CHANGES FOR 2025                             PROVISIONAL FOR NOW        

There are major changes to the Evening league this year, which involve registration, payment and race entry.  These changes come about because we have decided to co-operate with Aberdeen Wheelers CC in putting on a joint series of events.  We are doing this both to provide you with a more competetive series of time trials and in an attempt to ensure the long term future of the events, against a background of decreasing entries.  To achieve this co-operation, we had to move away from Scottish Cycling (SC) and to sign up with Cycling Time Trials (CTT).  All riders will need to be members of CTT (except guest riders) and you sign up via their website.  CTT make a charge for admin and insurance of £3 per rider per race; this charge will replace the payment you used to make to DTCC.  You can sign up for the full series at once (CTT have a system of re-imbursement for timely withdrawals) or you can enter each race separately.  This will be a little more expensive than you are used to, but please appreciate that the actual costs per rider per race approach £5 when first aid and HQ rental are taken into account   In unusual circumstances you will still be able to pay £3 in cash on the night, but please keep this to the very minimum as we then, as a club, have to go through the extra administration of re-imbursing the CTT. 

This year, we have 13 events on the calendar for you to choose from; 12 will count towards overall results, the exception being the Garlogie 8tt at the end of the season.  This will allow us to present prizes at the last event social.  We still have 2 categories to race in – time trial bike and road bike; some courses will favour the former, others, perhaps, the latter.  You will be asked to specify which category you are racing in when you enter the event and to confirm your choice when you collect your race number.  As before, results will be compiled separately for each category.  You may pick and choose from week to week and your best 6 results in each category will count towards the overall series results.   It is possible to compete in both categories, but bear in mind that to compete in more than 6 events will require marshalling on 2 occasions, so it will not be possible to achieve 6 results in each category. Separate results will be compiled for Youths/Juniors, Seniors and Vets (on standard) in both male and female categories.  Results will be compiled for the overall series (including AWCC riders) and for Deeside riders alone (for club championships). 

There are 13 races in the series. The cost is £3 per race.  You may pay for the whole series in advance or for an individual race.  The charge is levied at the time of entry, either for one race or for the series, on the CTT website.

For insurance purposes all riders in Evening League Events should, ideally,  have British Cycling Race Silver Membership, the optional full race licence is not required.

Click [HERE] to view details on pricing, benefits and joining instructions.

CTC and STA members also have adequate insurance and are able to take part.

Visitors to the league with a view to joining the club may take out day membership.

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  RACE HQ

  As mentioned under “Latest changes”, you are now required to attend race HQ before the race to pick up your race number and after the race to drop it off. Once you have picked up your number there is nothing to stop you driving nearer to the start/finish area if you wish. Race HQ will provide toilet facilities and basic changing facilities.  As was traditionally the case you will be able to enter on the night, to enter and to choose your start time for future races and to volunteer for marshalling duties, although you will still be able to do this, electronically,  on the website if you prefer,  .    

  AT THE START 

  Now that race numbers reflect, once again, start times, we no longer require a start area co-ordinator and riders no longer have to memorise their start times.  For this season we will persist with the arrangement whereby riders start with one foot on the ground and get themselves underway.  It is no longer necessary to limit the  number of riders congregating around the start because of the risk of infection transmission, although it is good practice from a road safety perspective.

  ON THE COURSE 

  Rules of the road and rules of the competition are the responsibility of each individual rider.  Last year we had one complaint of a rider proceeding at speed through a pedestrian crossing whilst members of the public were crossing the road and several reports of riders crossing over the centre line of the road whilst overtaking or cornering.  Members are reminded that these examples represent serious breaches of road safety rules and are grounds for disqualification from the event.  Please remember that cyclists are not always the most popular members of society and that we are dependent on public goodwill to continue racing through our local communities.

  AT THE FINISH   

• Once your race is completed, please do not congregate around the finish.  Also, please take care when returning to your vehicle / race HQ, particularly if you are re-tracing the race route whilst active racing is still going on.

Results will be posted on the website by 07:30 on the Wednesday morning after each race. 

The league could be your opportunity to gain experience in various fields of our sport. Not only can you improve your competition but you can also train as a timekeeper. If this interests you please let us know on helpersel@deeside.org.

