Other than in team events, which are less numerous, competitors race individually, starting at intervals of a minute.

The winner is the fastest over the course, routed so it finishes close to the start to lessen the effect of hills and wind.

The British Best All-Rounder competition, run by the RTTC since 1944, combines performances across three longer distance events.

The cycling historian Bernard Thompson said: "Events organised by clubs in the 1880s, although taking place on quiet country roads, were constantly interrupted by the police.

Unsure of the legal situation, riders dressed from neck to ankle in black to make themselves less conspicuous, never wore numbers but always carried a bell.

Even the cycling press was asked not to say where a race was taking place and details to competitors were headed "private and confidential" up to the 1960s.

[1] The first committee was Maurice Draisey (chairman), E. E. Stapley, E. F. Cash, W. S. Gibson, H. Parker, A. Shillito, Alec Glass, W. Frankum, A. Reeder, Bill Mills and Alex Josey.

[6] The first general meeting, in spring 1938, resulted in its secretary, Stapley, being disqualified from re-election, even though "he had worked like a slave to create the new body on thoroughly democratic lines.

"[4] Clubs in Yorkshire then broke away, dissatisfied with the RTTC's national control, and set up their own regional body.

"[7] The RTTC came to recognise that massed racing existed even if it did not approve, and other restrictions gradually relaxed: for example, clothing regulations became impracticable during fabric shortages in the Second World War.

Compromise was reached when the newspaper, the NCU and the RTTC agreed to say that a time trial stage would be held from Folkestone to London but they and the cycling press were obliged to keep the start and finish lines secret.

[10]A leader in the weekly magazine, The Bicycle, called the statement "sheer balderdash and offensive writing" and "a disgusting attack on the constitution, officials and members of the British League of Racing Cyclists, and of course, the repeated assurance that the RTTC can do no wrong.

The BCF accepted road racing, and controlled all competitive cycling other than time-trialling, which remained with the RTTC.

In 2002 Cycling Time Trials, a company limited by guarantee, was established as a corporate body for the RTTC.