The truth has two forms, a few cyclists rediscovered Tuesday night.

For approximately 25 minutes, the truth meant intense pain, exhaustion, and physical torture.

But once those 25 minutes were over, the truth meant a satisfaction that speed had been achieved and what they had once believed to be limits were merely goals waiting to be reached.

Every Tuesday night for the past three summers, a small group of South Whidbey cyclists have tested their speed and strength together in individual time trials sponsored by the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District. These time trials are races, though not particularly serious or official. The riders who decide to show up in a given week ride individually on a 7.25-mile course, trying for a faster finish each time.

Called “the race of truth,” bicycle time trials are a measure of how strong a rider is when riding alone. Unable to take advantage of the dynamics or the draft of a group of other riders, it is the time trialist competing against the clock, the wind, the course and his or her own body.

Brandon Henry, a Spin class instructor at Momentum, Ironman triathlete and the time trial’s unofficial organizer, planned the South Whidbey course specifically to take advantage of low traffic volume free right-hand turns. Rolling along Langley Road, Sandy Point Road, Wilkinson, Bob Galbreath and Surface roads, cyclists never need to stop.

In addition to these aspects, the sunlit course is actually sort of pleasant on a summer’s evening, in spite of all the sweating and grunting the riders do. That is, unless the wind is blowing.

“It’s a lot like Tour de France-type racing,” Henry said. “Wind resistance is everything.”

Last Tuesday, eight cyclists — ranging in experience from competitive athletes to fitness riders — turned out for the time trial. Everyone arrived in colorful racewear — including one with a polyester jersey emblazoned with silkscreen portraits of a cycling Eddy Merkx — riding road bikes that were high tech, shiny, and in some cases, a little weird.

After meeting outside the Momentum health club at Ken’s Kor-ner, the group took a 6 p.m. warm-up lap around the course. Thirty minutes later, the cyclists were at the starting line across from Naomi’s gas station, ready for a ride that is anything but leisurely.

Starting at one-minute intervals beginning with the slowest riders and working toward the fastest, the riders set out to complete the loop in times ranging between 18 and 25 minutes.

Almost as though working off some sort of penance, time trial record holder Peter Oakley balanced each cyclist for the start before getting his chance to go in the last position.

The rider with the biggest challenge at this week’s trial was Marti Reiss, the lone woman rider at the event. Normally one of the fastest riders on the course, she did this week’s ride towing her infant daughter Annika behind her in a two-wheeled bicycle baby buggy. At one point, she even had to stop to calm Annika after the child dropped her snacks in the bottom of the buggy.

Even with the stop, Reiss finished only two seconds slower than her previous best with child in tow. She credited all the cheering she got out on the course.

“The men I bike with are an awesome group and are really supportive. They’ve made me faster,” she said. “They’ll yell ‘Go Annika’ as they ride by. It’s sweet how encouraging their attitudes have been.”

All that support is somewhat antithetical to the true nature of time trialing. Since the discipline began decades ago in races like the Tour de France, time trials have been the embodiment of the “every man for himself” philosophy.

“You are on your own,” said Brandon Henry.

But time trialing on South Whidbey is friendly above all things. Triathlete Kurt Johnson, who has participated in the time trials for three summers, attends every Tuesday primarily for the enjoyment aspect.

“It gives you the intensity of riding, which is a lot of fun,” he said.

This doesn’t mean the riders skimp on effort. Peter Oakley, who is preparing himself to defend his Whidbey Island Triathlon crown and training for an Ironman Hawaii qualifier, felt satisfied with his own results this time. Riding the course in 17:54, he eclipsed his personal best and the course record by four seconds. Oakley is the only cyclist to ride a sub-18 minute time on the course.

“It feels good, like my training is going well,” Oakley said. “I like that (the time trials) are held every week on a regular schedule. You build a history together on an ongoing project. We all try to improve ourselves together.”

After each trial, the riders gather together to find out their times, which Henry logs weekly. Every rider gets a cheer when his or her time is announced, even if the week’s time isn’t great. Everyone needs the positive reinforcement, because the group wants as many people back the following week as possible.

The time trials, which began with the start of daylight savings time, will run every Tuesday until the start of the school year..