Timing for cycling, MTB and BMX events
Reliable timing across road, gran fondo, MTB and BMX, with high-speed finish reads, timed segments and stages, and live results.
Recognised bodies our cycling timing system has supported
Barefoot times cycling, mountain bike and BMX events across Australia and New Zealand, handling high-speed finishes, timed gran fondo segments, MTB stages and BMX motos, with live results tied to your entries.
Built by event organisers.
Trusted by race directors.
450+
Events delivered every year across Australia and New Zealand
50,000
Participants supported at a single event
75+
years
Combined event experience
2
countries
Australian and New Zealand owned, operated and on the ground
The cycling timing reality — how these events are really timed
Cycling breaks timing in ways running doesn’t. Riders cross the line in a bunch at fifty kilometres an hour, which punishes any read that isn’t rock-solid at speed. Gran fondos want timed segments and King-of-the-Mountain climbs, not just a finish time. Mountain bike runs in stages on terrain with no signal, and BMX runs motos and gates that need their own logic. A single finish-line clock built for a fun run simply doesn’t cover it. Cycling rewards timing that reads reliably at speed and adapts to segments, stages and motos.
Why this timing works
for cycling, MTB and BMX
Accurate at sprint speed
Reliable finish reads at high speed, for bunch sprints and fast finishes.
Segments and climbs timed
Timed segments and climbs for gran fondos, not just a finish time.
Stage and moto timing
Stage and moto logic for MTB and BMX, on terrain that suits Barefoot Lite where signal is poor.
Live results, no re-keying
Live results tied to your entry data, with no re-keying.
Who it’s for?
Road, criterium and gran fondo organisers.
Mountain bike and BMX event organisers.
Organisers who need segment, stage or moto timing, not just a finish clock.
Features
Reliable at speed
Finish reads built to hold up at cycling speeds and in bunch finishes, so results are right.
Timed segments and climbs
Time gran fondo segments and KOM climbs, giving riders more than a finish time.
Stages and motos
Handle MTB stage timing and BMX motos, with Barefoot Lite suited to remote MTB terrain.
One system with registration
Category, grade and entry data flows into timing automatically. Entries live on the Cycling, MTB & BMX Registration page.
Registration and timing, connected
Run timing on its own, or take entries with Barefoot too so category, grade and entrant data flows straight into timing with nothing re-keyed. Connect it to Cycling, MTB & BMX Registration whenever you want.
Live segments, leaderboards and sponsor space
Riders and fans follow live segment and stage leaderboards, and your tracking, results and finish screens carry sponsor branding, so timing feeds the spectacle and gives partners a place on the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you time a bunch finish at speed?
Yes. The hardware is built to read reliably at cycling speeds and in bunch sprints.
Do you time gran fondo segments?
Yes. Timed segments and KOM climbs are supported, not just the finish.
Can you time MTB stages and BMX motos?
Yes. Stage and moto formats are handled, and Barefoot Lite suits remote MTB terrain.
Do you need chip timing for a club race, or can volunteers do it?
For a weekly club race with a small field, volunteers with a stopwatch and a start list can produce a fair result. Chip timing earns its place once riders start in waves, the field laps itself, results decide series points, or you want results published before everyone goes home. The practical test is whether your volunteers would rather be racing than running the finish line.
What's the difference between active and passive timing chips?
Passive tags have no battery, cost less per rider and are usually fixed to a number plate or bib. They suit mass-start road and cross-country events. Active transponders are battery-powered, mount to the front fork and hold up at high speed and in tight packs, which is why BMX and downhill run them. Passive is cheaper per head. Active is more precise and reusable.
How accurate does timing need to be for downhill and time trials?
AusCycling’s 2026 Mountain Bike Technical Regulations require electronic starting and timing for downhill, with at least 30 seconds between individual rider starts. The clock has to trigger at the gate as well as the line, not off a marshal’s stopwatch. Time trials work the same way. Any race where riders start individually and places are decided by fractions of a second needs an electronic start, not just an electronic finish.
Do BMX riders need their own transponder?
At AusCycling BMX State Series rounds, riders in racing categories must supply their own transponder and have it checked at registration before official practice. The BMX Racing Technical Regulations require it to be mounted on the front fork leg, not protruding past the centre of the front hub axle. Participation categories such as Mini Wheelers and Sprocket Rockets are not timed or scored. Clubs commonly sell transponders to members.
Can you time a race with no power or phone signal?
Yes. Timing points run on internal batteries and store passings locally, so a stage start halfway up a mountain needs neither mains power nor a marshal with a laptop. Reusable tags also avoid freighting consumables to a remote site. Live results are the part that depends on connectivity — with no mobile coverage you either relay the data back or publish once the units reach the finish.
Let’s make your next event your easiest yet.
Work with people who get the pace, pressure, and precision of endurance events and build platforms that match it.