Winter is just about behind us, giving way to the lighter evenings of spring which means attention in the racing community turns to the start of the 2023 club time trial season. Last year saw some epic racing taking place on our various courses with record-breaking performances from the likes of Naomi de Pennington and Josh Newbould being rewarded with them being snaffled up by Drag2Zero and we look forward to seeing some not-just marginal gains this year. Their performance at Hardriders certainly showed they’ve carried on with the good form.
As is traditional, the very first club race is the the five mile “come and try it event”, a gentle introduction before things kick off in earnest around the 20km course in April. Please don’t feel you need an expensive, dedicated time trial bike either…..
Changes for 2023
Before jumping into the details of the race, there are some important changes for 2023 which all riders must be aware of:
- We have decided to return to the umbrella of Cycling Time Trials which provides more flexibility and also allows us to host guest riders from other clubs who won’t have to pay any kind of third-party membership, we hope to see riders from around the region come to test themselves
- There is no pre-race registration for the first time since 2019, you can just turn up, sign on, pay and race, a return to the good old days
- Front lights and helmets become mandatory, even for hill climbs. Rear lights have been required for several years
Race HQ
Sign-on and race number collection starts from 5.30pm in the layby on the B4100 just before Gaydon and closes at 6.10pm with the first rider off at 6.31pm. If you are unsure, just ask someone to point you in the direction of the timekeeper – they’ll be the stressed-looking person holding a pen, clipboard, payment machine, race numbers and safety pins all whilst appearing to also herd cats.
Please note there are no toilets available here.
Additional Parking
If the car park is full and you park in Gaydon village please do so responsibly and with respect for the residents.
Race Officials
Timekeepers: Rhys Martin and Oli Wright
Marshals: TBD, Team Cherwell
Race Route
After a standing start (which is relatively flat so clipping in won’t pose a problem), the course takes riders up a small ramp to the first roundabout where a left turn is made heading for Kineton. The road is now predominantly flat but the gentle bends make it difficult to spot your minuteman and judge your pace. On arriving at Kineton, a u-turn is made at the first roundabout and it’s a mad dash back to Gaydon with the finish line located just at the top of a small, lung-busting, leg-burning rise.
Course records
| Date | Name | Time | CLUB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Sep 2022 | Josh Newbould | 00:10:09 | BSCC M | BSCC |
| 4 Sep 2019 | Charlie Quarterman | 0:09:45 | Non-BSCC M | Non-BSCC (Zappi Holdsworth) |
| 8 Sep 2021 | Naomi de Pennington | 00:11:56 | BSCC F | BSCC |
| 29 Mar 2023 | Sian Marsh | 00:11:23 | Non-BSCC F | Non-BSCC (Team Boompods) |
| 31 Mar 2021 | Louis Bushby | 00:11:29 | M U18 | BSCC |
| 7 Sep 2022 | Peggy Simpkins | 00:12:32 | F U18 | BSCC |
| 7 Sep 2022 | Sam Martin | 00:12:15 | M U16 | BSCC |
| 31 Mar 2021 8 Sep 2021 | Peggy Simpkins Poppy Kisley | 00:13:21 00:13:21 | F U16 | BSCC |
Entry fees
For this first TT of the year we’ve reached down the back of the club sofa, found a few coins and so have waived all entry fees, it’s a freebie on Banbury Star!
All riders who have to pay will do so by contactless means at the race HQ before collecting their number. We accept payment via debit card, credit card, Apply Pay, Google Pay, Android Pay but no cash, IOUs or promises of beer are accepted!
Banbury Star members who have paid the TT supplement: £0
Other Banbury Star members: £3
Team Cherwell members: £4 (paid by club)
Other guests: £5
BSCC members can opt to pay the TT supplement at any point during the season.
Useful links
The Timekeeper’s Top Ten Time Trial Tips – by Keri Williams
2023 Time Trial Calendar and Marshal Roster