[ire]

I've raced BMX, DH, DS/MTX, XC, CX and road, but I've never raced track. I've been thinking more and more about it lately and I think it looks like fun. I have a large outdoor velodrome about an hour from my house. Anyone raced before? What was your experience? What type of race did you do? I'm still fuzzy on the different events in track. Did you find that it helped you in other areas of cycling?

 

[JRogers]

Never raced track before, but as far as benefits, I'm sure it helps with pedal stroke and leg speed.

 

[ire]

I'm a little shocked. I would have thought some of the roadies on here would have raced track at one point or another.

 

[Wumpus]

I've been to a few track races.

 

[ire]

I've been to a few track races.

Was it at least fun to watch?

 

[Heidi]

You need bigger legs to do that IRE

 

[OGRipper]

Track is awesome:

Not fake, in case you were wondering.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

Quit waffling and go for it.

 

[ire]

You need bigger legs to do that IRE

Compared to most of my XC counterparts my legs look like a track sprinters

 

[Heidi]

Track is awesome:


Not fake, in case you were wondering.

yah, I saw the video of it.

 

[Arkayne]

yah, I saw the video of it.

explain what happened! ouch

 

[OGRipper]

explain what happened! ouch

Here ya go:

http://bikehugger.com/post/view/track-splinter

Wait for the end.

 

[SuspectDevice]

Track is the only discipline I've never raced too. Do it for me. With your gravity background you'd love it.

 

[SteezyWeezy]

only ridden a wednesday class at alpenrose. takes ridiculous legs and balls too, drafting without brakes and a huge track gear takes getting used to

 

[ire]

only ridden a wednesday class at alpenrose. takes ridiculous legs and balls too, drafting without brakes and a huge track gear takes getting used to

That's where I figured I would start. The Alpenrose corners are f---ing scary. I only rail them during the cross races when I'm hauling and its dry conditions. Even at that I'm no where near the top, more like the bottom 20%.

 

[SteezyWeezy]

when you're actually riding the track it feels a lot better when you're mashing. the scary part is going too slow. they say you need a minimum of 12mph to stay on the corners without sliding down, but that 12 feels like slug **** when you actually start riding, faster the better. the Wednesday class is great even for an experienced rider because there are a lot of unwritten rules and etiquette about the track nobody really talks about, kinda like going to a road race never have raced before or something

 

[ire]

Thanks for the info. Anyone have recommendations on a bike? I really don't want to spend more than $500. The issue is that they bid up on eBay because every hipster wants a track bike.