, so you will not lose out financially by enterring all the races’

 2025 COMPETITION AND RACE RULES 

1. Road safety is of paramount importance.  It is the responsibility of each individual rider to familiarise themselves with the course prior to the event and riders must obey the Highway Code at all times.  Riders are responsible for their own safety.  Risk assessments are available for all courses in the Evening League section of the website and competitors are encouraged to consult these before riding the events.  Late changes in course conditions will be posted on the EL group page of SPOND and will also be made available at the “sign on”.  Marshals have no power to direct traffic and it is not their responsibility to direct riders, other than by their presence.  Their chief role is to make other road users aware of the fact that a cycle event is taking place and to make riders aware that they are approaching a situation which may be dangerous and which requires particular care.   Cycling Time Trials regulations with respect to road events apply to all riders in the Evening League.  They can be found on pages 46-50 of the CTT handbook, which can be found on the CTT website.  Please note, in particular the sections on which Helmets are acceptable, the absolute requirement for working front white and rear red lights and the definition of a road bike as compared to that of a time trial bike.
2. These events are individual time trials.  You must not ride within 12 metres of another rider, except when overtaking or being overtaken.  You must not take pace from another rider. You must not cross the white line in the middle of the road and you must take appropriate action to safeguard members of the public, particularly other cyclists and pedestrians. Please note that some of our courses traverse a pedestrian crossing in Echt, at which pedestrians have right of way.
3. Only club members or invitees as defined below may take part.  
4. All first claim members of Aberdeen Wheelers and Deeside Thistle Cycling clubs are entitled to take part.  Under certain conditions, non first claim members and guests may be able to take part, For further details please contact the organiser.
   A guest must not be a member of ANY other club. 
5. Commitment to assist at least once during the season (via helpersel@deeside.org) is assumed by the fact of entry to the competition.  For riders who ride in six or more events, we expect that they make themselves available to help at a second event should that be necessary,  Youths and Juniors are not expected to officiate, but voluntary help from parents or other family members is always appreciated.  
6. In the overall, open and female, senior and veteran categories, at least one of a riders’ best 6 times must come from one of the longer events (15, 18 or 25 miles); the purpose of this rule is to ensure that it is not possible to win the overall titles by racing only 10 and 12 mile events.  This rule does not apply to the Youth orJunior competitions.  The winner on time of each race in the series will score 80 points, the second 79 and so on.  There are 13 races in the series, but only the first 12 will count towards the overall results.  For the final race, the clubs will split for their respective, end of season finale – a hill climb for AWCC and an 8TT for DTCC.  As well as the overall series, each club will compile their own results and individual club championship competitions will continue, as before.
7. Riders should have BC Silver Provisional Race Licence or be members of organisatons which provide similar insurance when riding competetive races on open roads. 
8. Numbers in any individaul event are limited to 80. 
9. Riders start at minute intervals from 6.45pm. 
10. Routine EL entries should be in by 10pm on the Sunday before the race on the CTT and the final start list will be drawn up on monday morning.  Late entries will still be accepted, up to the start of the race as long as the maximum number of entrants has not been exceeded already, but riders entering after the start sheet is drawn up will have to start at the rear of the field or fill any gaps .
11. You will be able to decide, on the night or beforehand, whether to enter either the time trial bike category or the road bike category.  Please refer to the CTT handbook for a detailed description of road and time trial bikes.  Results for the 2 categories will be complied separately.   
12. Riders below the age of 16 must enter the road bike category; riders below the age of 12 are not allowed to enter the evening league.   Specific criteria exist for maximum gearing for Youths and Juniors (see British Cycling regulations or contact one of the club coaches for further advice) and must be complied with.  Maximum wheel rim depth is restricted to 35mm.  Accompanying riders:  Inexperienced Youth and/or Junior riders should be accompanied by a responsible adult.  If uncertain about any of these matters, please ask a coach for advice.
13. In line with CTT policy, riders will compete in either open or female categories.  For Seniors, separate competitions will be held for both categories in both time trial and road bike formats.  For veterans, riders will compete in a single competition, points being decided against relevant open and female age standards. 
14. There is no cost to enter the series, but individual races will cost £3 each, payable on entry.  It will be possible to enter a single race, the whole series (remember your commitment to help out at 1 or 2 races) or any number in between on a single occasion. CTT have a remuneration policy in the event that a competitor has to withdraw from a race, provided adequate notice is given – so you will not lose out financially by entering several races early. 
15. Registration for the series will be taken as evidence that riders have read and understood these rules and that they agree to abide by them.  As with any event on open roads, there is an element of risk and it is the responsibility of the individual to ensure their own safety.  Parents of Youth and Junior riders must provide written consent for their children to take part before their first event. 

Marshal Roles
Timekeeper 1 (starter):

The starter meets with the main timekeeper and recorder prior to the event. All 3 watches are set and started simultaneously. The starter is then responsible for:

• Shouting riders to the start line
• Checking name and number of the rider
• Tick off rider on start sheet, recording any changes to name or number or out of sequence rider
• Count down rider to their start
• Re-grouping with main timekeeper and recorder after event to exchange information and correlate records

Recorder (at finish line):

The recorder works closely with main timekeeper at the event finish line. Once a rider crosses the line the timekeeper will stop the watch and note the time. The recorder will:

• Also note the name of rider and time shouted out by timekeeper
• Calculate riding time based on finish/start time in minutes and seconds
• Work out handicap’s
• Verify times with timekeeper

Each event riders are allocated points depending on their finishing position. Points are awarded as follows:

The combined total of Fastest and Handicap Points, as above, will be each Member’s score for that event. The best five combined scores are added to give the Member’s total score.