Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - Major Taylor Velodrome Saturday Night

Well I must say this was the first time I had ever seen a track race, and what a blast!!

There was one guy in the Cat 1/2 Race that could sprint like no one I have ever seen before. He just rocketed off.

Also never understood why people always talk about track standing till I seen the "Slow Race" The same guy who was sprinting like mad also made track standing look easy. I don't think he moved for the entire 3 minutres.

I got a chance to ride my road bike around the track a for about an hour, and now I'm thinking of getting a track bike.

Now for the Cat 4/5 races how fast is the pace on the track? How fast do I need to be able to sprint too not to look foolish? I was able to avg almost 30mph for a few laps, but it was fairly busy so didn't get a chance to really hammer it. Do they offer some beginner training type races?

Also there was one very nasty wreck, where I wouldn't be surprised if the rider didn't snap his collar bone like a twig.

Also one guy had the coolest bike it was red/white/blue with stars on it, even on the tri spoke rims. Looked very neat spinning around the track.

Oh here is that guy who was sprinting like a madman! - http://joshuaweir.com/ Got a chance to talk to him later in the night and what a super nice guy as well!

Here is that kick ass track bike as well

http://www.majortaylorvelo.com/images/hsnone.jpg

I rode the Alkek Velodrome in Katy Tx on a rented bike. I am currently working in Indy but have yet to have time to check out the track, so I don't know if they rent bikes. I did pull the following from their site:

* Monday (7/2) - Ride Hard, Turn Left (Open track for fitness riding - No track bikes!), 5:00-8:00; open track from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
* Tuesday (7/3) - NO ELITE TRAINING!
* Wednesday (7/4) - Happy 4th of July!
* Thursday (7/5) - NO INTRO RACING!
* Friday (7/6) - MTV TT Night, 5:00-11:00; open track from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
* Saturday (7/7) - Track intro clinic, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
* Sunday (7/8) - Open track, 10:00 am -5:00 pm

Call them: 317) 327-VELO

That sounds like a blast. I sure wish there was a track in Kansas City. :(

Ryan, I was just talking to the Race Director about the training class for Velodrome and asked about the rider.....

He's got to be the luckiest guy in the world! Just a body bruise and road rash and a broken handlebar from that horrendous face plant.:eek: Both riders are OK, actually!:D

WOW!!!

I can't believe the way he hit he was OK! Good to hear though.

Have ridden the Major Taylor 'drome on our tandem about a dozen years ago . . . fast!

I rode the Alkek Velodrome in Katy Tx on a rented bike. I am currently working in Indy but have yet to have time to check out the track, so I don't know if they rent bikes. I did pull the following from their site:

* Monday (7/2) - Ride Hard, Turn Left (Open track for fitness riding - No track bikes!), 5:00-8:00; open track from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
* Tuesday (7/3) - NO ELITE TRAINING!
* Wednesday (7/4) - Happy 4th of July!
* Thursday (7/5) - NO INTRO RACING!
* Friday (7/6) - MTV TT Night, 5:00-11:00; open track from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
* Saturday (7/7) - Track intro clinic, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
* Sunday (7/8) - Open track, 10:00 am -5:00 pm

Call them: 317) 327-VELO


Yes, they rent bikes. The resident race director/coach (Ken Nowakowski, I believe) is a nice fellow and very helpful. When my son and I are in Indy to visit family we generally bring our pedals, shoes, and helmets and rent bikes at MTV for a few hours. Highly recommended!

Dr. Bill

Ryan,

Your right. That was a blast watching these guys ride and I was totally blown away at how good they are.

Here are a few pictures

http://buzznet-20.vo.llnwd.net/assets/users16/marinerfan/default/large-msg-118351988617.jpg

http://buzznet-00.vo.llnwd.net/assets/users16/marinerfan/default/large-msg-118352052159.jpg

http://buzznet-79.vo.llnwd.net/assets/users16/marinerfan/default/large-msg-118351987214.jpg

http://buzznet-09.vo.llnwd.net/assets/users16/marinerfan/default/large-msg-118352021396.jpg

http://buzznet-13.vo.llnwd.net/assets/users16/marinerfan/default/large-msg-118351992788.jpg

Well I must say this was the first time I had ever seen a track race, and what a blast!!

There was one guy in the Cat 1/2 Race that could sprint like no one I have ever seen before. He just rocketed off.

Also never understood why people always talk about track standing till I seen the "Slow Race" The same guy who was sprinting like mad also made track standing look easy. I don't think he moved for the entire 3 minutres.

I got a chance to ride my road bike around the track a for about an hour, and now I'm thinking of getting a track bike.

Now for the Cat 4/5 races how fast is the pace on the track? How fast do I need to be able to sprint too not to look foolish? I was able to avg almost 30mph for a few laps, but it was fairly busy so didn't get a chance to really hammer it. Do they offer some beginner training type races?

Also there was one very nasty wreck, where I wouldn't be surprised if the rider didn't snap his collar bone like a twig.

Also one guy had the coolest bike it was red/white/blue with stars on it, even on the tri spoke rims. Looked very neat spinning around the track.

Yea, that wreck was brutal. :eek:

Yea, that wreck was brutal. :eek:
Great pics!

By the way, you guys going to come watch the first time I ride the track on a track bike in a race next season?

I'm going to strip and convert my Raleigh to a fixie track bike. I've been thinking about it and decided to make it happen. I'll be taking the velo clinic soon for my Cat 4 license.:D

Can anyon fill me in on what average and fast 200 times are at Major Taylor Velodrome?

With a bike like that Im gonna guess he's not from Quebec? hHAHAHA