Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Do you have a velodrome near you?

I was wondering how many of you are able to get to a velodrome that is near you city.

I just realized there is a very nice velodrome minutes from my home.

Any of you doing any track riding?

So are you a velodrome shill now!?!?! Just kidding :P

I have a velodrome 5 mins from my house.I am a little unsure of going. I have a jamie roy which doesnt have the trackiest geometry and dont want to be snickerd at by all the guys with there carbon track frames and teams of mechannics. Whats the attitude like usually at said velodromes towards people such as myself?

no velodromes near DC :(

That kind of worries me too.
I'm going today for the first time just to take a look around.

yes and yes.
http://www.northbrookvelodrome.org/
http://static.flickr.com/56/149281911_dc14bccdcf_o.jpg

Across the lake in Redmond. Probably 10 miles away.

So are you a velodrome shill now!?!?! Just kidding :P

I have a velodrome 5 mins from my house.I am a little unsure of going. I have a jamie roy which doesnt have the trackiest geometry and dont want to be snickerd at by all the guys with there carbon track frames and teams of mechannics. Whats the attitude like usually at said velodromes towards people such as myself?

don't worry about it. just ride and have fun. most tracks have beginners days, clinics and such.
most velodromes are happy to have people interested in the sport, so you will most likely be welcomed.

if you get some 'tude, **** 'em.

I'm really excited by the thought of getting on a track but I'm so worried I'd do something dumb.

I have kissena within 15 min

Yeah thats the thing. Everyone i see go into the velodrome is in full spandex track gear with a bike worth a few grand etc etc. But its also pretty dead alot of the time. I also like doc wanna make sure i know atleast kind of what im doing

Yeah thats the thing. Everyone i see go into the velodrome is in full spandex track gear with a bike worth a few grand etc etc. But its also pretty dead alot of the time. I also like doc wanna make sure i know atleast kind of what im doing

again, don't overthink it. really, it's just riding a bike.. you will pick up etiquette
and technique if you just look around a bit.

start with this excellent article Track Racing 101 (http://www.fixedgearfever.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=4), go to the track, wear your jeans or whatever, and have fun. Most likely the guy in full spandex will be cool. Plus, you will learn a lot just by watching and asking questions.

It seems like it depends on the track- ours is chill most of the time, really just a public park with a velodrome in it (which is soooo cool by the way, FEEL THE ILLINOISE!), but others are more snooty. Seems regional, too- places where serious tracksters tend to live- Florida, California- might have tougher rules.

the velodrome is more welcoming than the dudes on these forums, most of the time. i just started at the alpenrose velodrome here in portland. 43degree banks on the corners !!

yeah Here the velodrome is in a public park and probably not snooty. Ill probably check it out pretty soon.

Seems regional, too- places where serious tracksters tend to live- Florida, California- might have tougher rules.

I visited the Brian Piccolo 'drome in Southern FLA. (thanks Matthew Brown for the tip!) and talked to a trainer who was working with a serious trackie. This trainer was so nice and offering suggestions, asking what the racing scene was like in Chicago, etc. He also expressed worry over the lack of interest in Velo racing as a whole in the U.S.

In short, the more the merrier!

Hell yeah, Herne Hill a 20-30min ride away and Kissena back in nyc. Both not too banked and damned near ******less. Just go man, people on a track are great and just tend to be happy that there are other people to ride with. It's a damned good time as well.

So are you a velodrome shill now!?!?! Just kidding :P

I have a velodrome 5 mins from my house.I am a little unsure of going. I have a jamie roy which doesnt have the trackiest geometry and dont want to be snickerd at by all the guys with there carbon track frames and teams of mechannics. Whats the attitude like usually at said velodromes towards people such as myself?


5 minutes away ! !! DAMN YOU ARE LUCKY ! (Mine is 15 minutes away... LOL).

Don't be unsure, just GO !! TRY IT ! HAVE FUN !

The bike itself is not as important as just going and trying it out. I have seen tons of people with road geometry bikes on the track (like mine lol.. damn ebay bike!)... but you will learn quickly that it is not the bike that makes the biggest difference... its mostly the rider and the will to have fun.

You have to wear a helmet at most tracks, you should bring some basic gear with you like an air pump and some allen wrenches to make adjustments..

Just go and do it.

Thats the drome the brian picollo park one.

Most (though not all) velodromes will have beginner sessions and rental bikes. The sessions are generally very open and a lot of fun. The rental bikes can be anything from conversions to Don Walkers.

