Track direction, Is it standardised?

[fixedpip]

I've raced track in the UK and in the US. On each and every circuit the racers go counter clockwise (left side down track, right side up track).

But today in training we went in reverse, which was very odd in itself. But it got me wondering, does any one race the other way round? If we don't standardise on driving, why on the track?

It was pretty disturbing and made me feel like I've I've never ridden track before.

[Mike T.]

In the northern hemisphere it's c-clockwise and in the southern hemisphere it's clockwise - just like the water in the terlet bowl. :rolleyes:

I can't see the reason for "training" in the opposite direction.

[Ceya]

They changed it recently to improve the riding style. That is what was quoted in why the changed it.

S/F,
CEYA!
Strength and Honor!!

[transplant]

sometimes i'll do laps clockwise just to mix it up ;-)

[The Carpenter]

Once in a while we have our juniors do a "backwards" 30 lap points race. Needless to say our juniors have excellent bike handeling skills and that's the point of riding clockwise.

[mickster]

Agreed. I was at the Herne Hill session yesterday (hi FP!) and found it really eye opening to do a few laps in the 'wrong' direction.
Coming down onto the black from high on the banking was particularly unnerving, and the different direction had me doing a double look over each shoulder a couple of times before daring to change my line. I think this was kind of the point of doing it - an exercise in not getting too complacent / lazy. Many of the newer less experienced riders seemed to deal dealt with the change of direction better than many of the regular guys.

mickster

[LWaB]

A lot of tracks are assymetrical, the slopes are different on entry and exit of each turn. Riding in the reverse direction feels very odd.

[Kiecker]

I really want to try ADT in reverse! 45 degrees of fun!

[CafeRacer]

I can't see the reason for "training" in the opposite direction.

So when your racing the mariposies backwards you know what to expect! HAHA

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d32/jshankland/B-daymariposiflyinglap.gif

[The Carpenter]

I really want to try ADT in reverse! 45 degrees of fun!
If Roger catches you, he'll ban you for life!!!!!!!!!!

[kraftwerk]

it is a form of cross training, everyone should try it...

[bdaghisallo]

The reason that velodrome racing goes counter clockwise and also does with track running and most oval auto racing is simple. The human heart is located slightly to the left side of the thorax. What this means is that the bodies centre of gravity is slightly left of the meridian that would bisect your body left and right. This means that you will corner better when turning to the left that when turning to the right.

[mickster]

The reason that velodrome racing goes counter clockwise and also does with track running and most oval auto racing is simple. The human heart is located slightly to the left side of the thorax. What this means is that the bodies centre of gravity is slightly left of the meridian that would bisect your body left and right. This means that you will corner better when turning to the left that when turning to the right.

bull****.
It's because, in the western hemisphere, the earth's gravitational field runs from left to right (eg water flows clockwise down the plughole); thus you will corner better when leaning into rather than away from the natural direction of magnetic flow.
That's why in the southern hemisphere (eg Australia) their athletes are at a disadvantage as they're forced to race in the same direction as the natural flow of the earth's magnetism - down under, it flows from right to left, yet they're still forced to ride counterclockwise. It impedes their cornering. This explains why the UK track squad regularly stuffs the Oz track squad at most World Cup / World Championship meets.








:D

mickster

[dutret]

shouldn't it make them faster like training at altitude or something?

[landrover4]

bull****.
It's because, in the western hemisphere, the earth's gravitational field runs from left to right (eg water flows clockwise down the plughole); thus you will corner better when leaning into rather than away from the natural direction of magnetic flow.
mickster

yeah, the magnetic flow baby - that's why i always race with a crystal in my pocket.

[Gray Dog]

The reason that velodrome racing goes counter clockwise and also does with track running and most oval auto racing is simple. The human heart is located slightly to the left side of the thorax. What this means is that the bodies centre of gravity is slightly left of the meridian that would bisect your body left and right. This means that you will corner better when turning to the left that when turning to the right

It's because, in the western hemisphere, the earth's gravitational field runs from left to right (eg water flows clockwise down the plughole); thus you will corner better when leaning into rather than away from the natural direction of magnetic flow.


