Reliability trial
Encyclopedia
A reliability trial is an organised bicycle
ride which challenges a cyclist to complete a course, passing through designated control points, within a preset time limit. In the United Kingdom
, such events are often held in the wintry opening months of the year and are used by club
cyclists as training rides. A common test would be a 100 in 8 - 100 miles would have to completed within eight hours, including any stops.
The term is historic and dates back to the early years of the 20th century when cycling
equipment was less reliable, roads were rougher, routes were more poorly sign-posted, and mobile telephones had yet to be invented. The name was also a way of emphasising to the police, at a time when the place of cycle sport on British roads was insecure, that the mass rides they might see were not races.
Reliability trial riders needed to be self-sufficient, adept at navigation, able to deal with mechanical problems, and fit enough to complete the course. In some cases, successful completion of the ride entitles the rider to a certificate. Reliability trials have lost a lot of their popularity although they remain a regular feature for sections, or clubs, of the Cyclists' Touring Club. The function of reliability trials as a test of fitness, reliability and the ability to ride long distances has largely passed to the closely similar Audax style of riding.
The term reliability trial is also used to refer to motorsport
events and are similar in concept. Rather like rallying
, drivers and their vehicles (or riders and their motorcycle
s) must complete a designated course within a set time limit, without recourse to outside help along the way.
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
ride which challenges a cyclist to complete a course, passing through designated control points, within a preset time limit. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, such events are often held in the wintry opening months of the year and are used by club
Cycling club
A cycling club is a society for cyclists. It can be local or national, general or specialised. The Cyclists' Touring Club, CTC) in the United Kingdom is a national association; i-Team and are internet clubs; the Tricycle Association, Tandem Club and the Veterans Time Trial Association, for those...
cyclists as training rides. A common test would be a 100 in 8 - 100 miles would have to completed within eight hours, including any stops.
The term is historic and dates back to the early years of the 20th century when cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
equipment was less reliable, roads were rougher, routes were more poorly sign-posted, and mobile telephones had yet to be invented. The name was also a way of emphasising to the police, at a time when the place of cycle sport on British roads was insecure, that the mass rides they might see were not races.
Reliability trial riders needed to be self-sufficient, adept at navigation, able to deal with mechanical problems, and fit enough to complete the course. In some cases, successful completion of the ride entitles the rider to a certificate. Reliability trials have lost a lot of their popularity although they remain a regular feature for sections, or clubs, of the Cyclists' Touring Club. The function of reliability trials as a test of fitness, reliability and the ability to ride long distances has largely passed to the closely similar Audax style of riding.
The term reliability trial is also used to refer to motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
events and are similar in concept. Rather like rallying
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
, drivers and their vehicles (or riders and their motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s) must complete a designated course within a set time limit, without recourse to outside help along the way.
See also
- Randonnée
- Challenge ridingChallenge ridingChallenge riding is a form of cycling where the riders challenge themselves rather than each other. Some challenge rides are charity events or pledge rides. Some are organised as pre- or early-season training events...