For Hippy - Track Bikes

"NickZX6R" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Have you been riding the track bike much yet?

Other than on my driveway, I've only been to the track once. I've been doing longer road rides to
prep for ATBinaD and combined with the dodgy weather here, I've not gone to the track more

Quoted message said:

I've been fantasising about trying out track riding for a while now.

Sick puppy! ;-)

Quoted message said:

What advice can you give about:
- where to ride

Well, if I had a different fork I might fit a front brake and take to the road but for now, with no
brakes, I will stick to Blackburn CC's track. If you are in Melbourne, check out:
blackburncycling.org.autrack.htmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

- does it cost anything (ie. fees for track use?)

I'm a Blackburn member so it doesn't cost me anything. That being said, at the moment there is no
official training on so no one would stop you riding on the track (unless they started doing
training perhaps?). Of course I didn't tell you this...

Quoted message said:

- whatever else I'd need to know

Hmm, I just bought a track bike and took it down to the track. There were two or three other guys
there and they told me to jump on (you literally have to jump the fence). I made it clear I'd never
done this before and they were helpful and explained I should get used to the whole track, i.e. ride
down the bottom, up the top and transition from both. You should keep above the middle line so that
others can do their fast efforts on the bottom of the track.

I'll see if I can find some links for ya...

fixedgearfever.comfaq.htmOpen ↗, has 5 or so links down the bottom of the page - very helpful!

sheldonbrown.comindex.htmlOpen ↗ Sheldon.. need I say more? ;-)

velodrome.comvelodrome.comOpen ↗, I haven't explored this yet so don't know the content, but a few other
sites mention it.

63xc.com101 2.htmOpen ↗, these guys ride fixies off-road! This is a direct link to their
fixed gear tutorial page though which is useful for all fixie riders.

cyclingforums.comf29Open ↗, CyclingForums track racing forum.

<http://forums.consumerreview.com/crforum?13@@.efbc183!RANDOM=5925546> RoadBikeReview's Fixed
Gear forum.

I'm still a fixie virgin (kinda) but I'll help with what I can.

hippy

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Nickzx6r
Hey Hippy

Have you been riding the track bike much yet?

I've been fantasising about trying out track riding for a while now.

What advice can you give about:
- where to ride
- does it cost anything (ie. fees for track use?)
- whatever else I'd need to know

Cheers -Nick

Seeings Hippy's never raced, I'll give you my two cents:

In summer, most tracks are used by the club on most nights. Which means only club members are allowed on the track, and only on track bikes. (Fixies with no brakes).

Trackies are pretty intolerant to bad riding, because the potential for stacks is huge, but most of us will endeavour to help new riders out, as long as people listen to you. If you're a smart [censored] you'll get hammered in every race until you quit.

Track always hurts like hell, but it's fun when you're winning. Most people are under the misconception that trackies are all Sean Eadie/Gary Niewand style sprinters, but in actual fact you need to be pretty fit aerobically as well, as most club racing is pointscores, scratch races, motorpaces and handicaps.

Oh, and if you think you're an OK sprinter, you'll find out pretty soon that you're not.

Shabby said:

Nickzx6r said:

Hey Hippy Have you been riding the track bike much yet? I've been fantasising about trying out
track riding for a while now. What advice can you give about:
- where to ride
- does it cost anything (ie. fees for track use?)
- whatever else I'd need to know Cheers -Nick

Quoted message said:

Seeings Hippy's never raced, I'll give you my two cents:

Quoted message said:

In summer, most tracks are used by the club on most nights. Which means only club members are
allowed on the track, and only on track bikes. (Fixies with no brakes).

Quoted message said:

Trackies are pretty intolerant to bad riding, because the potential for stacks is huge, but most
of us will endeavour to help new riders out, as long as people listen to you. If you're a smart
[censored] you'll get hammered in every race until you quit.

Quoted message said:

Track always hurts like hell, but it's fun when you're winning. Most people are under the
misconception that trackies are all Sean Eadie/Gary Niewand style sprinters, but in actual fact
you need to be pretty fit aerobically as well, as most club racing is pointscores, scratch races,
motorpaces and handicaps.

Quoted message said:

Oh, and if you think you're an OK sprinter, you'll find out pretty soon that you're not.

Quoted message said:

--

Quoted message said:

--------------------------<

Posted via cyclingforums.com cyclingforums.comcyclingforums.comOpen ↗

Thanks for the tips and info guys. At the moment it's still a vague plan. I haven't fantasised as
far as racing, just trying it out for curiosity's sake.

I'll check out the links hippy gave and come back with some stupid questions 🙂

Oh, and I have no illusions about being an OK sprinter - I'm way too [censored] to consider myself 'OK' 😉

Cheers. -Nick

NickZX6R said:

Hey Hippy

Have you been riding the track bike much yet?

I've been fantasising about trying out track riding for a while now.

What advice can you give about:
- where to ride
- does it cost anything (ie. fees for track use?)
- whatever else I'd need to know

Cheers -Nick

If you're in Sydney, check this out (came in my email):

HTH,

&roo

---------------------------------------------------------------

******** SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN ********

*** Cycling NSW Members only ***

Holidays are nearly here so why not get organised and come to Dunc Gray to either hone your track
skills or learn new ones.

Adults and juniors welcome

Organised training sessions:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 7, 8, 9, & 10 October

Session Times 8.30 am thru to 12.00 Noon

******** Qualified coaches on hand and derny available *******

If you have not ridden on Dunc Gray no problem we will teach you how in your own time.

Guaranteed to have you going around the fence in no time.

Don’t have a track bike?…no problem! Track bikes available at no charge for these sessions
check sizes.

8 Bikes 46 cms and 1 bike each 52, 54, 55 cms.

Cost:

Juniors $10 per session or $30 for four sessions Seniors $15 per session or $50 for four sessions

Please book in advance using the application form.

Application form available at www.nsw.cycling.org.au

Want to organise your own group? - min 6 riders required.

We will organise a training session just for you.

Maybe you have riders who have not ridden Dunc Gray before and would like to learn as a group.

Contact Barrie McLean for group bookings.

Barrie McLean Phone: 9738 5850 Email: [email hidden]

Andrew Swan said:

NickZX6R said:

Hey Hippy

Have you been riding the track bike much yet?

I've been fantasising about trying out track riding for a while now.

What advice can you give about:
- where to ride
- does it cost anything (ie. fees for track use?)
- whatever else I'd need to know

Cheers -Nick

Quoted message said:

If you're in Sydney, check this out (came in my email):

Quoted message said:

HTH,

Quoted message said:

&roo

<Good Stuff Snipped>

What a shame.

Anyone know of a similar deal in Melbourne?

-Nick

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Nickzx6r

BAndrew Swan said:

NickZX6R said:

Hey Hippy

Have you been riding the track bike much yet?

I've been fantasising about trying out track riding for a while now.

What advice can you give about:
- where to ride
- does it cost anything (ie. fees for track use?)
- whatever else I'd need to know

Cheers -Nick

Quoted message said:

If you're in Sydney, check this out (came in my email):

Quoted message said:

HTH,

Quoted message said:

&roo

<Good Stuff Snipped>

What a shame.

Anyone know of a similar deal in Melbourne?

-Nick [/B]

Blackburn have club bikes you can rent, but you'll need an ACF license to train on the track. Not sure if it will be the same this year, but Friday night used to be a novice/learners skills night.