Cycling Time Trials (CTT), the governing body for time trialling in the UK, has launched ‘Tribes’ an online, team-based competition.
This new initiative looks to encourage cyclists from all over the UK to participate in time trial events, competing for national team podiums whilst fostering a sense of camaraderie and collective achievement.
CTT notes that… ‘Even among cyclists, time trialling has a reputation for being a lonely affair; a solitary rider competing in a race of truth against the clock and themselves over a set distance. Add in the time spent travelling the country to find ‘fast’ courses that coincide with ‘fast’ conditions and racers do indeed spend a lot of time in their own company.
‘But enter a village hall HQ on the day of an event and you will find a thriving community of like-minded souls talking bikes and cycling over tea and cake as they await the results.’
CTT is looking to take that sense of community out onto the road with its new Tribes competition. Emphasising a ‘Race Locally to Compete Nationally’ concept, Tribes is a new online initiative that aims to reward performance and teamwork, wherever it takes place, over simply recording a fast finish time.
This means that to be competitive cyclists don’t need to chase ‘fast’ courses or standard distances, and that participation in local events enables riders to contribute to their team’s score in a national competition, helping to promote sustainability by reducing travel costs and lowering carbon footprints.
‘Taking part couldn’t be easier as you are automatically entered whenever you sign up for a CTT Open Event, and the competition is powered by Spindata.’
Spindata is a system that ranks time trial results across the UK by using time and relative position to other riders. The scores are directly comparable between events, so there is no advantage to riding a ‘faster’ course or chasing ‘ideal’ conditions. Riders can compete wherever they are, on any bike, and all they need to do is their best.
There are four key principles to Tribes, and cyclists that are taking part should follow the steps:
- Choose Bike
- Ride Three Races
- Make Up Tribe
- Improve Score
The initiative harkens back to the golden era of the 1960s and 1970s when team competitions were a significant aspect of time trialling, with numerous team prizes up for grabs. Tribes aims to leverage this nostalgia to appeal to veteran cyclists while introducing a fresh concept for those that are younger, or new to the sport.
Complementing the Tribes initiative is the new Event Finder tool on the CTT website which allows users to find events close to them that are still open for entry using postcode search functionality.
CTT adds that… ‘Event Finder and Tribes work hand-in-hand: to improve your score, you must find and participate in events, making the process seamless and accessible.’
Based on Google cloud technology, the new Event Finder tool includes modern features such as calendars, route planners, and social sharing options. Cyclists can share with friends or their Tribes from over 3,000 event details on the CTT website, enhancing community engagement and participation.
Andrea Parish, Chair of CTT, said “We are incredibly excited about launching the new Tribes initiative, and I am certain the Event Finder tool is going to be a game changer for us.
“These innovations are set to pave the way for greater accessibility and involvement in the sport of time trialling. By bringing these features to our platform, we hope to make it easier than ever for cyclists to get involved and enjoy the sport, fostering both individual and team growth.”
Nick Wild, founder of Spindata, added “The integration of Spindata and the introduction of a standalone category for road bikes in recent years have really opened the door for new participants in time trialling and paved the way for Tribes. Hopefully the new competition, along with CTT’s Event Finder, will inspire even more riders to start their racing journeys.”
