Track Racing - Forum Archive

Mar 15, 2013 at 11:59 PM

Thought I'd get this going for general/specific discussions. Seems like we've got some excitement brewing. At least on my end. As bigger events come up, they'll probably get their own threads, and we should continue to use the Mentoring thread for specific announcements, discussions regarding mentor events etc.

@Kieran. What's especially exciting about the possibility of this year to me, is that if we, as a team can find shades of our past glory, and combine forces...we might be able to make an impact and have some real fun. Some of the most fun I ever had team racing came on the track when a few strong "roadies" raced in support of a super strong local crit/track racer and fair to good national caliber racer and we kind of dominated points races at the end of the night. And I don't mind boasting that we had a guy or two with stars and stripes national sprint champion jerseys get "handled" by our scrappy bunch. Chasing around a more well-rounded track/crit racer in Robbie Ventura (the "K-Town Motor") wasn't always as successful, but the lessons learned...

Of course, I'm just bloviating from my oversized belly right now; stroking my unkempt overgrown grey beard reminiscing about ye olden times. It's going to be major baby-steps for me. I guarantee you...I will be terrified on all the turns every time I first take my warm-up laps every week and if I'm lucky, by mid-season, I'll have some old-school swagger back. It will help, you know, if you get back on top of your game too. Because if we've got a strong sprinter to work for....shheeeeeet. That is the shizzle.

mattie davitt

May 23, 2012 at 10:04 PM

We're into week 3 already of the Twilight series at Kissena. Good team turn out today with myself, joshC, ChrisB, and Andy. The 4/5 field was brimming, almost 20 or so guys, great to see. Gavi raced the 3/4 and ruined my night, but suffering is good. Only 8 of us in the 3/4, but good racing. More info on the races here http://kissenavelodrome.info/

josephmueller

May 24, 2012 at 06:52 AM

Posted By: mattie davittGavi raced the 3/4 and ruined my night,

ouch.

mperlberg

May 24, 2012 at 06:54 AM

Posted By: josephmueller
Posted By: mattie davittGavi raced the 3/4 and ruined my night,
ouch.

lol.

mattie davitt

May 24, 2012 at 07:07 AM

I believe as a road 1/pro he can petition for an auto cat 2 track upgrade, but maybe wanted some race experience first?

eragot

May 24, 2012 at 07:19 AM

He needs a USCF coach to sign off, and the track director.

JoshuaC

Jun 15, 2012 at 09:26 PM

Its week6 now already (wow). So far I have been able to make it out to the track clinic and then 3 of the 6 Wed nights. Having a blast. Due to work and other conflicts I am missing week 7 and probably week 8.

Week 9 is Wed July 4th, and there will be racing! As a special treat, if there is enough interest they are going to run a Madison clinic at 530pm and then have Madisons as part of racing at 630pm.

The Madison is a team event where you switch off with your partner (often via hand sling)

see this video at 20 sec or 1 min for an example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiienLPFsBk&feature=related

Dust off your track bike (or get a loaner from the velodrome) - and come celebrate America's independence with a race indirectly named for our 4th President.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_(cycling)

Assuming I get the ok from my better half, I plan on being there along with some bbq type food to celebrate the day.

JoshuaC

Jul 05, 2012 at 02:52 AM

2012-07-04

Soooo - tonight's Madison was cancelled last week since it was dependent on one of the guys running a clinic before the races, and he got hurt in a race 2 weeks back. A large contingent of PA\T-Town folks didn't come up as originally planned.

Attendance at the track tonight was slightly lighter than normal - but it was a good night . Cat 4/5 had a light turnout, only four people. The 3/4s had eight or so I think, plus two girls and a handful of masters.

Race 1 - cat4/5 Charriott- four people. In a charriott, every lines up at start/finish, is held in place by a buddy, and clips in. On the whistle - your holder can give you a push, and then its a one lap (400 M) sprint to the finish. I lined up on the inside (shortest line) - but I think I should have gone out a bit, the folks using the banking to get acceleration seem to get the bit of advantage. Short race, everyone stayed compact, sprinted against one other guy, got 3rd place. First podium for me - lets ignore that only 4 people were in the race. Top 10 as well technically

Race 2 - men 4/5 + Women - eight lap scratch (six people)

scratch races is a straight race (no intermediate sprints, etc).

I was 2nd wheel for two or three laps, then I was in the wind for half a lap, and then I went to the back. One guy tried to break away, he failed, but he did kick the pace up. Our line got slightly strung out, and I was at the back. I tried to advance up but didn't really have it - held the wheel of the person in front of me then went around her to sprint the outer line. 5th out of 6 people.

Race 3 - men 4/5 - 12 lap points race (four people).

Technically worst result of the night - but omfg the most fun and the one I am happiest with.

I *think* the points breakdown as 5,3,2,1..ie four places, four people, everyone gets points.

