If you haven't already, I highly suggest checking out the UCI's Track Champions League.  This weekend is the first round and last year was really fun to watch.  

https://plus.globalcyclingnetwork.com/watch/uci-track-champions-league-round-1-mallorca

Just watched the track league , fun , the opening ceremony ,a little hunger games🤣

Ever considered trying out track racing?  This is more for next year than this...

There are loaner bikes at the track.  I don't know if they are part of the Star Track kids program or just an assemblage of old stuff that has accumulated over the years. I can't speak to whether or not they are currently actively being loaned out.  

However, this is something I wanted to address with the promoter, as participation has been lagging this year.  I'm going to suggest they make sure they have a set  number of loaner bikes and then make specific invitations to clubs to the effect of, 'hey, we've got X number of loaner bikes.  We'd love to show your club members how much fun track racing is.  We're inviting you to send X club members to Kissena on such and such a day to try it out.  Show up at 5:30 to learn how to ride the bikes, do the beginner races at 6:30, and we're sure you'll want to come back for more..."

I guess the question to Kissena is: would you non-fixed-gear bike owners want to try this out?

I absolutely would

I spoke with the folks running the track today.  turns out there are something like 12 bikes that they can loan out.  So, with a little advance notice this year, they probably could get you one.

But we're already talking about next year.  Dates for races should be set by sometime in November and we can do a little advance planning so that people can have bikes and have a tilt at the track for only the cost of entry.

Also, we, as a club, can probably either set something up with the bikes, or, and this is even easier, just head out to the track on our road bikes once or twice over the winter or early spring, and ride it in a coordinated fashion.  

I'd be down for any intro to track racing.

I’ve been somewhat involved with the velodrome folks, helping out a bit with their website and helping host a clinic in the fall. It’s a really fun vibe at the track and there are loaner bikes available for you to try out. I highly suggest checking it out this year or next!

If you feel comfortable with a fixed gear bike and the track the loaner bikes are generally available for use on short notice on the day of events, but you should show up early and bring your own pedals. That’s how I got started.

A Kissena intro to track clinic for Kissena CC members would be really fun!

I’ll be racing the Chariot sprint tournament today and Andrew may be officiating.

Reviving this thread - Greg and I were chatting during yesterday's ride and thought it would be fun to get some people new to the discipline out for a track day session to learn the basics. Anyone interested?

YES!

In what seems like the distant past, we did an early season day at the track on road bikes.

https://kissenacycling.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/110/the-kissena-early-season-day-at-the-velodrome-track-on-road-bikes

The idea was to work on pacelines, attacking and leadouts on the track, where it would be easy to stop and discuss and watch.

I had talked with Jason Gallacher, as you can see from above, who seems to managing things at the track, about us doing a session there last summer.  It sounded then as if we just need to pick a date, but one that doesn't conflict with their spring race schedule.

JP for sure I want to do that too, but also want to get people turned on and out for track racing!

Dave V may have some more intel on an open session with his Pink Rhino hookup.

David Yang said:

JP for sure I want to do that too, but also want to get people turned on and out for track racing!

Dave V may have some more intel on an open session with his Pink Rhino hookup.

I just reached out to Jason Gallacher.  They have bikes and they definitely need to increase turnout.

Looks like Dave V and Pink Rhino are running an intro clinic on Saturday March 23rd! Loaner bikes are available as well, but I'll assume you'll have to bring your own clipless pedals/shoes.

https://www.bikereg.com/kissena-intro-to-track-racing-clinic

There are good eats nearby in Flushing if anyone wants to do a late lunch/early dinner (lunner) afterwards!

Dang.  I'll likely be out of town that weekend.

Also, @David Yang , why are you registered?  You know how to race track.

GregHoge said:

Dang.  I'll likely be out of town that weekend.

Also, @David Yang , why are you registered?  You know how to race track.

Cancel your plans, this is going to be way more fun. I can always use a refresher course considering my track racing is once every 3 years lol.

David Yang said:

Looks like Dave V and Pink Rhino are running an intro clinic on Saturday March 23rd! Loaner bikes are available as well, but I'll assume you'll have to bring your own clipless pedals/shoes.

https://www.bikereg.com/kissena-intro-to-track-racing-clinic

There are good eats nearby in Flushing if anyone wants to do a late lunch/early dinner (lunner) afterwards!

Love it! Signed up too, and very much interested in everything food related 

FWIW,
     I haven't heard back from Jason Gallacher.  He's not the best on communicationg.

     Trying to get a club day at the track.

If you’re interested in track I highly suggest coming out to the Pink Rhino clinic. It would be great to get a group of Kissena’s turning out. I am a Kissena CC member but I am also a member of Pink Rhino specifically for track and will be helping run the clinic.

https://www.bikereg.com/kissena-intro-to-track-racing-clinic

There are other clinics held at the velodrome that are for absolute beginners and for other demos, but PRR’s is more advanced. Unless you’re an active cat 2/3+ track racer already I think you can get something out of this clinic, and if not there’s racing in the second half of it that is fun. I personally think its target audience is for lapsed track racers, roadies without a lot or any track experience, or existing fixed gear riders who haven’t raced track yet.

There are loaner track bikes of all sizes available at the track, just make sure to arrive a little early so you can snag your size and get set up. There are random sets of shoe cage (clip) pedals there but it would be best if you brought your own clipless pedals. The loaner bikes recently got some additions of recent model Affinity Kissena track bikes which is fun. I love that bike.

March 24th and 30th are clinics.  I assume everything else is a race.  

Lennart, looks like it's you and me at the clinic on Saturday if the weather cooperates. We can do pizza afterward lol.

Oh wow it's this saturday already! Looking forward to riding - and pizza

Hey all! Got another opportunity to ride the track and have fun: a FREE Chariot tournament, with loaner bikes available! https://www.bikereg.com/freechariot for more.

What is a chariot race? It is a 1vs1, one-lap sprint elimination tournament. You vs someone else, one lap, all out sprint, loser gets eliminated. There IS usually an elimination bracket though to make sure everyone gets to race at least twice. I am racing in both the 40+ and open categories so I get to race a lot whooo.

Get there early if you want a loaner bike, details in the Bikereg event.

Awesome! If I'm not out of town will sign up.

For reference: Sat, June 29 @ noon

Looks like another clinic (sorry Dave V if you posted somewhere already). I'll most likely be there!

https://www.bikereg.com/66835

I showed up, I raced, I didn't win anything and I developed a wicked track cough. 

The NY State Track Championships are scheduled for August 25.

Because of the lack of interest, there are now Wednesday Night races every other Wednesday.

Seems that there are races July 27, August 7 and 14.

Tenatively, I'm probably going to miss the 14th, so I'll probably go the 27th and 7th.  

It would be great to have company.  If you want to borrow a bike, I'm pretty sure that can be arranged.  

https://kissenavelodrome.org/events

Wed nights are always really tough for me and NYS champs is the day before I leave on a family road trip so I'll probably only join for an early race depending on time. I would love track races to be super early weekend mornings like the park races.

The most interesting thing about track racing to me is understanding each race format and and the strategies and race skills needed to execute to do well in them.

Seriously though, track racing is insanely hard. Look at my dumb suffering face, literally only trying to keep up and contesting nothing. The heat and air quality + my general lack of fitness + the elite tier of racers in my field... this was one of the hardest bike races I've done.




...but obviously I didn't win because of my shallow wheels and not being in a skin suit.