On the start line, notice the heroes of time trialling, the time keepers! Just you, the road and the clock. Time trialling is the purest test in cycling, and one of the easiest ways to start racing.What is a time trial?Riders set off one at a time, usually a minute apart, and race a set distance against the clock. In the UK most open events are run under Cycling Time Trials (CTT) rules, over distances from 10 to 100 miles, plus hill climbs and sporting courses. Many clubs also run club 10s on summer evenings, which are the perfect first step.What you needA road bike is fine. CTT results now include a road bike category, so you can compare yourself with riders on similar kit.Clip-on aero bars are the cheapest speed you will ever buy, if the event allows them.A rear light. CTT events require one, so check the event details before you ride.Club membership. To enter CTT open events you need to be a member of an affiliated club.Pacing: the big skillMost riders start too hard. Go out 5 to 10% too fast and you pay for it later. Aim for an even effort, slightly harder up hills and into headwinds, slightly easier down hills and with tailwinds. For a 10-mile TT most riders sit close to their FTP. Find yours with our FTP calculator.Get more aeroAt time trial speeds most of your power goes into pushing air. A lower, narrower position that you can still hold and breathe in is worth more than almost any upgrade. Test it with our CdA calculator.Training for time trialshow to increase your FTP. Threshold is the engine of every TT.Long sweet spot training efforts in your TT position, so it feels normal.Practice starts and turns.A solid warm-up of 15 to 20 minutes on race day.Want your thresholds measured properly? Our lactate testing sets your zones from your own physiology.Your first time trial, step by stepJoin a club and find its summer evening 10s.Arrive 45 minutes early to sign on and collect your number.Warm up for 15 to 20 minutes, ending with a couple of short efforts at race pace.Get to the start a few minutes early. A pusher-off may hold your bike.Go out steady. Build into it over the first couple of minutes.Push through the finish line, not to it.Common time trial distances10 miles: the classic starting point. 20 to 30 minutes for most riders.25 miles: the next step. See how to pace a 25.50 and 100 miles, 12 and 24 hours: for those who like it long.Hill climbs: autumn favourites, short and brutal.Equipment that matters mostIn rough order of value for money: a good position, clip-on bars, a skinsuit or tight kit, an aero helmet, fast tyres, then deeper wheels. A dedicated TT bike comes last. Test changes with our CdA calculator.Train with usReady to go faster against the clock? Our remote coaching starts at 140 a month, with a weekly call and a plan that changes as you do. Book a free 30-minute chat to see if it fits.Read nextHow to increase your FTPPower testing for cyclistsHow to structure your seasonSaddle up.