We started conservatively..but 2 of the guys pulled ahead and opened a gap. They got their points, and it was me vs one other guy for 3rd vs 4th . I came outside and out-sprinted him for the extra point (wooo) ..and then I fell back and he opened a gap on me. OOPS. So now 2 guys are way up the track (no way I am catching them) - and the other guy has a nice gap on me..but I can close it. I decide not to try for lap 4s points - to try to catch him around lap 2 or 3. And it takes 4 or 5 laps of careful efforts (watch that I am closing the gap, but don't overdo it) - and I catch him at 2 laps to go. I do a lap and change on his wheel, and he slips back behind me around 200 or 250m from the finish. I am at the inner lane, and I decide to just give it EVERYTHING. He held my wheel for a bit then came outside, it was a neck and neck sprint for the finish and he just barely got me. The crowd loved it. So I got 4th(last) ...but damn it was fun. I freaking closed the gap and caught the guy, totally made my night. AND it ends up he was sprinting hard and trying to close the gap on the guys ahead of him..so I had quite the challenge there.

not in town this weekend,so over to FBF tomorrow night, get some more racing in!

jim_nelson

Jul 05, 2012 at 12:33 PM

Nice report Josh. Sounds like a ton of fun.

Jules

Jul 05, 2012 at 02:57 PM

All podiums count!

JoshuaC

Jul 05, 2012 at 05:12 PM

http://www.kissenavelodrome.info/results/2012/Kissena12TwilightSeriesWeek9.pdf

kieranleahy

Jul 05, 2012 at 09:18 PM

Nice one Josh - just said in another thread that I thought I saw you and another one of our guys at the track yesterday. I was there doing some training before the track league - I would
have stayed for the racing itself but had evening plans (plus was
already in a world of pain from my efforts and the heat). I saw two
Kissena jerseys and I heard someone shout 'go Josh' during the first
race, so I assumed it was you! I would have come over and said hi, but I
spotted you both just before racing started and didn't want to disturb
your prep (plus the guys in the pink rhino kit look v intimidating - what is with that kit btw? It's a crime against humanity). I left just after watching the first couple of races - it looked fun!

JoshuaC

Jul 24, 2012 at 11:53 PM

So who is coming out to the velodrome tomorrow night ? I will be there and Aaron Blum is in (for his first race ever, nice!).

kieranleahy - you in (for pre-races practice at least) ? It looks like there is no category for you.

mattie davitt - you in ?

Chris Bloome ?

the schedule is posted:

http://www.kissenavelodrome.info/info/2012TwilightSeriesWeek12.pdf

JoshuaC

Aug 09, 2012 at 02:53 AM

2012-08-08 - various thoughts - most track related to some degree.

So last night I got around 4:45 of sleep. Too much stuff going on. I took a 5 hour energy today (I am not normally a caffeine person) - fired up the laptop and did my work. My day went surprisingly well considering I should not have been functional on that little sleep.

The end of the workday rolls around and I have a choice. sleep. Or shower\kit up\race. I felt good enough, so I raced

A bad result is better than no result.

During a kilo ITT, someone ahead of me on the track (cooling down) dropped into the sprint lane (right in my path). They said later they thought I had finished my race. I was yelling "get out of the way", the spectators were yelling, etc. I honestly don't recall if I was at 600m or 1000m, but even if I just crossed the line, they were in my field of vision while I was still validly racing, and MESSED ME UP (at least mentally). I would have probably rammed them if I didn't apply back pressure. I got to rest and try again a bit later...and I was 2 seconds slower. Got to keep the better time.

http://www.kissenavelodrome.info/info/2012TwilightSeriesWeek14.pdf

Despite what the schedule says, we then did a 3 lap, 1200m TTT . I don't know the name of the format, but after each lap, one guy got to peel off, so I did 400m, Joey (former Kissena) did 800m, and Robert (unattached) did the full 1200m. These guys are my go to for team events, they said I gave just the right acceleration for them - so wooo. Afterwards Joey rides himself into the grass while sprinting - said he got lost for a second or something.

I rocked the new kit - omg getting into a medium skinsuit was quite the affair for me. Once on it felt great though.

Highlight of the night though....running into an old family friend I had not seen in probably 15 or more years. When I was about 13 years old, we moved to a house, and I got my mothers 1970s steel Fuji 650C road bike (the small bike + wheels for my 5 foot tall mother were perfect for a budding teenager) . My dad had a buddy who lived in the area at the time who taught me TONS about riding, including how to wear a bike lock over my shoulder, and quickly sling it off to beat the crap out of anyone that threatened me or my bike. I was a skin and bones little kid - these were important skills ! Long story short, said family friend moves out of town for a while. He is back now and was at the velodrome this evening. As I am walking back onto the track, one of the spectators yells out "HEY-CAESAR" . I was completely befuddled - it took me a moment to make the connection. We caught up for a while post race.

Very happy I went out tonight.

Jules

Aug 09, 2012 at 12:23 PM

enough, so I raced A bad result is better than no result.

Words to live by

Adam

Aug 09, 2012 at 08:32 PM

When is there an open day on the track for absolute novices who don't have a track bike?

Also, is there any sort of indoor track around? Let's say, for using during the winter months?

Dan Reiners

Aug 10, 2012 at 01:25 PM

@Adam,

We're working on an indoor track. check out the Brooklyn Bridge Park Velodrome thread for updates on that.

