Often dubbed the race of truth, the time trail is one of the purest disciplines in the world of cycling.
Each rider against the clock, the time trail is a true test of fitness, technique and attitude.
Depending upon the distance of the race, time trailing can offer something for everyone.
In the UK at least, time trails are regularly held over set distances, usually 10, 25, 30, 50 and 100 miles as well as 12 and 24 hours.
As roads have become a little more congested, hilly courses or less rounded distances on circuits, on quieter roads are also gaining in popularity.
Many stage races also pepper the race with times trails as a means of testing riders under different conditions.
While skilled sprinters may become adept at hiding in the field until the last 100 meters, the time trail offers an opportunity to riders who have both natural speed and a mindset that enjoys the prolonged effort.
During races such as the Tour de France, the race is begun with a prologue time trail.
The prologue is usually fairly short, perhaps just a few kilometres, and may give an opportunity for short distance specialists, such as track pursuit riders, to take an early scalp.
The time trail bike is generally much more like a formula 1 racecar than a regular road machine.
Yes it's still basically two wheels and a frame, but the geometry will often be set to give the rider a more upright or forward prone position, in order to get more weight over higher set gearing, whilst attempting to lower the frontal area and become more aerodynamic.
The emphasis is very much towards speed rather than comfort.
Much depends on the course and the distance of the event.
Longer distance or more mountainous time trails however, may see rider opt for a machine closer to a regular road bike.
As with the machine, clothing will often be kept down to a minimum.
Lightweight skin suits are generally the order of the day and may be accompanied by those rather amusing teardrop shaped helmets.
To aid speed top riders will spend time in wind tunnel tests to find the most efficient, slipstream position, which still allows them maximum output.
Simply adopting the most aerodynamic position may not be the best for efficient peddling and breathing, so often a compromise has to be found.
Unlike road races, time trails call for a steady but nevertheless high-speed approach.
Gear ratios tends to be bigger with riders aiming for a swift cadence of around 90 to 100rpm.
Techniques obviously vary depending on a rider's size and strength but there is no getting away from the fact that big gears - turned quickly usually wins the day.
The biggest technique is mind over matter.
Concentration, especially during long distance events can drift.
Four or more hours in the saddle and the will to keep pushing your body at its max can become a little strained.
Riders regularly talk about whole sections of roads which they don't recall covering when concentration has been interrupted by small distractions.
As the body becomes tired the mind may also slow a little.
Remaining aware that this can happen it's important that energy reserves are regularly topped up earlier in the race, well before the problem arises.
Once tiredness hits, it's probably too late to reverse the situation and still produce a good time.
With all this in mind the time trial rider will aim to keep their effort close to the top of their aerobic range, possibly dipping into oxygen debt (anaerobic) perhaps over short hills and in the last few kilometres as they lead up to the finish.
Average speeds will inevitably slow during long distance races, and call for riders to remain as focused while balancing their effort with the need to take onboard food and drink over the course of the event.
Shorter events may call for no food or drink at all; instead the focus is purely speed and little else.
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