beginner gear ratio

[harryhood]

hi there,
i'm thinking about going to a beginners session at the Hellyer Velodrome. does anyone have any suggestions for a gear ratio to use for a first timer?

i ride 44/16 on the street currently... i figure i can go a little higher for velodrome (?)

thanks,
Dennis

[MCMVIIX]

anything and everything you would want to know about track racing on the net can be found at www.oldskooltrack.com, harriscyclery.com (fixed gear section), cyclingnews.com, businesscycles.com (sequential gear table, look for it), and fixedgearfever.com

of course there are more sites, but these are my favorites and have lots of useful info. remember, its better to find something out yourself instead of just having someone tell you (does that make sense?)

[tommasini]

I went through the 3 class series at Hellyer Park recently and used an 81 " gear (49/16) as the instructor suggested, and that worked well....unless you can spin REALLY fast, 44/16 will be too low and it would be very tough to hang with pacelines and in practice races. Tried the Wednesday practice races once so far and used a 87" gear and that worked well too, as even the Cat 5 races were waaay faster than than those in the classes....(FWIW I did OK in the classes but not so hot in my first races...the other riders were new to track racing, but not new to racing) If you don't want to fool with your gearing right now you can rent a bike at the track for $5, but the quality and condition of the rental bikes varies quite a bit...BTW the instructor did not show on the 3rd Saturday of the month, but those on the 1st and 2nd Saturday were great..
Anyway, the classes were an absolute blast, and I'd highly recommend them whether or not you intend to race...a great way to spend a Saturday morning and they will make you a better rider too...


hi there,
i'm thinking about going to a beginners session at the Hellyer Velodrome. does anyone have any suggestions for a gear ratio to use for a first timer?

i ride 44/16 on the street currently... i figure i can go a little higher for velodrome (?)

thanks,
Dennis

[harryhood]

BTW the instructor did not show on the 3rd Saturday of the month, but those on the 1st and 2nd Saturday were great..

thanks for your input. well it's too bad i didn't even get to spin out on the track. we drove down there from SF this last saturday morning, and we were really quite disappointed that the instructor didn't show up! a bunch of other people were stranded there too. <sigh>.

luckily, all 4 of us brought our bikes (most of them fixed gear road conversions), and we went on a pretty nice ride down the coyote creek trail. good thing i didn't up my gearing!

hope to see you down there some time. and hopefully the guy will show up :mad:

-Dennis

[tommasini]

thanks for your input. well it's too bad i didn't even get to spin out on the track. we drove down there from SF this last saturday morning, and we were really quite disappointed that the instructor didn't show up! a bunch of other people were stranded there too. <sigh>.

luckily, all 4 of us brought our bikes (most of them fixed gear road conversions), and we went on a pretty nice ride down the coyote creek trail. good thing i didn't up my gearing!

hope to see you down there some time. and hopefully the guy will show up :mad:


-Dennis
hmmm, figures.....thats the same guy (Brian Lindsay) that flaked last month, and he didn't even bother to post to the Hellyer email list to let people know either time...though all the other volunteers I've met there have been really helpful,friendly and knowledgeable. I also did a ride with some very dissapointed and pissed-off people on the same trail (reinstalled my brake and flipped my fixed/fixed wheel around for road gearing), but got lucky and returned just as an afternoon class was begining for a womans race team, told the instructor my tale of woe and he let me ride the class, had a great time after all. Anyway, hope it works out for you next time, AFAIK the other instructors DO show up...and maybe see you down there some Wednesday, plan to try racing again at least once or twice this season, (would like do more but live almost 3 hrs. from the track)

[JeStOnE]

I have a 48/16 and I do well with it but it is a pretty tough gear, im thinking about going to a 48/18 to try it out, I dont really get to spin my current gear up enough I know I can get my cadence much higher so I'll start working with on it more.

[wunder]

I've been thinking about checking out the beginner class, but I am a little weary. Mostly due to the fact that I am just a BMXer with a Langster, and have never done anything of this sort before. I guess I just don't want to get in over my head and have a ****** time.

