It's monday evening about 6:30 pm and, whereas most people are thinking about dinner, a small group of cycling enthusiasts are gathered in front of an old church at Creditview and Mayfield to test their bike fitness in the "race of truth". As far as bike rides go, this one is extremely short at around 20 minutes but for most it's the hardest 20 minutes of training in their repertoire.

The monday night time trial has been a mainstay of FMCT training since 2005. Most times, the route consists of a 12 km out and back along Creditview from Mayfield to King (6 km out, 6 km back). The course is mostly flat but the pavement is rough and often times the conditions are windy. Make no mistake, this event is a good test not for the faint of heart. The rewards are improved fitness and the friendly acceptance of peers in this congenial social gathering. So be sure to test your mettle at one of this year's time trials.

A schedule of this year's time trials will be posted once the season starts. Browse the results of past years and you'll see a wide range of cycling prowess. But remember, whether you have years of bike fitness under your belt or are just starting out, consistent application of this workout will make you faster.