After the 30-mile suffer-fest of last week’s Edmunds Cup time trial, this week’s is exactly half the difference but likely to result in comparable volumes of perspiration as the course takes in climb number 136 of Veloviewer’s top 100 UK climbs (no, me neither!). Riders will follow part of our road race route, doing two 7.5 mile laps, ascending Edge Hill each time.
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:
- For 2023, 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, entrants can now just turn up, sign on, pay and race
- Front lights and helmets become mandatory, even for hill climbs. Rear lights have been required for several years.
Race HQ
Race Registration
Having said no registration is required, it would really help the timekeeping team in deciding your handicap allowance if you could pre-register your best time on the K4/25 course (or K4/20 if this is your first time) using this link:
https://forms.gle/YroYp3pdvGGDbmNe7
Sign-on and race number collection starts from 6pm in the car park just by the National Herb Centre and closes at 6.40pm with the first riders off at 7.01pm.
Race Officials
Timekeepers: Rhys Martin and Oli Wright
Marshals: Alex Putt, Lydia Watts, Mike Wisowski and Team Cherwell (Gyles Horner)
Race Route
After a standing start at the end of Camp Lane, the speed immediately increases as riders descend Warmington Hill, 50mph is easy to achieve if you’re brave enough to go into a tuck and stay on the aero bars, you’ll want to keep this speed for as long as possible to continue along the next part of the B4100 where the 10% hill is then encountered. After a sharp left turn at the bottom of the hill you enjoy the smooth tarmac of the army barrack’s perimeter road and can ready yourself for the first ascent of Edge Hill where you will demonstrate your inner mountain goat to the massed hordes of cow bell-ringing spectators. On cresting the hill, it’s a left turn onto Camp Lane and before you know it you’ve completed the first lap – and then you get to do it all over again!
Course records
| Date | Name | Time | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 2021 | Simon Bull | 1:12:08 | M | BSCC |
| 22 Jun 2022 | Jon Simpkins | 1:10:47 | M | Non-BSCC |
| 23 Jun 2021 | Naomi de Pennington | 1:16:51 | F | BSCC |
| 21 Jun 2023 | Naomi de Pennington | 1:17:05 | F | Non-BSCC Drag2Zero |
| 22 Jun 2022 | Peggy Simpkins | 1:29:42 | F U18 | BSCC |
| M U18 | BSCC |
Entry fees
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
Parking: £1
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