What Is a SPOCO Time Trial Series and How Does It Work?

SPOCO stands for "Sporting Courses" — a series of time trials run on hillier, more technical roads rather than flat, fast dual-carriageway dragstrips. If you prefer varied terrain and a season-long points competition over a single all-out blast, a SPOCO series is the format to look for. Bedfordshire Road Cycling Club (BRCC), based at its clubhouse in Cardington, runs a SpoCo series of Saturday morning time trials, and the details below show how that kind of series is typically structured and what you need to take part.

What "Sporting Courses" actually means

A standard time trial is often held on a flat, straight out-and-back course where aerodynamics and sustained power decide the result. A sporting course is the opposite: rolling or hilly roads, more corners, and technical sections that reward bike handling and pacing judgement as much as raw speed.

That difference shapes everything about the event — the course codes, the start times, and the kind of rider who tends to enjoy it.

How a SPOCO series is structured

A series is a set of individual time trials, usually on fixed courses, where riders accumulate points across the rounds rather than competing in a single standalone event. BRCC's SpoCo series follows this pattern:

• Rounds on set dates, mostly Saturday mornings
• Fixed courses, identified by code (see below)
• First rider off at 08:01 am in BRCC's case, with the series described as "very similar to our Evening League, but held on Saturdays"
• Points accumulated across the series, so consistency matters as much as a single fast ride

BRCC lists provisional dates for its series, including:

The club notes the series "returns in October," so treat the listed dates as provisional and check the club calendar before travelling.

Reading the course codes

Course codes like F1Z/10 and F1H/10 tell you two things: the district/course identifier and the distance. The "/10" indicates a 10-mile time trial. The letters and numbers before it identify the specific route — so F1Z/10 (Bunny Lane) and F1H/10 (Hangars) are two different 10-mile sporting courses used in the same series.

If you're new to time trialling, this matters because you can't assume two "10s" are comparable. A sporting 10 on rolling roads will produce slower times than a flat 10, so compare your results against the same course, not across courses.

What you need to enter

Based on how BRCC runs its series:

• Online pre-booking — the club uses an online booking system where you choose your own start place and can edit your start time if needed
• A time trial bike or a road bike — sporting courses are ridden on both; the hillier, more technical terrain means a road bike is a perfectly reasonable choice
• Club membership or affiliation — check with the organising club whether you need to be a member or can enter as a guest, since requirements vary between clubs and series

BRCC's site includes a guest registration option and an "Enter a Time Trial" page, which suggests non-members can register to take part, but confirm the specific eligibility rules with the club before entering.

How the day works

1. Book online in advance and pick your start slot.
2. Arrive at the course — BRCC's time trials typically start and finish outside the clubhouse in Cardington.
3. Start at your allotted time, with the first rider off at 08:01 am.
4. Ride the course and finish back at the clubhouse.
5. Check results — BRCC provides live, real-time results updates online and on a big screen in the clubhouse, so friends and family can follow along.
6. Stay afterwards for tea, coffee and cake — the club describes this as part of the experience.

Why choose a SPOCO over an evening league

Both formats are time trials, but they suit different riders and different goals:

• Evening league — midweek, often on faster courses, good for a quick weekly effort after work.
• SPOCO series — weekend mornings, sporting terrain, points across multiple rounds, better if you enjoy hilly roads and a season-long competition.

If you like technical courses, dislike pure dragstrip speedfests, or want a reason to race regularly through the autumn, a SPOCO series is the better fit. If you just want a fast weekly 10, an evening league is simpler.

Getting involved with BRCC

BRCC describes itself as "a cycling club run by its members, for its members," and runs social rides, BBQs, quiz nights and an annual awards ceremony alongside its time trials. To find out more, the club suggests attending an event, checking its Facebook page, or messaging a committee member directly. Its clubhouse is at Southill Road, Cardington, MK44 3SX.