Chichester Time Trials – Where to Start
If you have been out on the roads near Chichester in the summer, on an early morning at the weekend, or early evening during the week, you may have seen a cyclist (or several of them, spaced out at one minute intervals), with numbers pinned to their back, going at top speed. If, like me, you have seen this and thought “that looks fun”, then time trialling is for you!
Unless you are already part of the cycling community, you may wonder how on earth you can get involved. It is all straightforward, but to the novice, it can seem almost impossible. How do you find out where they would start and whether you are even allowed?
In Chichester, there are two regular time trial events, which anyone can join in with.
Hampshire Road Club organises a weekly time trial, and the headquarters are at the
Village Hall in West Stoke. Anybody can turn up on a Tuesday evening, from about 6:30, pay the fee (about £5) and join in. You must have a helmet and a working rear light (these requirements are standard for any time trial) but it is no more difficult than that. These time trials are friendly, and well organised, which makes them enjoyable for the novice. The friendly atmosphere is encouraged by the tea and biscuits afterwards! This is the ideal place to begin your time-trialling career.
It is about three miles to the start of the time trial – make sure you set off in plenty of time. I’m not the most organised of people, and there have been a few times when I have only just arrived for my start time. It’s not a good thing to go into the red in your warm up!
The course takes you through Funtington, into Chichester, past the fire station and rugby club, then up to Lavant and back to West Stoke.
The Bognor Regis Cycling Club time trial is a less obvious place to start. The course runs along the A27 from Fontwell, with a small diversion around Westhampnett before returning to Fontwell along the other side of the A27. The thought of racing towards Chichester alongside speeding lorries is daunting for many and the A27 certainly makes the ride less enjoyable. However, it is one of the safer time trials in the area – drivers can see you from a long way off and they have plenty of space to pass you. The flat course and good road surface encourage fast times, so taking part can be a confidence boost. Riding at full pelt along the A27 is not everyone’s idea of fun. But time trialling is only fun once it’s over!
The Headquarters for the Bognor Regis TT is usually at Eastergate Village Hall with the time trials taking place on Thursday evenings. It is normally advisable to arrive early, as there are limited places. However, there are no special requirements to be allowed to compete. The fee is the same as it is for the Hampshire TT.
Philip Wise – Chichester – Financial Advice, Financial Planning