Y'all are close...


Water flows clockwise for all of us who live life right side up.
Velodrome surfaces are made of wood.
Water flows into trees in a clockwise direction (see #1)
The grain in trees grows counter-clockwise so it can accept the water (see #3)
Nails are steel and thus magnetic
The grain of wood holds nails much better if they are inserted in the opposite direction of it
The magnetic pull of the earth attracts the steel in the nails better when they are inserted against the grain of the wood.
Track bikes are sooo fast that if they ran in the opposite direction, their traction would rip the boards right out of the floor.


And that's the real reason. :D

[mickster]

gd - a good attempt to create a unified theory of track direction, encompassing as it does both materials science and what we've already clearly established about the primacy of the earth's gravitational pull. However, this still doesn't explain the overwhelming predominance of an antoclockwise direction on concrete, asphalt and other non-wood tracks. Surely it can't simply be a coincidence that we almost always go anticlcokwise around these too?

I think you need to expand yr theory some more. You're nearly there I feel.

mickster

[Gray Dog]

I didn't address any of the other sports or surfaces since we all know that track cycling is the alpha and omega and all other sports merely follow its lead. :D

[Gray Dog]

Mickster-I dare say your cousins on the bottom side of the world might have a dissenting opinion. Just remind them of Queen's Rules :p

[mickster]

Heh-heh! I was hoping to tempt some of 'em out of the woodwork with my poorly disguised (and frankly untrue) attempts at intra-Commonwealth banter but they've clearly got better things to do with their time. Oh well, back on the rollers it is then... :rolleyes:

mickster

[Mike T.]

Who sezz all tracks run counter clockwise? World champ Gord Singleton and his oppo Jamie Shankland can't be wrong -

[sivat]

Wow, they even went with left side drive to help them race backwards!

[Mike T.]

Wow, they even went with left side drive to help them race backwards!
There must be some benefit if they have to go to all that cost for a custom threaded rear hub & cog!

[Gray Dog]

I found this and thought it might clear up some of the confusion...:D

[mickster]

Who sezz all tracks run counter clockwise? World champ Gord Singleton and his oppo Jamie Shankland can't be wrong -

Mike - flips aside, is that a legit picture from Forest City?? If so, looks fairly recent judging from the bikes & GS's err, ruggedly weathered features... Or is that just the effect that 50 degree banking has on someone going as fast as Gord :)
If it was legit I'd have loved to have seen him riding there - reminds me of watching the likes of Matt Gilmore / Bruno Risi / Nothstein riding the Gent track at the 6 days last November. Incredible speed and spacial awareness on such a steep and narrow track...

mickster

[Mike T.]

Mike - flips aside, is that a legit picture from Forest City?? If so, looks fairly recent judging from the bikes & GS's err, ruggedly weathered features... Or is that just the effect that 50 degree banking has on someone going as fast as Gord
Oh for sure it's legit but I'm not sure of the exact date. Maybe Jamie (CafeRacer) in the pic can chime in and tell us when it was taken.

It couldn't have been taken at the last race night as Gord now has a fancy Dolan carbon fibre machine.

Three posters are being made and two of them have the pic flipped back-arsewards. Why? Don't ask me. I pointed it out to bossman Goody and he said "It'll keep everyone on their toes whn they see them." I didn't understand either.
Jamie will be at the Nats in Dieppe NB this weekend and then Gord will be off to Manchester for the Masters' Worlds next week.

[gruppo]

On the velodrome, counter-clockwise versus clockwise is about the same, if you also ride the road on a brakeless fixie in the early season (Or anytime for that matter). What's really cool is to have figure-eight races where you cross in the infield. Of course the pain-in-the-ass track managers have a problem with such fun, so after finally getting caught early one Sunday morning, we had to sneak in and have our figure-eight races during the full moon, using helmet mounted lights. No one ever got hurt real bad and, needless to say, our bike handling skills were second to none!?