Early May brings us lighter and (hopefully) warmer evenings, and with it the chance to pit ourselves against the clock over one of several time trial courses around Otley.
These low key events give any club members or guests chance to turn up of an evening, pin on a number, and go as hard as you want. It's one of the most accessible forms of racing out there, and as long as you have a road legal bike, a helmet and front and rear lights you're good to go.
We get a broad range turning up, from professional athletes to us rather more mortal riders, and all ages from youth up to veteran.
Rides are £4 per event for members (£5 for guests).
We also need assistant marshals to help the events run safely, so if you can spare an hour of an evening, please get in touch.
If anyone is interested and has questions, please contact series organiser (liammealey@hotmail.com) or the club. It would be great to see some new faces out there.
THE COURSES:
There are several courses we use throughout the season of varying distance and difficulty.
THE TRIANGLE: The course that gives the name to the series. It starts in Arthington, just east of Pool by the viaduct. The 12.5mile course heads east towards Harewood Bridge, turns left up the A61 as far as the Harrogate roundabout, left onto first exit back through Huby to Pool and left to finish by the start. Note, we ask you to comply with the 20mph zone through Pool.
THE HILLY: A 14mile hillier course. Starts in a layby on the Farnley Park, Farnley. Heads east to the bridge, turns left onto B6161, up Leathley Bank toward Beckwithshaw. Turn left onto Norwood Lane toward Norwood Village, left onto B6451 over Norwood Edge, back to Farnley, and left to finish by start.
WALSHFORD (V212): A flatter, less technical 10mile course. Starts at Rabbit Hill on A168 between Boroughbridge and Walshford. Heads south to roundabout at Walshford. Head back north, past start to finish just past Arkendale turn.
WALSHFORD (V235): A 15mile extension of the above, continuing on north to the Boroughbridge roundabout before heading back south to finish by start. 30mile event is two laps of this. 25mile is mix of the two Walshford routes.
POINTS COMPETITION:
As well as seeking personal improvement, we run a handicapped points system to reward consistency and improvement throughout the series. Based on a nominal 30min time for the main Triangle course (scaled for other courses), after your first ride you will be given a plus or minus handicap time. A further correction is applied of 2s per point already achieved in the series. This handicap equalises times of different riders, and in the past has led to some very close competitions between racers of very different actual speeds.