A big thank you to everyone who joined our first CTT Rider Forum on 28 June. Around 15 attendees from across the country took part in what proved to be a really enjoyable and constructive discussion, sharing ideas, experiences and suggestions for the future of our sport.

The feedback from those who attended was extremely positive, so we're hoping to make these forums a regular fixture every three to four months. They provide a great opportunity for riders to share ideas directly, discuss challenges and help shape the future direction of Cycling Time Trials.

Here are some of the main topics that were discussed:

• Event cancellations – We talked about the reasons events are cancelled and, just as importantly, how those cancellations are communicated to riders. Attendees felt that timely and consistent communication makes a real difference, and examples of good practice from Districts were shared. We also discussed the fact that event cancellations are already required to be approved by the relevant District, although it has become apparent that not all organisers are aware of this requirement. We're working to improve awareness and make changes to the website that will help reinforce this process.

• Supporting organisers and volunteers – Running an event takes a huge amount of work, and we discussed how we can make it easier for new organisers to get involved. A new public-facing guide for prospective organisers is already being developed, including information about what riders can expect from an event and what organisers need to consider. Ideas were also shared on how to attract and retain volunteers, including online introductory sessions for prospective organisers, sharing volunteers between clubs and events, and creating local volunteer groups through Facebook or WhatsApp. There was also discussion around whether marshals should receive a small payment, perhaps towards fuel costs, as a way of recognising the time and effort they give to the sport. Everyone agreed that volunteers remain the lifeblood of our events and are vital to the continued success of time trialling.

• Course mapping and measuring – There was an interesting conversation around the tools available for mapping courses. Modern mapping software has improved significantly in recent years, although everyone agreed that nothing replaces riding a course to check it before approval. We'll also review the mapping software currently recommended by CTT.

• Missing course maps – Some club and district courses still don't have GPX files attached, meaning they won't appear in location-based course searches. If anyone has GPX files for existing courses, please do send them to your district secretary and cc CTT Support so they can be added.

• Growing female and junior participation – A number of ideas were shared, including women-only events, grouping women together within larger fields to create additional competition, and ensuring achievements are recognised appropriately. It was also suggested that we look at wider outreach, including contacting other organisations and schools to help introduce new riders of all ages to the sport. We also highlighted the recent series of articles on the CTT website celebrating women in time trialling. In addition, there was discussion around prize structures, with concern raised that there is still sometimes a discrepancy between female and open prize lists. The forum strongly supported the principle that organisers should be encouraged to ensure equality across prize categories wherever possible.

• LTS and event entries – We discussed whether the current LTS system remains the best way to allocate places when events are oversubscribed. While alternative approaches were suggested, the general feeling was that LTS is well understood and works effectively, particularly as only a small number of events currently reach capacity.

• CTT Zwift Series – We confirmed that the CTT Zwift Series will return in November, featuring 14 rounds with multiple opportunities to ride in each round, giving riders plenty of flexibility to take part. With enough riders now part of the CTT Zwift Club, we'll also soon be launching a competition to design a brand-new CTT Zwift kit.

• Event timings and encouraging entries – We explored whether different start times might help attract more riders, while recognising the practical realities organisers face with traffic counts and the long days involved in putting on an event. There was also discussion about whether organisers could be encouraged to experiment with different start times rather than always defaulting to traditional slots, to see if this influences participation. One suggestion that received plenty of support was the idea of introducing an early bird discounted entry option alongside the existing late entry system, and we'll be looking into whether that's something we can introduce.

• CTT Timing and CTT Live – Attendees highlighted the value of having a practice environment for new users of the timing systems before using them at a live event. I can report that we have very recently implemented a practice environment that organisers and timekeepers may use today. You can access it from the Home Page → Help → CTT | Timing & CTT | Live Training

It was fantastic to hear so many constructive ideas and thoughtful discussions throughout the session. Not every suggestion will lead to an immediate change, but every conversation helps us better understand the challenges riders and organisers are facing, and where we should focus our efforts.

A huge thank you to everyone who gave up their time to attend, contribute and share their experiences. We’re already looking forward to the next Rider Forum in a few months' time and hope even more attendees will join us.