Friction & Hydraulics Services Series Open TTs 2024
Best 12 Events from the series. These are Open Events and you need to register in advance. Visit https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/
SCCA is not the race organiser for the other events and the creation of the league based on club events does not imply the SCCA is the event organiser. Queries regarding Race Organisation should be addressed to the promoting club.
*SCCA is an association of Cycling Clubs. Private membership is only available in special circumstances. The aim of the SCCA is to support the Association member clubs and enhance their Time Trial offering to their own membership.
The SCCA Friction and Hydraulics series consists of a number of Open (Type A) Time Trials which are organised and promoted by association member clubs.
Each club organisers the open TT in line with CTT rules and regulations.
Members of SCCA Association Clubs and Private members of the SCCA* will be allocated points for each ride based on their finishing position. These points aggregated through the season to provide a league place for each rider in the Friction and Hydraulics series. The SCCA only organises events where is it specifically noted as the promoting club.
Series Dates 2024
| Round | Date | Day | Course | Distance | Start Time | Promoting Club |
| 1 | 09/03/2024 | Saturday | D317/1 | 17 | 14:00 | Wrekinsport CC |
| 2 | 24/03/2024 | Sunday | D315/1 | 15 | 09:00 | Velotik RT |
| 3 | 07/04/2024 | Sunday | D320/1 | 20 | 09:00 | Paramount CRT |
| 4 | 14/04/2024 | Sunday | D25/20 | 25 | 08:00 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers |
| 5 | 20/04/2024 | Saturday | D21/22 | 21 | 14:00 | Bridgnorth CC |
| 6 | 12/05/2024 | Sunday | D350/1 | 50 | 07:00 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers |
| 7 | 19/05/2024 | Sunday | D30/11 | 30 | 08:00 | WCTTCA & SCCA |
| 8 | 25/05/2024 | Saturday | D7/10 | 10 | 15:00 | Newport Shropshire CC |
| 9 | 27/05/2024 | Monday | D100/8 | 100 | 06:00 | Anfield BC |
| 10 | 02/06/2024 | Sunday | D25/23T | 25 | 07:30 | Chester Road Club |
| 11 | 05/06/2024 | Wednesday | D310/1 | 10 | 19:00 | Hafren CC |
| 12 | 09/06/2024 | Sunday | D350/1 | 50 | 07:00 | WCTTCA |
| 13 | 23/06/2024 | Sunday | D25/8e | 25 | 07:00 | Birkenhead North End CC |
| 14 | 27/06/2024 | Thursday | D25/24R | 25 | 19:00 | Shropshire CCA |
| 15 | 06/07/2024 | Saturday | R10/6B | 10 | 14:00 | Ludlow CC |
| 16 | 07/07/2024 | Sunday | D100/8 | 100 | 06:00 | National Champ, SCCA & WCTTCA |
| 17 | 11/07/2024 | Thursday | D10/8 | 10 | 19:00 | Oswestry Paragon CC |
| 18 | 13/07/2024 | Saturday | D310/3 | 10 | 15:00 | Emergency Services Championship |
| 19 | 14/07/2024 | Sunday | D25/23T | 25 | 08:00 | Emergency Services Championship |
| 20 | 17/08/2024 | Saturday | D310/3 | 10 | 15:00 | Wrekinsport CC |
| 21 | 25/08/2024 | Sunday | D25/23T | 25 | 08:00 | North Shropshire Wheelers |
| 22 | 08/09/2024 | Sunday | D25/23T | 25 | 07:00 | Merseyside VTTA |
| 23 | 15/09/2024 | Sunday | D25/23T | 25 | 07:30 | WCTTCA |
| 4-Up | 04/08/2024 | Sunday | K52/50km | 50km | 10:00 | Shropshire CCA |
Courses for all events can be found here
There are currently major road works on some of the courses. Rounds 6,8,14 & 16 are likely to change. Course changes will be advised by promoting clubs and through SCCA Twitter found here
Friction & Hydraulics Services Series – how to win
The Friction & Hydraulics Services Series pulls together all solo Open events run by the Association and its member clubs taking place in and around Shropshire. Open events have stricter entry conditions than club events, requiring pre-entry 11-12 days prior to the event at the latest. They often attract riders from outside the County and so the standard is usually higher, and it’s here that you’ll find the longest time trialling distances. Depending on organiser preference entry may be either online via the CTT website, or by post via a paper entry form, also available on the CTT website under the ‘Forms’ dropdown. Clothing regulations are stricter than for club 10’s, so if you are new to Opens a word with an experienced time trialling club mate who will know the regulations is recommended.
The field will normally be seeded, with a formal start sheet and result sheet issued. There’s usually prize money for the best riders in a variety of categories set out by club or organiser preference. The traditional format places the fastest riders on ‘0’ and ‘5’ numbers, whilst the ‘Championship’ format seeds riders from slowest to fastest based upon stated previous best performance over the previous three seasons. An HQ is almost always used, often a village hall or similar, with a good social gathering afterwards for tea and cakes.
Clothing regulations are stricter than for club 10’s, so if you are new to Opens a word with an experienced time trialling club mate who will know the regulations is recommended.
All riders from SCCA member clubs automatically qualify for points, whilst Shropshire-based riders of non-affiliated clubs can also join in by taking out private SCCA membership. For 2022 there are 20 rounds, with bonus points awarded for longer events to encourage riders to stretch themselves. Points from a rider’s highest scoring 12 rounds count towards cumulative positions in each category, with separate points awarded over four categories:
- Overall
- Veterans on Standard – for over-40 riders, based on how much a target time is beaten (or missed) by. Standards become more generous with age
- Women’s
- Juniors – 12-18 year olds (18 year olds are classed as Juniors for the calendar year their 18th birthday falls in)
It is thus possible for a rider to meet the criteria to be ranked for different points in as many as three categories. Gold, Silver and Bronze County medals are awarded in each category, with the winners also holding an annual trophy each.
Points are awarded as follows:
- Standard: 60 points for a win, 55 points for second down to 5 points for finishing
- 50 miles: 70 points for a win, 65 for second down to 10 points for finishing
- 100 miles: 80 points for a win, 75 for second down to 15 points for finishing
The Series also incorporates the Top Club Award, with all points from all rounds gained via the Overall category counting towards each club’s tally. The competition for this award is hot, and whilst the fastest riders often contribute big points every rider can assist their club’s cumulative score. For this purpose only points won by private members are excluded.
Four of the events are County Championships at the ‘Standard’ distances of 10, 25, 50 and 100 miles, and additional Championship medals are awarded in the same categories shown above for these major events.
A tie results in both (or all) tied riders being awarded the higher points, so for instance two riders tying for runner-up spot in a 10 mile event: both receive 55 points.
Note that from 2020 a fixed or flashing red rear light is COMPULSORY when starting: no light, no ride due to need to comply with insurance conditions.
From 2022 a front light is also mandatory.
Guidance note on the CTT website.
https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/documents/index/guidance