The instructors are there to ensure you're safe as well as pass on track skills. Sure, you're nervous at first but so are 90% of the other beginners and we've all got to start somewhere.

When I finally made it down to Hellyer in San Jose, I was reet mad at myself for not getting down there sooner. Love velodrome riding and I think its made me a better rider.

I am very fortunate. Don Walker is building a track bike for me and I'm meeting him today to get the frame sizing squared away. Thanks for you encouragement.

i was planning on riding kissena for the first time tonight, but it looks like it's gonna rain all day :(

I've dreamed about riding in a velodrome for over 20 years. I guess I thought I was just too damned old. LOL.

Thats the drome the brian picollo park one.

I was there last night for practice.

Next thursday are state championship persuit races and open races.

I will be participating in the open races. Why don't you come out and see what its like. I don't suggest that you bring your bike on the track for the first time to a championship event... but you can go any other day of the week to practice all you want. A track pass is $ 3 for the ENTIRE DAY. !!!

The race starts at 7:30 pm next thursday. I suggest you show up around 7 pm to meet up and talk a bit. (PS. it is free to enter the track to observe anytime and any day. there is also a food shop there where they sell hot dogs and pizza and other assorted junk food and slurpies... )

So i can just bring my helmet and my bike and ride?


Edit: Its a iro jamie roy and doesnt have brakes.

Also if youre at all into road riding. Do you know any nice places around here to cycle? Im pretty new to cycling and looking for some nice places to ride.

So i can just bring my helmet and my bike and ride?


Edit: Its a iro jamie roy and doesnt have brakes.


Yeah ! Nobody is going to even care what bike you bring out there.

We always welcome new people !!!

The folks out there at BPP are always friendly and willing to help new riders.

I am a new rider... =)

double posting this one..

Here are some suggestions for your first time out on the track.

1. inflate your tires to max psi.
2. make sure your toe clips or cleats are properly tensioned and adjusted before you start off.
3. start on the flat section and go around 4 or 5 times at a moderate pace.
4. work your way onto the track just a few inches at a time.
5. start off just on the edge of the banking... and work your way up as you feel more comfy.
6. it is easier to stay on the bank at higher speeds.
8. once you are on the banking and feel confident on it, go a little faster around and feel the g's pull you in as you go faster !!

=)

Enjoy !

regarding Brian Piccolo velodrome: if you ride a 58cm or larger bike, (around 6' tall) I wouldn't recommend renting a bike there. they only had one in my size, and it had some serious problem with the bottom bracket and crankset, not safe at all. However, the choices for anything smaller were plentiful.

Cool sorry for the thread hijack pathdoc

Not a problem. I'm learning something new with every post.

Its a iro jamie roy and doesnt have brakes.
how steep is your velodrome? if it's fairly steep, you should probably rent a track bike. a few summers ago i rode my jamie roy on the track here, which is 35 degrees in the turns, and my pedals would scrape at slower speeds... i was running 170's and eggbeaters. it was my first time out there and it was a little unsettling. also, while riding that bike at speed i had to fight it in the turns. it was serious work to hold the line. a true track bike will make a world of difference.

as everyone as said, just go and talk with people and look into beginner's clinics, what's required, bike rules, etc. our velodrome is controlled by the olympic training center, which is initimdating practicing with cat 1's and olympic teams, but most people are just excited to see new people with an interest for track racing. it's sad that it is such a dying sport.

Not in AZ, but folks are working for one:

http://www.arizonavelodrome.org/

Al

I visited the Brian Piccolo 'drome in Southern FLA. (thanks Matthew Brown for the tip!) and talked to a trainer who was working with a serious trackie. This trainer was so nice and offering suggestions, asking what the racing scene was like in Chicago, etc. He also expressed worry over the lack of interest in Velo racing as a whole in the U.S.

In short, the more the merrier!

I just bought an old Paramont Track bike, and want to try it out on a Velodrome, and Brian Piccolois is closest. Can I bring my bike on the track, with the front brake still on it? Am I likely to wreck it learning, or in other words should I rent one of theirs?

I just bought an old Paramont Track bike, and want to try it out on a Velodrome, and Brian Piccolois is closest. Can I bring my bike on the track, with the front brake still on it? Am I likely to wreck it learning, or in other words should I rent one of theirs?


It should only take you about 5 minutes to remove the front brake... but it is not necessary to remove it to ride on the track.

I have seen " 1 " other person ride this track with a front brake besides me ( I tried it a long time ago with one of my road bike conversions.. ).

I'll be heading to T-town soon as I move back home.

Well my cranks are 165mm and the max banking is 28 deg.