Track Racing - Forum Archive

Mar 21, 2014 at 07:41 PM

No, I'll most likely be riding to the velodrome from the CP race, so just one bike for me. I think some hand-slings could be managed nonetheless.

Andrew Da Silva

Mar 21, 2014 at 09:13 PM

Hey Marc, I had a "baptism by fire" two years ago with the Madison when the Tuesday night before the annual Madison cup at T-Town and all the pros in town wanted to have a Madison for the feature but were short one team. Nothstein walked over to Keith and I and essentially told us we were going to be in the Madison feature to make meet the minimum. I think it is one of the hardest and stressful things you can do on a bike. That said the experience left me hooked. I feel like the actual mechanics of the exchange is the easy part, The real challenge is know where to be from both a safety and strategic standpoint. Never riding below exchanges, lining up in order while you're "resting", etc. also as Eric has bestowed to me, having a partner who is a similar size helps.

Andrew Da Silva

Mar 21, 2014 at 09:16 PM

There is a Tuesday Madison night put at t-town prior to the big show. Last year eric and I planned on doing it but it fell through. Pony tail mafia JP and Marc should team up in the madison for masters nationals.

jim_nelson

Mar 21, 2014 at 11:11 PM

Yang, you should race at Rahway that morning. I'm going to race Rahway and then head to the clinic. I can give you a ride if you like. Rahway is fun.

David Yang

Mar 22, 2014 at 04:40 PM

That sounds good, though we would need to bring our road and track bikes?

Ros Knopov

Mar 22, 2014 at 05:17 PM

jim_nelson said:

Yang, you should race at Rahway that morning. I'm going to race Rahway and then head to the clinic. I can give you a ride if you like. Rahway is fun.

Rahway?

jim_nelson

Mar 22, 2014 at 08:22 PM

https://www.bikereg.com/-rahway-river-park-crit-manny-lopez-memorial

Yes, we could bring both bikes. I can fit 4 on top.

JoshuaC

Mar 22, 2014 at 10:05 PM

David Yang said:

That sounds good, though we would need to bring our road and track bikes?

The only bike you NEED is your road bike. The clinic will just be using road bikes. Track bikes more than welcome for post clinic riding.

That being said, I am riding out now instead of driving - so my track bike is staying home.

jim_nelson

Mar 22, 2014 at 11:08 PM

Josh, I'm pretty sure Yang and I are talking about 4/13 - racing at Rahway and then the track clinic in the afternoon.

Tomorrow I am bringing two bikes but only for testing out the track bike after the road bike fun ends.

Andrew Da Silva

Mar 22, 2014 at 11:15 PM

I think they were talkinga about the pink rhino track clinic.

As an aside. If you guys can get yourselves to the T-town try the track clinic I would do that over the pink rhino clinic. Nothing wrong with the punk rhino cllinic. The caliber of instructors at t-town is just world class. They have the international riders teach and it's awesome.

Konrad and I did it back in 2010, it was what got me hooked. Also good exposure t-town and how to ride a proper track.

JoshuaC

Mar 22, 2014 at 11:50 PM

Oops, sorry about that Jim.

Yeah, if you are doing the Pink Rhino clinic, bring your own track bike or contact them for a loaner.

Andrew Da Silva

Mar 25, 2014 at 07:20 PM

Colby Pierce Srm file from a World Cup points race... Ouch

http://intern.srm.de/index.php/us/srm-in-action/competition-with-srm/track/334-bahn

Jeffrey White

Mar 25, 2014 at 09:17 PM

Andrew Da Silva said:

Colby Pierce Srm file from a World Cup points race... Ouch http://intern.srm.de/index.php/us/srm-in-action/competition-with-srm/track/334-bahn

Preposterous.

Ros Knopov

Apr 18, 2014 at 03:58 AM

Who's in for this coming Wed's Twilight Series @ Kissena? I'm reg'd and excited to get the track racing season going.

image.jpg

Andrew Da Silva

Apr 18, 2014 at 04:18 AM

Hey ros, there is a twilight series thread somewhere. I'm gonna try and be there for a month at least. Focus is gonna be on t-town Tueadays but that doesn't start till late May.

Kayt Mathers

Jun 12, 2014 at 07:37 PM

For anyone looking to dip their toes in or take the plunge, there's a great track clinic coming up on July 5 and 6: https://www.bikereg.com/2013-collegiate-challenge

Note this is not just for collegiate racers, and the organizer mentions that no one should be deterred by the word "Beginner" for Saturday's clinic. They'll go over tactics and etiquette, which I was assured wouldn't be waste of time for anyone who's had some experience racing--in other words, I'll probably be there!