[dolface]

you won't know unless you try, right? ;)
the beginner class is only $5 (i think), so if you hate it all you're out is 5 bucks and some time.
(though with the way the weather looks it might be a while before they have another beginner session :( )

[tommasini]

Don't worry about getting in over your head, people of all ages, speeds, and abilities were in the classes when I went...some had not ever riden fixed before the class, so if you have that helps a lot. It is a good idea to check the other riders out though...nearly everyone rode well, but a few were squirelly and needed to be given plenty of room...though if someone is riding badly the instructor will (politely) give them some tips. FWIW there were no crashes or conflicts in the classes I went to.

[wunder]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[fixedpip]

At Hellyer I was told by our instructor that somewhere close to 85 gear inches is typical for that track. But at the beginner sessions the bikes do vary in gearing quite a lot so as long as you're not madly spinning out in the sprints you can run smaller gearings.

It may be better to rent a bike from the track for your first session just so you have something to compare your current setup to and so you can talk to the instructor about whats right for you. You can go from there in figuring out what you need for the training sessions.

Once you get to racing your gearing will obviously change dependent on the race.

[wunder]

It may be better to rent a bike from the track for your first session just so you have something to compare your current setup to and so you can talk to the instructor about whats right for you. You can go from there in figuring out what you need for the training sessions.

I think I am going to go this Saturday, and I plan on renting as well.

Am I going to get jocked for using skate shoes/Welgo pedals with clips & straps?

I mean, it's not like I have anything else...but eh...it shouldn't be a problem for a beginner session?

-Levi

[fixedpip]

Am I going to get jocked for using skate shoes/Welgo pedals with clips & straps?


I have seen people do the beginner session on just platforms. As long as your comfortable riding with them then it shouldn't matter.

Everyones too busy to notice what folks are wearing.

[wunder]

Well, I went this morning.

Had an absolute blast. Met some cool people, got dropped a bunch.

I borrowed a Pista and it felt okay...during the open track at the end of the session I brought out my Langster and it just generally felt better. I think I might look into getting some drops and better pedals/clips/straps for my Langster. But we'll see.

[dolface]

did you notice what gearing the renatl bikes had on them?
also, were there a lot of people there?

[wunder]

I did not. Though I am guessing like 48-50/16.

I'd say there was like about 25 people there. Everybody had their own bike for the most part.

Are you planning on coming down?

[dolface]

yup, definitely coming down, prolly with some other folks from the board.
won't be until after the 6th though (at least for me), since i have a race that weekend.

[wunder]

Shoot me a PM before ya come down. I'll be out too.

[dolface]

you got it

[the_loin]

If there's room for another SFer I would like to join in on the track trip. If there's no room I could at least drive down same day, have room for a passenger as well, but only one bike (no rack, yet). PM me.

[icithecat]

I just found out that they have rentals at the 'drome here and beginer classses. I have to wait 'till it dries out though. This could be fun come spring.

[dubteka]

hey. a few of us were talking about going down around mid february as well: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=85455

[JeStOnE]

Most coaches would recomend you start at a 48/16, if thats still tough you go to a 48/17 or 48/18, you should get a print out on your cadence per mph scale, then kinda just work from there for your final gear.

[pstrauss]

I started to ride the track with 46/16 which was stock for the bike. I is okay on the street but I spin too fast on the track. I am waiting for a 14 rear cog to ride on the track and street. Got it on ebay and bought the tools to change the cog at harris cyclery.

Paul

[Litespeedy]

I am also a beginner training for my first season on the track.
An experienced guy on the other forum suggested 47 or 48x14. Checking both on a gear ratio spreadsheet would give about 26.97 or 27.54mph at 100rpm. 48x16 is 24.1mph at 100rpm.
Hope I am not biting off more than I can chew! Maybe I should be training to spin more. I've been doing lots of squats etc. this winter.

[climbo]

that's a pretty big gear. Are you a junior? Hopefully not, that have limited gearing ranges. Anyone (trackies) will tell you that there is no point using a bigger gear if you cannot spin it ! Learn to spin fast and furious on a smaller gear first. See how you go is the only way. Bigger gears are harder to accelerate so you have to learn to spin at 150 rpm on smaller gears so you can achieve top speed FAST !

