THE CLUB'S TIME TRIALLING HISTORY
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Worthing Excelsior has always been involved in time trialling, from the earliest days of our history, and well before the regulation of the discipline by the Road Time Trials Council (now Cycling Time Trials). From the earliest days of the 20th. century members of the Club were competing for Gold medals in what were then called standard rides over long distances and over roads in extremely poor condition.
The race against the clock or the race of truth has always provided riders, of whatever standard with an opportunity to ride with, and compare themselves against, the stars of their day. There is the personal ambition of improvement, and always someone else of similar standard to compete against. Along with touring and social riding, in particular the Club Run, time trialling still constitutes a principal activity of the Club. The Southern Counties Cycling Union was founded in 1898 and was organising all types of competitive cycle sport including track and road racing. It first promoted a 100 mile time trial in 1908 and we were by then a member club. |
Mr. Doug Argent in 1921
Later he became Club President |
The Sussex Cyclists' Association was formed in 1921 to organise time trialling in the County and we were one of the founder members. The formation of the Road Time Trials Council was in 1938 and regional Councils were set up to organise and regulate the promotion of time trialling on the public highway. We were among the first to affiliate and have remained members ever since. Our time trials are run in accordance with CTT regulations.
In 1948 Clubs in East Sussex formed their own Association to regulate events to the east of the A23 the London to Brighton Road. They did not however prevent their member clubs from remaining with the SCA so many Clubs were affiliated to both. Talks of a merger over the years have never produced a result but there is collaboration in many ways and in recent years they have accepted Worthing Excelsior as a full member and we are able to offer our riders a full East Sussex programme in which to compete as well as those of the SCCU and the SCA. Generally though the ESCA events remain east of the A23 and the SCA promotions take place on roads to the west.
In 1948 Clubs in East Sussex formed their own Association to regulate events to the east of the A23 the London to Brighton Road. They did not however prevent their member clubs from remaining with the SCA so many Clubs were affiliated to both. Talks of a merger over the years have never produced a result but there is collaboration in many ways and in recent years they have accepted Worthing Excelsior as a full member and we are able to offer our riders a full East Sussex programme in which to compete as well as those of the SCCU and the SCA. Generally though the ESCA events remain east of the A23 and the SCA promotions take place on roads to the west.
Inter-Club event at Shoreham 1924
Rider: Henty, Gent - with armband, Mr. Patching |
Time trials have for much of the time been held over 'Standard Distances' i.e. 10, 25, 30, 50, and 100 miles and over 12 hours and 24 hours. With the increasing motor vehicle population and the invasion from traffic lights, non standard distances, frequently on circuit type courses have become much more common and there has been a move away from the flat courses to those of a more 'sporting' nature. There has also been the innovation of team time trials where riders in teams of usually no more than four ride together and pace each other. On top of that there's the Hill Climb for the anti-gravity experts.
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No type of machine is forgotten there is competition for tandems, tricycles and even tandem tricycles. Lately promoters have started including special awards for 'fixed wheel' machines or those without tri-bars. For many years a favourite of the fixed wheel exponents was the low-gear event, usually 72 inches and normally achieved with a 48 tooth chainwheel and an 18 tooth rear cog. This was a gear ratio to test the best of the cadence experts.
Throughout the history of time trialling there has always been the 'Place to Place' and The Roads Records Association was set up to oversee these. Lands End to John O'Groats or the End to End whichever way is probably the most famous of these. There are though many others between principal towns and cities all over the country. Worthing Excelsior like most Club's has it's own 'Place to Place' records but most are now destined to stay on the shelf, in view of the obstacles (road furniture) that now exist. For example a Worthing to Brighton and back becomes somewhat more difficulty if around fifty sets of traffic light have to be negotiated!
Over the years the Club has provided Champions at County level and many times achieved winning teams in SCA Championships at all distances. ln some periods we were quite dominant at the short distance events and then in other times our prowess was best seen in the |00 mile and 12 hour competitions. As well as having competitor involvement the Club like other member Clubs has done its share of promotion of events for the SCA, this in addition to promoting its own events for open competition.
Throughout the history of time trialling there has always been the 'Place to Place' and The Roads Records Association was set up to oversee these. Lands End to John O'Groats or the End to End whichever way is probably the most famous of these. There are though many others between principal towns and cities all over the country. Worthing Excelsior like most Club's has it's own 'Place to Place' records but most are now destined to stay on the shelf, in view of the obstacles (road furniture) that now exist. For example a Worthing to Brighton and back becomes somewhat more difficulty if around fifty sets of traffic light have to be negotiated!
Over the years the Club has provided Champions at County level and many times achieved winning teams in SCA Championships at all distances. ln some periods we were quite dominant at the short distance events and then in other times our prowess was best seen in the |00 mile and 12 hour competitions. As well as having competitor involvement the Club like other member Clubs has done its share of promotion of events for the SCA, this in addition to promoting its own events for open competition.
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Members have ridden events in practically every County and even in Scotland and we have had representatives in National Championships from 10 miles to 24 hours and a best effort of 9th place in the National Hill Climb just a few years back.
Every category of rider is catered for with competition open to men, women, juniors and school boys and girls. A great many veteran riders (over 40 years) compete and while remaining seriously competitive with the younger riders do have separate competition available as governed by the Veteran Time Trials Association. All based on 'Standard Times' for standard distances and age related. This is an area where we have had considerable success in recent years. |
Dennis Dean rode fifty miles in 2 hrs. 6 mins. 38 secs.
on 6th July 1947 |
Combined competitions where aggregates or averages decide the winners have also been with us for a long time. The best known is the Best All Rounder where average speeds are calculated over rides at short medium and long distance. Another is a competition where points are awarded not for time but for finishing positions and aggregated over a season. Then there is a handicapping system where an allowance based on previous performance is allowed and there would then be a separate award in this category.
Worthing Excelsior's affiliation to the CTT, the SCCU, the SCA and the ESCA enables riders to compete in a wide range of events both locally and in other parts of the Country. Along with club events which include eight Sunday morning events, seventeen evening ten mile events and three hill climbs it would be possible to race well over 50 times in a season. A full season of time trialling could run from early in February until the middle of October.
Worthing Excelsior's affiliation to the CTT, the SCCU, the SCA and the ESCA enables riders to compete in a wide range of events both locally and in other parts of the Country. Along with club events which include eight Sunday morning events, seventeen evening ten mile events and three hill climbs it would be possible to race well over 50 times in a season. A full season of time trialling could run from early in February until the middle of October.
