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07-01-07, 01:46 AM
I bought a Pista track bike (http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=315126) earlier this week. I've been putting some decent miles on it and I decided that I was comfortable enough on the bike for some time at the velodrome. The local velodrome is Alpenrose, which has the highest bank in the US at 43 degrees.
http://www.flybynightpro.com/Photos/medium/Oregon/Alpenrose%20velodrome.jpg
I was there for 2 hours. I'm not going to lie, I couldn't stay on the bank for the first 1:40. It was ridiculously intimidating: 43 degrees is intense to even look at. I circled the track probably 100 times before I almost gave up. Finally, I held the line and *zing* it was all over after that. I increased the pace and did dozens of laps. The trick was to envision my line and stay on course. It wasn't that bad once I successfully completed the first lap but it was honestly a challenge to take that leap of faith and trust that my tires would hold. At the apex of the curve, I could feel the centrifical force pulling me down. Blood rushes from the head. Adreneline flows. The experience was surreal. I used to race downhills bikes but in truth this was scarier.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/gbae007/PISTA-side.jpg
The Pista is stock save for my pedals and a front brake. It was amazing what a $500 bike could do on the track. I was totally impressed.
http://www.flybynightpro.com/Photos/medium/Oregon/Alpenrose%20velodrome.jpg
I was there for 2 hours. I'm not going to lie, I couldn't stay on the bank for the first 1:40. It was ridiculously intimidating: 43 degrees is intense to even look at. I circled the track probably 100 times before I almost gave up. Finally, I held the line and *zing* it was all over after that. I increased the pace and did dozens of laps. The trick was to envision my line and stay on course. It wasn't that bad once I successfully completed the first lap but it was honestly a challenge to take that leap of faith and trust that my tires would hold. At the apex of the curve, I could feel the centrifical force pulling me down. Blood rushes from the head. Adreneline flows. The experience was surreal. I used to race downhills bikes but in truth this was scarier.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/gbae007/PISTA-side.jpg
The Pista is stock save for my pedals and a front brake. It was amazing what a $500 bike could do on the track. I was totally impressed.