Where can you compete against Wonder Woman on a BMX, draft an Indian rickshaw, get caught by a large man wearing a pink tutu or spot the legendary Geoff Platts on a shopping bike with tri-bars?
The Team Bottrill Charity 4.2-mile TT, which takes place this Sunday October 9 on an otherwise innocuous stretch of road near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, is in its sixth year and is starting to challenge the London Marathon for costume craziness.
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It is organised by Mark Bottrill, brother of multiple national champion Matt, and Coalville Wheelers, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity that helped the brothers’ mother in the final stages of her battle.
“It was only meant to be for one year, “ said Mark Bottrill. “We thought we’d raise a little bit of money and give something back, but it was dead popular. It was a winter bike time trial to start off with, where people would just come on old bikes, but then people got a bit silly. So far we’ve raised over £14K and are on over £1,500 for this year’s event.”
Matt and Mark Bottrill will both be riding, former National 100-mile champion Charles Taylor will be pushing off and, according to Mark, “riders are coming from all over.”
(Image credit: Alan Kitching)
Previous events have featured a replica of Graeme Obree’s Old Faithful, homemade (of course) and ridden by Karl Gregg. A bike previously belonging to Chris Boardman has also featured, with Boardman’s father Keith donating photographs signed by his famous son.
There are plenty of prizes on offer including a voucher for a bike fit by Matt Bottrill Performance Coaching (opens in new tab), two bottles of whisky for those deemed to have tried hardest, a hamper donated by Nestle for the best fancy dress (selected by junior judges) and more.
(Image credit: Alan Kitching)
Unlike the majority of ‘serious’ time trials, the Bottrills’ event has a full field.
“It’s capped at 80 spaces as it’s run as a club time trial, but I’ve got 100 riders since a few of those spaces are two-ups,” Mark explained.
Could this charity time trial be onto something? How is it that it has a full field while other events – including three time trials Mark himself had entered this year – have been cancelled for lack of entries?
“At this race everyone can compete,”…