what marshalling to expect at a time trial?

ianbar

i have been considering trying some time trails, the local clubs seem pretty friendly and i wont be kicked out for being naff and fancy having a dabble. i have been looking at the routes for soem locally and wondered how much marshalling takes place really? i mean for things like junctions and roundabouts your time is going to be destroyed by traffic or is that just the way it is and bit of luck required?!

me-109

Marshals aren't legally allowed to stop traffic anyway, so it is a case of pot luck and timing when you get there.

Gizmodo

Me-109 is correct, even at a recent road race we were only able to "ask" traffic to stop by waving a red flag.

I've marshalled at some time trials at our club, we have 1 starter to count down the seconds, 1 pusher offer, and 3 people at the finish to record times and spot numbers.

There are no marshals at any junction and you have to obey the Highway Code.

But the routes are chosen to have left hand turns or a long dual carriageway with just U turns at the traffic circles either end.

ianbar

ahh ok, i did wonder, i may go and linger when i know there is a time trial on and see what goes on. yeah couple i have looked at incolve the same round a bout as half way point. thanks for your replies.

xscreamsuk

A club TT will have less Marshals than an Open TT. At an Open you will find more signage and marshalls on roundabouts etc. Quite correct that they are not allowed to stop traffic, but do tell you which way to go. Always worthwhile using google maps to check a new course out, or even ride it in advance to know about junctions etc.

markos1963

There are some marshals that can stop traffic (called accredited) but they are usually found at road races. Marshals at TTs are just there to guide riders around the course but there is no onus for a club to have them at every junction, just the most risky ones for traffic and riders. A rider is expected to know the route and not to rely on there being hundreds of marshals to show them the way.

Team4Luke

Gizmodo wrote:

There are no marshals at any junction and you have to obey the Highway Code.

But the routes are chosen to have left hand turns or a long dual carriageway with just U turns at the traffic circles either end.

that would be against local course risk assessment and maybe in breach of your district rules (if any).

markos1963

Team4Luke wrote:

Gizmodo wrote:

There are no marshals at any junction and you have to obey the Highway Code.

But the routes are chosen to have left hand turns or a long dual carriageway with just U turns at the traffic circles either end.

that would be against local course risk assessment and maybe in breach of your district rules (if any).

No it wouldn't. As you say it comes down to the risk assessment. Generally a left turn from a major into a minor road wouldn't need a marshall but the other way around it definitely would be a requirement.

pilot_pete

Are you sure that they provide guidance? I know many do, but had heard that they are not meant to point out turns etc, just like they shouldn't be telling you a junction is clear. It is down to the rider to check for his self and to obey the Highway Code.

It doesn't take much to look up the route in Google maps, view the junctions on Street View and either memorise it or put a couple of notes together for turn guidance and stick them to your stem/ top tube. If the route us local go and ride/ drive it before the event.

Just go and enter your local club event, what's the worst thing that can happen? You take a wrong turn? Well you'll learn from that for next week! Much more enjoyable than mooching around watching one wondering if you'd enjoy it!

PP

ianbar

yeah i think i might enjoy TT's and never know i mgiht actually be quite good at it (big and in theory powerful), id like a little bit of competion to my riding to push me on. i know i will be last or atleast 2nd last lol. i know the routes of a couple coming up...one i had done as it was a segment on strava and think the main ridiers ahead were club riders. think TT season comes to an end round here in a few weeks so better man up !

sub55

where are you Ianbar ?

ianbar

east yorkshire, sub55

Team4Luke

markos1963 wrote:

Team4Luke wrote:

Gizmodo wrote:

There are no marshals at any junction and you have to obey the Highway Code.

But the routes are chosen to have left hand turns or a long dual carriageway with just U turns at the traffic circles either end.

that would be against local course risk assessment and maybe in breach of your district rules (if any).

No it wouldn't. As you say it comes down to the risk assessment. Generally a left turn from a major into a minor road wouldn't need a marshall but the other way around it definitely would be a requirement.

Any turn must have a marshall otherwise the rider will not know which way to go, however number of marshalls a risk assessment states is required at a junc/rb then those numbers must be adhered to, otherwsise you would be in breach of local regs and strictly the event should not be run, any accident where the risk assessment was not followed would not be helpful to the organiser or sport should a claim be instigated.

e999sam

If you are doing a club event chances are there will be no marshalls but in an open event the course should have marshalls on every turn. Having said that the onus is still on the rider to keep to the course.

slow bloke

Any turn must have a marshall otherwise the rider will not know which way to go....

This not correct, for example our club 10 course does not require marshals at any of the junctions or roundabouts and this is reflected in the risk assessment and approved by the District. I've ridden a number of open courses where junctions and roundabouts have not been marshalled but signs used (eg g10/57). The rider should know which way to go as the onus is always on the rider;

CTT regs

18. Covering the Course

The onus of keeping to the course rests with each rider.

CiB

Pilot Pete wrote:

Just go and enter your local club event, what's the worst thing that can happen? You take a wrong turn? Well you'll learn from that for next week! Much more enjoyable than mooching around watching one wondering if you'd enjoy it!

PP

That's what I was thinking. Have a go and see how it works from the inside. There's nothing wrong in asking what the routine is etc when you sign on, and assuming you pick a local one you should know the route, either from the club website or by asking in a politely worded email before the day. All the ones I've done have been run with the aim of seeing who can ride it the quickest, not to see how many riders they can catch out with sneaky routes and busy right-turns. Give it a go and enjoy it.

markos1963

Team4Luke wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

Team4Luke wrote:

Gizmodo wrote:

There are no marshals at any junction and you have to obey the Highway Code.

But the routes are chosen to have left hand turns or a long dual carriageway with just U turns at the traffic circles either end.

that would be against local course risk assessment and maybe in breach of your district rules (if any).

No it wouldn't. As you say it comes down to the risk assessment. Generally a left turn from a major into a minor road wouldn't need a marshall but the other way around it definitely would be a requirement.

Any turn must have a marshall otherwise the rider will not know which way to go, however number of marshalls a risk assessment states is required at a junc/rb then those numbers must be adhered to, otherwsise you would be in breach of local regs and strictly the event should not be run, any accident where the risk assessment was not followed would not be helpful to the organiser or sport should a claim be instigated.

A turn would not have a marshall if by doing so that marshall would be placed at risk i.e. on a slip road on a DC. As well as mentioned by others sufficient signage is provided for a low risk turn.