Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - favorite type of track racing style

I don't race track (yet) but keirin, match sprints and solo pursuit are a blast to watch. Points races seem fun

Having tried this for a couple years now (but still sucking, of course, 'cause I'm old and fat), I've got to vote for the sprint, or a short scratch race. And, yes, because that's what I'm good at -- why wouldn't you like what you're good at? I have a hard time even finishing a 4/5 criterium; I can hang about even with the 4/5s in track "endurance" events; but I can be competitive with some 3s in a track sprint. So that's what I enjoy.

Least favorite: unknown distance. They run that all the time at the SD Velodrome. And I'm convinced that they don't decide the distance before the start, but instead decide it on the fly and ring the bell right after the most significant multi-person attack blows up and the stragglers have caught back up with fresh legs.

Hey Erik, the new "D" group has an unknown distance tonight.
There's a 90 lap madison tonight also. Hope to see you tonight, I'll be toiling away in the B's.

Having tried this for a couple years now (but still sucking, of course, 'cause I'm old and fat), I've got to vote for the sprint, or a short scratch race. And, yes, because that's what I'm good at -- why wouldn't you like what you're good at? I have a hard time even finishing a 4/5 criterium; I can hang about even with the 4/5s in track "endurance" events; but I can be competitive with some 3s in a track sprint. So that's what I enjoy.

Least favorite: unknown distance. They run that all the time at the SD Velodrome. And I'm convinced that they don't decide the distance before the start, but instead decide it on the fly and ring the bell right after the most significant multi-person attack blows up and the stragglers have caught back up with fresh legs.


HA HA HA! I volunteered one season ringing the bell for Cat 4 night at Marymoor. Usually the official in charge had a planned distance. When he didn't, I made a point of rewarding initiative--making a move and making it stick for a lap. If the pack was bunched up going 20 mph staring at each other, as far as I was concerned, they could stay out there all night.

On the subject--I liked short scratch races and points races up to 20 laps or so (400m track), and I really enjoyed tempo races (escalating points each sprint).

i like long scratch races, points races, the occasional win and out. tempos and point-a-laps make me suffer.

melville, at my track, escalating points are called Snowball, where as tempos are scored 2 and 1 point for 1st and 2nd across the line each lap. I tend to do better in snowballs than I do in tempos.

"Hope to see you tonight, I'll be toiling away in the B's."

Can't make it tonight -- work stuff. Plan to be there next Tuesday, though. Have fun. Wear the pink bamboo skinsuit.

I still think unknown distance is my favorite. It's like the last few laps of a criterium for a whole race; if you don't have a good position coming into the bell, there's not much you're going to be able to do to pull it off. You just don't have to sit in for 30 minutes waiting for the action to start.

I don't do many match sprints, but I think the 3 and 4-up repechage rounds are fun when I don't win my first round. Last year, most of my points races were dominated by Road 2s looking for some extra-curricular training. So, I'm a bit biased against points races right now.

Hey Erik, the new "D" group has an unknown distance tonight.
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I think I got third in that. Those Baja kids were quick.

In theory, I like the strategy in Points Races. In practice, I really suck at Points Races. I do best in short scratch races, so I guess I like those.

Does it make one insane to say Kilo?

No. I did my second Kilo ever last weekend and I got what I figured to be a respectable time, considering, and I sat down and thought about how I did and when I did and why and I wanted to keep doing them, keep practicing them, and keep getting faster at them. It's kind of like an infection.

Does it make one insane to say Kilo?


It's kind of like an infection.

yes

"Hope to see you tonight, I'll be toiling away in the B's."

Can't make it tonight -- work stuff. Plan to be there next Tuesday, though. Have fun. Wear the pink bamboo skinsuit.

I'm waiting for a special night to wear the pink and get this I'll be on a PINK Panasonic track bike! Spot of Adams Ave is going to let me rock it!

I think I got third in that. Those Baja kids were quick.

Kyle, we didn't have any Baja kids in the B's just the usual CAT 2 and 3's making life miserable for us old guys.