kicks off tomorrow (5/11) make your namesake proud! http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13040

im still recovering from the opening weekend

pre reg'd but won't make this week, I should be out a decent amount this season, see what I can do to help you get that upgrade, mattie.

Floyd last night... means no track tonight.

Good luck!

I won't be out tonight either... 2 weeks, hopefully, and I'll be making it out again!

Also, just throwing this out there: I was thinking of setting up a semi-regular type of deal where we can practice/train/just ride the track or whatever. There seems to be a few of us in the 4's this year, so we might do well to get a little extra riding time with one another. I'm pretty flexible on times.

Perhaps we could even have a nice little bbq while we do this. Anybody interested?

Posted By: konradI won't be out tonight either... 2 weeks, hopefully, and I'll be making it out again!

Also, just throwing this out there: I was thinking of setting up a semi-regular type of deal where we can practice/train/just ride the track or whatever. There seems to be a few of us in the 4's this year, so we might do well to get a little extra riding time with one another. I'm pretty flexible on times.

Perhaps we could even have a nice little bbq while we do this. Anybody interested?

very interested, also be interested in sat trips to t-town and have a car if anyone wants a ride.

Hey all - did these practice /train/just ride the track sessions start ? I would love to join / have some newbie questions.

How does the Wed night racing work ? I am looking to try track racing (as all bike racing Queens County natives should be).
Can I get a quick primer if I come out prior to the start time , or does it make more sense to wait for a non race day practice session?
I was not able to make it out to the Try the Track day this past weekend.

It looks like you pre-reg for one or more races in the series, but not a specific night. Can you just reg and then come by any Wednesday ?

I emailed Alan and there is an available loaner bike in my size.

thanks
Joshua C

They haven't started yet... hopefully we'll have one soon though. I guess we'll use this thread to plan it. Anybody have a time/day they prefer?

Regarding Wednesday nights, yeah you can go out earlier and try the track, but I would take a day to go and get used to the feel of things. The banking feels weird at first, but there isn't much so you shouldn't have much of a problem. Sometimes little kids on bikes like to ride up and down the banking though, so be wary of that!

And yeah, you pretty much buy a night of racing that is usable any week. If you pay and don't show it rolls over until you show up.

Thanks Konrad. I have been out there a couple of times on my road bike - so I know how to get there, I am familiar with the banking, etc.

My bigger concern is learning to ride and stop on the track bike (I have never been on a fixed gear) and also understanding the racing format.

For the 5s the rules of each event are told as you line up on the rail. At first it's a bit confusing, but you'll pick it up quickly.

http://usacycling.org/forms/USAC_rulebook-2.pdf

the USA Cycling rule book has the rules of each of the race. The ones you'll be doing mostly are scratch races, which are just like road races but shorter, first rider across the line wins. Also Miss & Out, which isn't an In-Out burger in a blender with Swiss Miss hot cocoa, the last rider across the line on each lap gets pulled until either there is a small number of riders and then it ends in a sprint for those riders, or just the last surviving rider.

Ooh, the Miss & Out, one of my favorite events. I'm starting to miss track racing again. Hot tip for newbies to this event. Ideally, sit like 3rd or 4th wheel. There's a chance that you'll get shuffled back as guys come to pass you on the outside, but in 3rd wheel you should be safe for several laps as the guys at the front will almost certainly pick up the pace just to ensure that they don't get swarmed out the back. OR, be that guy and ride a nice medium hard tempo at the front and just pick it up in the last couple of turns to keep guys from swarming you too much. When you are down to 5 or 6 riders, then it's really game on. But before then, if you are too far back you are going to get crushed because you are going to be sprinting/jostling and otherwise exhausting yourself in efforts not to be last on any given lap.

I don't exactly recommend the following technique, but if you are new to track racing, but have excellent road racing fitness relative to your competition, you can take an early race flyer off the front, get your gap and ride hard tempo while the pack fights it out a turn or two behind you.