Track cycling

[Thomas. PLease.]

Just booked myself on for a taster session at Lee Valley. Hoping to get accredited so I may be able to do some racing over the winter to keep in some sort of form. Quite looking forward to trying it now.

Anyone else had any track cycling/racing experience? How was it?

 

[touch]

I did a taster session and 3 of the 4 accreditation sessions.
Never got around to doing the last one because it's a 3.5 hour drive each way to get to the track.

Brilliant fun though. I'd love to be closer to it and do the track league - or even just a few training sessions.

 

[One More Solo]

Me!

I've posted a bit in the race report thread but I generally find track racing safer and more controlled than crits or circuit races. Very different skills required but with the different bunch races available there is scope for different styles of riders to do well. It's not just about who can sprint.

 

[Shamrock]

Just booked myself on for a taster session at Lee Valley.

When are you doing this?

I was thinking about visiting Herne Hill at some point. Not quite Lee Valley, but a lot more local.

 

[Thomas. PLease.]

When are you doing this?

I was thinking about visiting Herne Hill at some point. Not quite Lee Valley, but a lot more local.

I'm booked in on the 10th July at 10am. Loads of spaces and times available at Lee Valley, luckily its not all that far from me either.

 

[Thomas. PLease.]

Me!

I've posted a bit in the race report thread but I generally find track racing safer and more controlled than crits or circuit races. Very different skills required but with the different bunch races available there is scope for different styles of riders to do well. It's not just about who can sprint.

Ah niceone, have you raced much. Different skills in what way?

 

[booyaka]

sounds good - going to do it over the winter in Glasgow as well I think.

http://www.emiratesarena.co.uk/cycling/Pages/new-riders.aspx

£10 for the initial 2 sessions sound like fun

 

[Shamrock]

I'm booked in on the 10th July at 10am. Loads of spaces and times available at Lee Valley, luckily its not all that far from me either.

I thought you were down my way in SW?

 

[Jonny69]

Absolutely LOVE track cycling. We do a bit of a club thing down at Calshot a couple of times a year. Only other track I've been on is Herne Hill which was incredibly busy post-Olympics and they wouldn't let you ride very fast. So yeah, not been on a modern indoor track, so can't comment too much

I'd do more if:
a) I lived a bit closer to a track
b) If my knee would play ball

Bikewise:- I ride on clinchers but they scare me a bit on a small track like Calshot. You see how the rim has bitten in to the sidewall and wonder what would happen if you got a blow out. Tubulars would be better.

As OMS said, it's way safer than crit racing!

 

[Thomas. PLease.]

I thought you were down my way in SW?

Well, I'm in Fulham so its only really 13 miles or so through central. I work near Euston though so its not that far from here.

 

[fenderbass86]

I've completed 3 out of the 4 stages. I too was thinking about entering for the track leagues during the winter. Just need to get round to booking up that 4th stage! Really good fun!

 

[Thomas. PLease.]

I've completed 3 out of the 4 stages. I too was thinking about entering for the track leagues during the winter. Just need to get round to booking up that 4th stage! Really good fun!

What are the later stages like? Is it a case of just going through and getting the experience?

 

[Jono]

I've never done it... obviously... isn't it really boring going round in an oval for <however long it is>?

That said - I want a go.

 

[daveski]

Not having a freewheel scares me!

Now the Velodrome is open in Derby though I perhaps should go for a taster session.

 

[Shamrock]

I've never done it... obviously... isn't it really boring going round in an oval for <however long it is>?

That said - I want a go.

I imagine the appeal is the satisfaction of being faster/stronger than others? It's definitely not the scenery, unless staring at lycra-clad arse is your thing!

For me it'd be a legitimate reason for N+1.

 

[Thomas. PLease.]

I've never done it... obviously... isn't it really boring going round in an oval for <however long it is>?

That said - I want a go.

Yeah, but its going to be fast, and the racing is going to be pretty good fun I'd imagine. That and for the winter months its probably one of the limited opportunities you're going to get at racing.

 

[fenderbass86]

What are the later stages like? Is it a case of just going through and getting the experience?

In stages 3 & 4, you are under observation from the coaches (you wear a bib with a number so they can identify you). They mark you down on things like not checking over your shoulder when maneuvering, leaving too big a gap from the rider in front, overlapping wheels or causing riders behind to overlap. There's also a team pursuit challenge where you need to swing off the front, up the bank and join the back of the team in a fluid motion.

In stage 4 you are under very strict observation apparently.

 

[One More Solo]

Ah niceone, have you raced much. Different skills in what way?

Yeah, raced Monday and Friday track league this year in Manchester after doing a bit of club racing last year. The main differences I can think of vs road are:

Events tend to be much shorter with plenty in one evening, so you need to get used to the warm up-race-cool down-warm up routine.

Shorter events mean much faster racing with plenty of time above threshold. It also means it's hard for breaks to get away in amateur racing where no one wants to work (oh wait, that's just like a crit).

No corners/hills mean it's harder to predict where a break will go, so you need to be good at reading the race and knowing who the riders to follow are.

The different races mean it's not always a case of fastest rider wins, although that definitely helps! There are so many different ways to ride an elimination or points race which will hinge on whether you're a sprinter or a pursuiter i.e. pick people off from the back or set the pace on the front.

Gearing choice can make or break your evening, and you'll need to get used to sprinting at 130rpm+!

There's probably more but that's off the top of my head.

 

[Shamrock]

Did the Herne Hill induction session today. I enjoyed it.

Definitely felt a bit weird riding fixed and slowing down takes a bit of effort! I reckon I will go back for more sessions.

 

[Shamrock]

One More Solo, did you build your Vigorelli up yourself?

Can you post a pic again?