C.T.T. Handbook and Local Regulations of the East District C.T.T., being the main features from the regulations relating to racing and the competitors behaviour, but in no way do they detract from or alter those regulations. There are addition Regulations regarding Open events, as opposed to Club events.
1. MINIMUM AGE.
The minimum age for competitors is 12 years. This is in the interest of safety as most of the Time Trials are conducted on the open public highways and it is not practicable to try and supervise all minors throughout the event. It is therefore essential that young competitors know the Highway Code and are competent to ride on the roads alone, and have the authorization of their parents to complete ( if under 18 years of age) on a consent form, available at events signing on.
2. TIME TRIAL RACES and PACED OR COMPANY RIDING.
The minimum distance for a time trial is generally 10 miles, but shorter races are permitted for club events. There are also 25, 30, 50, 100 mile and even 12hrs. and 24hrs. as well as Special distance and Hill Climb events. These are termed “Opens” which are detailed in the C.C.T. Handbook. Riders start at one minute intervals, or sometimes more, and cover the course as fast as they are able ALONE and without taking pace from other competitors or vehicles. A competitor overtaking another rider must pass without receiving or giving shelter. The onus of avoiding company riding shall be upon the rider overtaking.
3. SAFETY.
The races are held on open roads and the competitors must obey the law of the land relating to road travel before during and after the race. Competitors must be responsible for their own safety and also avoid creating situations which are unsafe for other road users, in particular; Visibility. A cyclist is less likely to be seen than a car or a lorry by drivers of other vehicles. You need to remember this when approaching any road junction. To improve visibility from the rear (as well as identifying the rider) all riders are required to wear a bright fluorescent NUMBER on their rear. This needs to be positioned on the rider’s shorts from the waistband downwards, or near to that position. (Not high on the back like a runner’s number). It is a CTT recommendation, and a CCS Club rule, that a working rear light, either flashing or constant, is fitted to the machine in a position visible to following road users and is active whilst the machine is in use.
4. U-TURNS; East District Reg 8
U-turns will not be permitted on the course or roads adjacent to the start and finish areas while the race is in progress. Note any breaking of this regulation in the first case may mean disqualification from the event; further cases will be referred to the District council.
Definition: a U-turn is defined as a 180 degree turn completed within the highway whilst astride the machine (it is recommended that the rider should dismount check the road is clear in both directions, then with the machine walk across the road.)
5. HEAD DOWN RIDING
Head down riding is another major hazard as the rider will not see an obstacle on the road. Even on a Clearway cars may stop at the side of the road and it is no good saying “The car should not have been there“. The answer is “You should have seen it”. Riders must keep a proper look-out at all times. Head Down riding can normally result in suspension by the District Council from completion (i.e. club and open events).
6. CLOTHING and HELMETS
Clothing is generally a short or long sleeved top or racing vest and shorts or training bottoms. Baggy trousers can get caught in chains and are not suitable. C.T.T. strongly advises you to wear a Hard Shell Helmet that meets international accepted standards. ALL competitors under the age of 18years and / or Juniors in accordance with rule 15 must wear a properly affixed helmet that should conform to the recognized Standard such as Shell B95EN1078. or EN1078.
7. NUMBERS (East District reg.11).
Numbers will be at the HQ and not at the start. On C.C.S. Club events riders must sign on 15 mins. before the start time.
8. WARMING UP (East District reg. 12) TURBO TRAINERS (East District reg.15).
No warming up on the course by competitors once an event has started. The use of Turbo Trainers is banned at all events with am. Start times.
9. DNS. (did not start) and DNF (did not finish).
Riders must inform the start timekeeper if they are not going to ride for whatever reason. Riders who fail to finish the course must inform the timekeepers. Riders must not approach the timekeepers to ask for their times until the event has finished.
10. OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW.
All competitors in or the vicinity of the event must:
(a) Not ride in a manner unsafe to themselves or other road users.
(b) Ride on the left except for safe overtaking and when making right hand turns.
© conform to all traffic signs, signals and direction indicators.
(d) In making any turn before, during or after the event, ensure that it is safe to do so.
11. MOTOR VEHICLES
A competitor shall not be preceded, accompanied, followed by or in any way receive assistance from a motorized vehicle or its occupants.
12. ACCIDENTS, MEDICAL TREATMENT and DRUGS.
If you have an accident during a race, even minor, you must report it to the Event Secretary as soon as possible. A person may not complete who is knowingly suffering from any disease, mental or physical disorder or is having medical treatment making it unsafe or undesirable to do so: or is receiving medical treatment which could include a proscribed substance (details in the C.T.T. handbook reg.25).
13. THE BICYCLE/ TRIKE/ TANDEM.
This should be roadworthy. Mountain bikes may be used (but for the C.C.S. evening point’s series see C.C.S. rules appendix A-13). Your brake levers must be positioned so that you can get to them quickly in the event of an emergency from your normal riding positions. Clamp-on Triathlon bars with forearm supports, and equivalents, may be used. A solid disc wheel may be used at the rear of your bike but must not be fitted as the front wheel. Spoked and composite spoked (tri-spoked) wheels may be used. Use of breakable vessels for food or drinks is prohibited.
14. ROAD JUNCTIONS AND ROUNDABOUTS.
These can be a hazard. Competitors are travelling much faster than motorists are used to seeing cyclists moving, which may cause the motorist to make an error of judgement. Be ready for it.
15. ENTERING RACES.
You must be a member of a club which is affiliated to the C.T.T. unless the event is a “Come and Try it Event”. Being a B.C.F. or C.T.C. member does not generally qualify you to ride Time Trial events. Entry to the Club events is usually by “Entry on the Line”. You will need to sign the Clubs entry form and if under 18 must show the organizer a Parental Consent Form. Open Events. You must send an official entry form together with the entry fee to the organizer before the closing date of the event see C.T.T. handbook.
16. COURSES and WARMING UP.
Whilst Marshals are appointed to assist riders to get round the course, it is your responsibility to make sure you know the route to follow in the race. No warming up on the course once the event has started and HEADS UP please.
17. CANCELLED, POSTPONDED EVENTS OR COURSE CHANGES.
Any of the above is at the discretion of the organizer or timekeeper if they deem that the weather conditions are bad or if there is a hazard on the course. HAVE A GOOD RIDE
Revised rules March 2010 B.W. for C.C.S.