There's only a few spots left for the USAC clinic, so go go go!

Ros Knopov

Sep 08, 2014 at 12:24 AM

Hey @Andy, keep us updated on your track racing adventures in London! Would love to hear about it.

Andrew Da Silva

Sep 18, 2014 at 06:32 PM

Ill write a little summary tonight

jesselash

Oct 24, 2014 at 04:56 PM

"Looking for parts to build a track bike. I got a monster, trying to turn it to the beauty. Wanted: track bars, wheels, gears, sprockets, chain, wisdom."

I have a general idea about track racing, did that about 20 years ago, don't think much is changed. Help with gear is most important now. What wheels are good enough to start? Gearing?

At Kissena, you will probably want to start out close to 88 or 90 gear inches, and go from there. For example, I race on 50:15, which is 88". I did half the season on 48:15, which is 84", and when I finally moved to 88", I felt much better. Ros was racing on 94" or even 96", and Andy spent a lot of time at 92" I believe. Depends on the individual.

As far as wheels go, Formula or Novatec hubs are the best cheap/solid option. Lace those to any rims and you'll be fine for starting out. Around $200 for a set like that. A lot of guys are on nicer deep carbon wheels, but as with any racing, the marginal gains from carbon probably aren't worth it if you're just getting back into racing. A nice middle of the road option is the Mavic Ellipse wheelset. Great reviews, lots of people race them, and budget friendly at around $500 for the set. Dura Ace track hubs are also very respected, and a basic rim to DA hubs is another popular budget friendly option. Same goes for Phil Wood, Paul, and a few other hub brands.

Personally I'm racing a set of H Plus TB14 rims to Formula hubs, 32 spoke front and back, which is about as far from ideal as you could get. Plan on upgrading for next season to something like the Mavic Ellipse, or maybe a deeper set of china carbon tubulars laced to DA hubs.

mperlberg

Oct 24, 2014 at 05:17 PM

The other thing you need is a crank set. Dura ace is the gold standard. Sram omnium is the next level, but still very nice.

You'll enjoy this track thing, it's a blast!

Ros Knopov

Oct 24, 2014 at 05:32 PM

+1 to everything Jesse wrote. Just start out on 86" or 88" gear and experiment in race situations (it will feel different in a race than in training). I spent all of last race season experimenting with different gearing until I felt I got it right for where I was in my training blocks.

Andrew Da Silva

Oct 24, 2014 at 05:42 PM

If you have the resources pick up 14 and 15 tooth cogs and then a 47, 48, and 49 t chain rings. Ros has a good brand that uses that are easy on the pocket which i cant remember right now. And I use Affinity rings which run about 40$ a piece. Plenty of options amoungst those gears to get started. As far as wheels. On a budget i think anything with Formula hubs are fine. As a step up, I prefer the open ball Dura Ace or Sun Tour over the White Industry and Phill Woods, but that is just my preferance. Track specific handlebars are not nessesary, you just don't want your handle bars to be too wide. I run 42 road handle bars which are pretty much as wide as you can go. A trend amoungt sprint specific racers is extreemly narrow handle bars. Not ideal for the gen. endurance events done at Kissena.

dstokes

Oct 24, 2014 at 05:50 PM

There is some legend/paranoia about chain line. You should at least make yourself aware of the issue. The variables are bottom bracket spindle length, cranks, hubs and cogs.

mugwump

Oct 24, 2014 at 07:18 PM

You can swap over your front wheel from the road. Just get a skewer that utilizes a 5mm allen key rather than a lever.

With position, my recommendation is to mirror your road position as much as possible. Same saddle, same bars, same pedals. The difference is crank length. Many go down in length by 2.5-5mm for the higher rpms that are typically better for track racing.

VladiKhlopine

Oct 25, 2014 at 01:40 AM

reading through. thanks, guys.

Graydon Kolk

Mar 16, 2015 at 05:53 PM

Hey guys I just signed up for the Lucarelli & Castaldi 6 Days of Kissena race this Sunday. It will be my first track race ever! Pretty excited and nervous.

Any track peeps going to be out there?

Jeffrey White

Mar 16, 2015 at 05:56 PM

FYI: https://www.bikereg.com/lucarelli--castaldi-6-days-of-kissena