Hardriders 25: The start of British time trial season (gallery)
Cycling Weekly hails the start of the time trial season by hanging out at the HQ of the Ely and District CC Hardriders 25

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Taking place in early to mid-February, the Ely and District CC Hardriders’ 25 is the traditional opener of the time trialling season in East Anglia.
The Fenland location may be relatively flat (the old Isle of Ely itself does make for a few undulations), but the winter wind and cracked, exposed lanes more than justify the event’s moniker.
>>> How to pace a long time trial (video)
As most participants’ first competitive outing of the year, the event at Little Downham marks something of a re-familiarisation process.
They’ll catch up with old friends, reacquaint with their aero kit and get back into the swing of that well-versed ritual of signing on, hearing the timekeeper’s countdown and standing around the results board with a cup of tea and a slice of Victoria sponge.
It was such nuances of time trialling that Cycling Weekly photographer Andy Jones went in search of at this year’s event on February 14.
>>> Find your perfect pace to optimise cycling performance
The weather and attire will no doubt evolve with the season, but week-in week-out from now to October, scenes like these will be repeated in village halls, car parks and lay-bys all over the country.
Above: Dressed for the cold, club stalwart Brian Cooper handles timekeeping duties at the start. The octogenarian helped found the Ely & DCC 45 years ago - as did Roy Benstead who also officiates at club events.
Above & below: Dressing for the early-season event is a compromise between aerodynamics and warmth. Twice in its 28-year history, winter weather has forced the postponement or cancellation of the event - most recently in 2013.
Above: At least signing on is still done with old fashioned pen and ink.
Above: One of the promoting club’s riders gets pushed off from the start. Alongside the club members competing, there were 25 volunteers helping out with officiating, marshalling and catering at the Hardriders.
Above: As competitors look on eagerly, organiser Steve Laurie pens up times on the results board. After 23 years of running the event, Laurie plans to hand next season’s Hardriders over to club chairman Martin Holland.
“It’s all becoming a bit too much to do,” Laurie says. “Demands have changed. People expect things to be done so much quicker. But I’ll still help out. Next year you’ll probably find me out in the cold, marshalling on a corner somewhere.”
Above: Riders analyse their times over a well-earned cuppa.
Above: A rider uses a smart phone to capture a quick record of the results board.
Above: How many race numbers get exchanged for a cup of tea during the time trial season? How many slices of cake get consumed? Quite a few if Ely & DCC’s tasty looking spread is anything to go by.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
-
-
Cycling keeps you fit but are you doing enough to stay healthy?
It’s possible to be very fit in one specific way, for example being fast on a bike, while being unhealthy in other ways
By Joe Laverick Published
-
Dr Hutch: Motor-doping isn't rife, there's no way cyclists would use it discreetly enough
Some fans think that motor-doping is rife, but Cycling Weekly's columnist Dr Hutch is having none of it
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
Racing on a budget vs no expense spared - here's the difference money made to my cycling performance
Just how much faster could an average rider go if they had access to all the best aerodynamic kit and knowledge? Cycling Weekly Editor, Simon Richardson went to find out...
By Simon Richardson Published
-
CW Live: Chris Froome targets return to 'top level'; UCI tightens ITT rules; Strava responds to price hike criticism; Topless protesters arrested at TDU; Tributes paid to Lieuwe Westra; Scott recalls 'cracking' bikes; Toon Aerts the PE teacher
The latest news in the world of cycling
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-
Sky high heart rates and sleepless nights: What it's like to be the parents of a World Champion
Thousands of miles from Wollongong, the parents of Britain’s new time trial world champions battled their nerves
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Time trial world champion Tobias Foss says he was hoping for top five at best
The Norwegian stunned the race favourites and himself in Wollongong
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-
Grace Brown and Rohan Dennis win Australian time trial titles
Dennis wins fourth title, Brown wins second, both in new team colours
By Adam Becket Published
-
British time trialist might have just broken the solo 100-mile record
A British time trialist might just have broken the solo 100-mile record, with a huge ride through the deserts of Qatar.
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
Aerocoach announces new national series of road bike-only time trials
If you’ve ever wanted to give time trialling a go, but were worried didn’t have the right kit, you’re certainly not alone.
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
Nine things you learn riding your first time trial
The world of time trialling is a bizarre spectacle to any outsider.
By Alex Ballinger Published