Road Records Association

Records are established by riders performing time trials covering set distances (e.g. 25, 50 or 100 miles), prescribed periods of time (12 or 24 hours), or between places (e.g. London to Brighton and back, Land's End to John o' Groats).

Records for set distances can be established on straight-out courses which may incorporate significant downhills and strong tail-winds.

This contrasts with records established in conventional time trials, where the start and finish points are required to be within a short distance of each other to neutralise the impact of gradients and weather.

Arthur James Wilson, president of the North Road Cycling Club, convened a meeting in 1888 at which the Road Records Association was founded with the object of certifying the claims of male cyclists on the road, and setting standards for the timing and authentication of records.

The Women's Road Record Association (WRRA) was formed in 1934, and merged with the RRA in 1989.