Passing the Test

A couple of weeks back I took time here to have right old grump about time trialling and how it was cheerily letting the cycling boom pass it by. Since then I have been brooding and thinking that if I have not postive suggestion I should belt up. So it got me thinking, what would I change if I could.

 The sport is run by lots of really dedictated people who put a huge amount in. No of this meant as a disrespect to them. That said if anyone mentions residual ill feeling resulting from the conflict between the British League of Racing Cyclists and the National Cycling Union I cannot promise to be polite.

Ok so here goes;

1)      Merge CTT with British Cycling. BC is a well-funded highly successful and growing body supporting the sport. Time trialling loses a great deal and gains little from operating as a separate body.

 

2)      Develop links with Triathlon around our shared discipline. Tri has a younger and move mixed following.

3)      Develop modern customer friendly online entry system that allows entry on line and on the start line.

4)      End the requirement for entrants to be members of cycling clubs. TTing is a simple and accessible entry to the sport. Riders may come to join a club once they get involved. The priority is getting them involved.

5)      Radically change the competition rules around BAR. The desire to record fast times drives organisers and riders to run event of flat featureless courses. The fun and true test of skill offered by many sporting courses is missed. Move to a system of scoring based on placing rather than time.

6)       Introduce age group prizes rather than the rather the impenetrable Vet standards.

7)      Encourage new types of organisations to promote events like Wiggle and Evans are doing for sportive and MTB events.

8)      Use modern technology such a chip timing

9) For a great event an entry fee of over £8 might be great value, you never know. TTing is a sport with people riding £3k bikes moaning about being on a fixed income when it comes to paying for a cup of tea.

 

There you go, got that off my chest.