1. What is a time trial?: A time trial is often called “the race of truth” as it is simply you and your bike against the clock. You start by yourself and race against your own body and mind. It’s an exhilarating experience you’ll want to repeat.

2. What equipment do I need?: One of the great things about the Beat-the-Clock (BTC) time trial series is that you can race it on your existing road bike (usually called “Merckx Style”) OR you can go full aerodynamic on a custom prepared time trial bike. To be more specific, the Merckx category is for standard road bike setups with open-section wheels (no aero bars or disc wheels). For the “normal” ITT category, you may use any bike, including a full aero TT setup. Some para-athletes may use handcycles or tricycles. Visually impaired para-athletes will ride tandems with a sighted pilot. Bikes need not be UCI-compliant for this event. In any case, you merely need register online (see #7 below), show up on site, and be on the start line ready to ride a few minutes ahead of your start. You WILL need a helmet as well of course!

3. Is this a race?: Technically it’s a training series, but when people show up to go fast it always ends up a race! But while each participant/team’s time is recorded, there are no placings or prizes. The beauty of the series is you can come back and try to beat your own time the next go round.

4. What category should I ride?: We offer basically five categories to choose from: men, women, para-cyclists, tandems, and teams. Teams may consist of 2-4 members and may either be all men, all women or a mix of men and women. See NOTES below for more details on team time trials. You can race more than once – simply register for a second category when you sign up (see #7 below). You can race on a time trial bike with aero position, disc wheels, and all the other “go fast” add-ons or “Merckx Style” with no additional aerodynamics, just you and your bike.

5. What course do we ride?: Beat-the-Clock (BTC) uses a long standing out-and-back course located on Canada Road. The start is just a few hundred yards North of the stop sign at Canada and Jefferson. You head north on Canada for approximately 5 miles to the turn around just before the lights at Highway 92. The course has 414 feet of climbing, with 312 of that on the return (southbound) leg. Here is a Strava link to the course:
Northbound: https://www.strava.com/segments/663291
Southbound: https://www.strava.com/segments/663292

6. How do I pace a 10-mile time trial? This is the magic question! Don’t start too hard, or all out! It’s a bit different for every course. For this course, the northbound leg starts downhill and is very fast so it’s easy to push too hard, but you still have to get back, which means climbing what you descended! Pace so that you feel like you are in control of your effort, but just barely. The great thing about the BTC series is you can come and do it again aiming to go faster!

7. How do I register?: Registration is as easy as following these links:
June 21: REGISTER
July 26: REGISTER
August 23: REGISTER

NOTES for Team Time Trials:

A team registering for the Beat the Clock team time trial(s) shall consist of a minimum of two riders and a maximum of four riders. Teams can comprise all female riders, all male riders, or a combination of female and male riders. All team members must use standard upright bicycles or tricycles (e.g. road bikes, TT/triathlon bikes).

When the team is called to the start, the team shall line up in single file at the start line and each rider shall place one foot on the ground awaiting the start signal. Team time trial finish times will be recorded as follows:

  • Four rider team – The team’s finish time will be based on the time when the third rider crosses the finish line.

  • Three rider team – The team’s finish time will be based on the time when the second rider crosses the finish line.

  • Two rider team – The team’s finish time will be based on the time when the second rider crosses the finish line.

  • All riders on the team must cross the finish line in order for the team’s finish time to be recorded.