Is competing in Time trials "racing"

[Justinslow]

I'm not sure about the risk taking bit . I guess that's up to you but I wouldn't take a risk on a DC to save any seconds . If I thought something wasn't right I'd just go home .

I think for me what I'm talking about is general roadcraft whilst on a TT, say approaching a junction - slowing down late, or when I marshalled the other day I saw several people enter a roundabout as a vehicle was circulating when perhaps they should have waited.........nothing too serious.

 

[winjim]

The Isle of Man TT (motorcycles) is time trialing and not mass start and definitely is racing - but on closed roads, hill climbing is similar. It is a strange one that we are allowed to "race" on public roads at relatively high speeds (for cycles) and take some risks at junctions or roundabouts or general road positioning to save a few seconds!
Long may it continue (safely).

Although of course in the Isle of Man, although the TT races are TTs, TT doesn't actually stand for TT.

 

[Justinslow]

No, Tourist Trophy.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Yes.

 

[jowwy]

Its a time trial - you against the clock

Its not a race against others and therefore some dont class it as a race

 

[Cuchilo]

Only the slow ones ( like me ) Everyone else is classing it as a race .

 

[Drago]

It is possible to still be s race without having another human competitor out there with you.

If its an athletic endeavour, and if you're trying to go faster than another human competitor then, by both the dictionary and common sense definition if the word, it is a 'race'.

"contest between runners, horses, vehicles etc. to see which is fastest in covering a set course."

 

[PK99]

The Cycle Racing on Highways Regulations, 1960 (and 1980 and 1995 amendments)

http://lvrc.org/documents/road_traffic_act_1960.pdf


...‘time trial’ means a race or trial of speed between bicycles or tricycles, not being motor vehicles, so arranged and conducted-
...'bicycle race' means a race or trial of speed between bicycles or tricycles, not being motor vehicles, which is not a time trial;

 

[Drago]

How is a conventional race not a time trial, given that every single rider is trying to set the fastest time?

 

[w00hoo_kent]

How is a conventional race not a time trial, given that every single rider is trying to set the fastest time?

Because it's a conventional race. Just the same as a bakewell tart and an eccles cake are both cakes, but one doesn't have a cherry on it.

 

[Justinslow]

The Cycle Racing on Highways Regulations, 1960 (and 1980 and 1995 amendments)

http://lvrc.org/documents/road_traffic_act_1960.pdf


...‘time trial’ means a race or trial of speed between bicycles or tricycles, not being motor vehicles, so arranged and conducted-
...'bicycle race' means a race or trial of speed between bicycles or tricycles, not being motor vehicles, which is not a time trial;

Interesting stuff, thanks for posting.

 

[Citius]

How is a conventional race not a time trial, given that every single rider is trying to set the fastest time?

The objective of a bunch race is not to set the fastest time - the objective is to win. Although in doing so, the winner will inevitably complete the race in a faster time than others, but the winner is deemed to be the first one across the line. Subtle but important distinction...

 

[ChrisEyles]

I'm going to pitch in my 2p as one of the "nay" voters - I occasionally blast out a ten miles as fast as I can on solo rides, on a fixed route, to give me a target to improve my speed a little. I wouldn't consider this as racing, though it is a "race against the clock" if you like. It's more just a case of doing the best you can, irrespective of comparison with other riders.

I guess most others are thinking of entering organised TTs, in which case I would agree (since you are directly comparing times with one another under comparable conditions) that it is basically a race for all intents and purposes.

 

[hatler]

Is this an insurance related question possibly ? (Where a policy excludes 'racing'.)

 

[Markymark]

Its not cosmology, its celestial mechanics...

Actually not strictly true. Based on Einstein's TOR there are no fixed points of the universe and everything moves relative to everything else. Hence his famous line of 'What time does Oxford stop at this train?"