[Litespeedy]

Well, I wish I was a junior. No, I'm a 48 year old fool/bike-freak who found the sport at a late age. I don't really have a ton of spinning speed but I do have a lot of leg strength. I know I will probably be making a fool out of myself and finish last in every race, but I want to really experience this and give it my maximum effort. A woman college level racer at Marymoor velodrome I spoke to was using 49x15.

I guess I will have to buy a flip flop rear hub so I can experiment with the cogs. I found a great deal at Worldclasscycles.com. $60 for 13, 14, 15 and 16 Dura Ace, lockring $7.50.

What are the most often used sizes of chainring? My cranks are old 151 BCD, so I have to scrounge around for them. I have a 48 and a 50 tooth.

Thanks for the ideas!
48x16 'eh...

[bikejack]

If your starting Track racing better to get used to the bike at a slightly lower cadence, 88" suits most adult riders as a starting point.

Once your confident and starting to throw it around then start experimenting with spinning smaller gears.

[yojimblab]

I have a 48/16 and I do well with it but it is a pretty tough gear, im thinking about going to a 48/18 to try it out, I dont really get to spin my current gear up enough I know I can get my cadence much higher so I'll start working with on it more.
Starting track racing is so much fun, especially if you're already used to riding fixed on the street!... And being there with some buds always makes for more fun.
Don't worry about being new, not knowing the different race formats or not having top notch race equipment. The equipment doesn't matter as much as your enthusiasm, willingness to try and try again... Not to mention your ability to recover after multiple hard efforts, but that's where street riding comes in useful. That is- being able to recover after sprinting, and following it up with another sprint.
It takes a little getting used to with the larger gearing, but you'll get comfortable with that as well. For the smaller tracks- racers "average" around 85 inches and around 90 inches on the larger tracks (like Northbrook). Depending on what kind of rider you are (some mash, some spin) and which event you're participating in (larger gear for time trials, smaller gears for events where the speed fluctuates more)... But you won't need to worry about that until you have a number of nights of racing under your belt.
Things that ARE necessary are- approved hard shell helmet, feet secured to pedals, all components bolted on (no quick releases) and plugs in the ends of the bars ( drop bars)... As well as the other safety related equipment rules- tires securely glued, bike in good working order, real track frame etc. Now- if you're only doing time trials- you can get away with quick releases, "bullhorns" and extensions and even a road or mountain bike...
Bib shorts and skin suits aren't required, but are more comfortable than shorts and t-shirt or jersey. Many beginners show up with "odd" clothing, SPDs and such... And all are applauded for giving real track racing a try! Don't let your clothing, equipment or knowledge (lack of?) hold you back! Racing at the tracks is tons of fun! I felt out of place at the beginning too, but my friend Bobcat kept making me promise to go to the track with him... Now, you can't pull me away. I was riding fixed on the street 5 years before I found out what it's like to get into the track, and I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to give it a try.

So JeStOnE... You'll be trying Northbrook this year? Watch out- you'll get hooked... Then you'll find yourself hitching rides to the Kenosha track on Tuesdays... Then Indy on Fridays... Or Minnesota or Detroit or St. Louis or London Ontario. They're all close enough for a true addict...
By the way- I'm going to try to stay on top of announcements for the Velodrome in Northbrook here- Yojimbo's Garage (http://www.yojimbosgarage.com)
Keep your eyes open for beginners' clinics for the public starting the first week of May... There might be a womens' only clinic the week before May. You'll need a USAC license at Northbrook (which might be sold at the clinics... You can always get them on line as well)... But Kenosha raced independant last year- if they do the same this year, you won't need a license to race there.

Boy- am I long winded or what? Someone kick me in the teeth before I start up again...

Anyway (teeth still in tact), Don't hesitate to try track racing! You're never too old or too young. I have a friend who'se 54 and just started 2 years ago. He loves it as much as I do.
You've ridden fixed on the street... Now it's time for the other beautiful hemisphere!

[lilHinault]

I need to get my fat butt over to Hellyer too, right now I'm riding a Langster with stock gearing, with sk8er shoes and loose straps lol. I once had the ability to spin......