@Josh

great to get the updates from your track racing.

kieranleahy

Aug 10, 2012 at 02:24 PM

@Adam - women and children seem sorted for novice days, but I've never seen one for everyone else! I'm probably wrong though. Check out the track's page on Facebook - it's fairly active.

There are hire bikes there - perhaps if we had enough interest in the club we could book the track for a few hours and hold our own novice day. I'd be happy to help organize it. Plus club legend and World Masters champ Delroy Walters is a qualified track coach I think.

I've always found it hard to believe that there's only one indoor track in the US (LA)...

@Josh - nice one for this week's racing. Hard to believe someone was that stupid to ride into your path during the kilo, but it sounds scarily familiar to training on the track with the general public around!

JoshuaC

Aug 10, 2012 at 03:25 PM

Adam - There was a intro to the track day in April. There is only one general track clinic a year it looks like, but there is a girls clinic almost every weekend I think. I am not sure why dudes don't get as many clinics.

However - every Wed is novice day

There are loaner bikes available, if you can come by 5:30 or so we can move your pedals over and get you a quick primer. The biggest thing is getting familiar with riding a fixed gear (no brakes, no stopping pedaling, to stop you gradually slow down) - if you have ridden fixed before, you have the biggest hurdle under your belt.

What size frame do you ride - we should check that its available first.

I have some primer sheets I can send you, one on the layout of a track, one on the different racing formats. Before each race the rules are normally explained anyway.

I found going to the clinic was great, but I think I could have survived without it as well.

JoshuaC

Aug 10, 2012 at 03:27 PM

...

There are hire bikes there - perhaps if we had enough interest in the club we could book the track for a few hours and hold our own novice day. I'd be happy to help organize it. Plus club legend and World Masters champ Delroy Walters is a qualified track coach I think.

...

And yeah - totally agreed kieranleahy - we have a track Masters World Champ in our membership rolls - we can 100% reach out to him and try to arrange something if there are interested folks.

JoshuaC

Aug 10, 2012 at 07:19 PM

Adam (and any others interested) - one last thing - there are three Wed nights left this summer (Aug 15th, 22nd, and 29th) . If you can make it out for one of the nights - come check out track racing this season. I would be happy to show up early and get you up to speed. This way, if you want to get into it, you have a bunch of time to get a hold of a bike before next year.

Track cycling being one of the more esoteric disciplines of racing, track frames\bikes are not something most shops keep in stock. When I decided on the bike I wanted..there were two left in the COUNTRY in my size, and I had to wait for the next shipment to come in from overseas.

If you decide to buy a bike, a much better approach would be researching it now, and pulling the trigger in December or January so you can get it on time, get to ride it a few times before next May, etc.

kieranleahy

Aug 27, 2012 at 08:15 PM

Hey guys,

Anyone planning on riding this? I was going to if there were more sprint races and well, more races in general - there are only 3 for each category (plus Delroy's 20 scratch (with cup) on offer for the 40+ men of course!). See attached for program.

Not sure I will now though, but could be persuaded otherwise if a few others were going. A few PBRs would probably make the program go faster too, ha.

@mugwump, you'd clean up again in the 1/2/3 15 lap scratch and points!

Labor Day Track Meet 2012.docx

eragot

Aug 27, 2012 at 08:24 PM

umm, Kissena track or Basking Ridge - how to choose?

kieranleahy

Aug 27, 2012 at 11:25 PM

Such sarcasm is unnecessary Eric. Anyway, I can tell it's just to mask your sheer excitement at having reignited your track career last weekend...

eragot

Aug 28, 2012 at 12:20 AM

umm, yeah...

either one doesn't really do what I need to do now, which is be building my FTP. Sure, teh opening races for CX will suck a bit, but if I can work up the FTP, I can do the hard stuff later and fly when others are slowing down - supercup.

@kieranleahy - i bet you'll fit on my CX bikes and if so, you can give it a go... start a CX career... you're Irish, so rain and mud wouldn't bother you!

kieranleahy

Aug 28, 2012 at 05:02 AM

Sorry, didn't realise that was a genuine dilemma! Surely a couple of bunch races on the track would be great for FTP?

Hmmm, that is a tempting offer, thanks! Part of me has always wanted to have a go at CX. Then the other part of me has wimped out at the prospect of falling off a lot, haha. Do you have a spare bike?

eragot

Aug 28, 2012 at 11:07 AM

I will buy a spare bike to get you started. but it means riding in anger for 40 minutes!

kieranleahy

Aug 29, 2012 at 05:23 AM

40mins?! How about 35? With a cafe stop?

I assume you're not buying a spare bike just on my behalf! But sounds great, I'd love to give it a go. I'll be running up and over things with a bike on my shoulder before you can say "Zdenek Stybar".

eragot

Aug 29, 2012 at 10:15 AM

once my pit bike is in and built, you can give it a whirl. Maybe Stokes will have his old one available too?

mattie davitt

Aug 29, 2012 at 05:49 PM

Last week of racing tonight! I'm in.

mattie davitt

Aug 30, 2012 at 03:36 AM