Cycling Time Trials: Encyclopedia II - Cycling Time Trials - Early history

Cycling Time Trials - Early history

Since 1890, the National Cyclists' Union (an association established to organise and regulate bicycle racing) had banned all cycle racing on public roads. However, there were riders who wanted to race on the road, and Frederick Thomas Bidlake came up with the idea of promoting time trials. As riders would be racing against the clock, not against other competitors in a large group, they would, he argued, be less likely to attract attention; advance event publicity was prohibited, and riders were initially obliged to wear 'inconspicuous clothing'. The first event was organised by the North Road Cycling Club, over 50 miles, and took place on 5 October 1895. Within two years, time trials had also been banned by the NCU, but events continued to be run on a secretive basis.

In 1922 Bidlake formed the Road Racing Council – membership of which was initially restricted to a small group of cycling clubs. However, as the sport flourished during the 1930s, the Council reviewed its constitution in 1937, opening up membership to all cycling clubs and changing its name to become the Road Time Trials Council, or RTTC (this step later avoided any potential for confusion when the breakaway British League of Racing Cyclists was formed in 1942).

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Early history", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki