Giacomo 1 

So I was wondering if there are any track cycling fans here?

I did a quick search of this sub-forum and couldn't find anything on track cycling. Track cycling is really a different discipline, and many of the riders look more like NFL linebackers than cyclists, but it is part of professional cycling, so I thought it was relevant to this sub-forum. It was actually America's biggest sport at the turn of the 20th century, when the riders were more popular than baseball players are these days and velodromes were as numerous as parking lots are today. Well, of course, it's certainly not the sport it once was, but is it still relevant? Are there still fans out there?

Problem is that track cycling is even harder to find on TV than road racing, but it is quick, powerful and exciting IMHO...

So...anyone?

Gerryattrick

Here in the UK track cycling is quite popular. Totally different in appeal to road racing of course with its variety of types of races and their relatively short timespan. I like watching both but I must confess to getting more excitement from watching track racing than much of what I see in a Tour or the professional road races.

I think that the variety and excitement of track cycling certainly appeals more to non-cyclists and casual cyclists, than to serious road cyclists who are enthralled by the tactics and techniques of road racing.

A totally non-scientific survey I know, but my wife, sister and father all enjoy watching track racing but never watch the tours, while my cycling friends seem to spend hours watching and analysing the road races.

Track cycling is also, IMO, easier to schedule and less expensive to televise than road racing and I'm surprised it isn't seen a lot more on TV.

Giacomo 1 

Yeah, it's really two different sports. I also find it quite exciting to watch, and it doesn't take much of a time investment on the part of a fan.

You guys in the UK have had a really good run with track cycling in the last 10 years or so.

I'm guessing Chris Hoy really gave the sport a lift over there. Beating all the great sprinters like Theo Bos, Sireau and others when he was really considered a Kilo rider had to be fun to witness if your a British fan. Not sure what will happen to the sport there without him now, but you still have the likes of Jason Kenny and some others. Heck even the women's program over there is strong! Sky seems to dominate both road and track.

I pretty much have to go to youtube to see any track racing, although the World Championship was on TV. And here in America, we don't really have a Chris Hoy to carry the flag, although we do have Bobby Lea for the men and Sarah Hammer for the women doing a nice job, but not in sprinting or Keirin, the two big events.

This thread got a lot of views, but only your response, so I think that says a lot about where track cycling sits!

hueyhoolihan

there is a forum for track cyclists, it's just down the main page toward the bottom, under the grouping named "The Racer's Forum". it's titled "Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area".

BTW, there are a lot of track racing videos, some hours long, on Cyclingtorrents.nl. they just posted a new one today, i'll be watching it this afternoon. it's a world cup event.

Giacomo 1 

Yeah, I've visited there, but it's mostly for the racers themselves, not for fans like this forum.

Very cool, thanks for the link!

fietsbob

Most Velodromes in the US are outside ... there need Be more Indoor tracks Built Then Track wont be in the summer .

(competing with Road Cycling for attention)

The 6 days happen in the winter thats where they do better , year around racing .

the rest of Us hope to see one every 4 years at the Olympics.

PDX should build a Velodrome At least a track that can be assembled and stored to use existing places

but a permanent one allows [And coaching staff], Younger riders to Train for their Olympic future .

Plenty of Lumber to do it .. ships full of Logs Go to China , often From Columbia River ports.

There is a particular race event 'The Madison' .. named after the races that used to be done often, in Madison Square Garden NYC.

Giacomo 1 

I agree with that.

Outdoor tracks are usually just asphalt, with low banking and longer lengths like 400 mtrs. All international and Olympic events are held indoors on the wood, on shorter tracks like 250mtrs and high banking, all of which make for very different racing. So I think we do have a hard time producing world class talent without them.

There is a lot of momentum and solid backing for a world class velodrome to be built in Philadelphia, so that's a glimmer of hope...


What or where is PDX?

fietsbob

PDX is ATA code for Portland Oregon..

like SFO is San Francisco Intl, LHR London, Heathrow, Etc.

Giacomo 1 

Anyone watching the World Cup coverage on Universal Sports Network?

Only an hour long, but it gives a good feel for the events, and I'm glad to have it.

Gerryattrick

I rode (very badly) a few times on a concrete track in my hometown of Cardiff around 40 years ago and we have recently had a new indoor track built in the next town, Newport, some 12 miles away, so plenty of potential for increased involvement. The Cardiff track is very popular with local clubs for adults and kids training and racing, as is the steeper, wooden track in Newport. It's a great way of organising competitive racing without the problems of open road traffic and road closures, and better for spectators.

I believe that with a bit more effort on behalf of the cycling bodies and the television channels there is great scope for interest in track to explode. It's a great spectacle. It helps that in the UK we've had recent success and some big names to inspire others to follow them. Bradley Wiggins is returning to track racing, and Kav has sometimes talked about it, and this is bound to increase awareness.

Giacomo 1 

So who is more popular in Great Britain, Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny, or road racers like Chris Froome, Bradley Wiggins, and Mark Cavendish?

I think it would be interesting to know which form of cycling has the British fans heart...

I have to say though, the crowds for the first 3 stages of the TDF held in Britain and the Tour Of GB were just tremendous. Not sure if track racing could match what I saw on TV!

Gerryattrick

Not much in it at the top between Hoy, Pendleton, Wiggins and Cavendish. I think it varies depending on whether it's Olympics, Worlds or TDF that is on TV and in the press more and who is currently successful. Froome is not yet fully warmed to, partly because he may not yet be regarded as British other than his cycling registration, and partly because he doesn't have the strong public personality of Wiggo and Kav. Kenny is well known but not yet a household name.

Outside the above names I believe the female track riders such as Trott are slightly better known to the general, non-cycling public, although some do both track and road. Keen cyclists seem to take more interest in road cycling because it more closely reflects their riding.

In recent years the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, a huge award voted for by the public, has been awarded to Hoy, Cavendish and Wiggins, while on a smaller scale the Welsh Sports Personality of the Year has been won by Nicole Cook and Geraint Thomas. Considering the popularity of sports such as football, rugby, cricket, tennis, golf, Formula One and athletics in the UK this is a great achievement.

It will be interesting to see if this popularity continues to increase now that other nations are catching, or have caught up with us.

fietsbob

Royals liked his performances.. QE2 Knighted Chris , it's Sir Chris Hoy .. for all those Olympic Medals.

Danny Clark, Australian Cyclist, was a master of the Track 6 Days Danny Clark (cyclist) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uBN65cT7p0

The Ghent Belgian Track is famous for its winter 6 days.

Gerryattrick

Just wondering if anyone is watching the World Championships from France.

For pure excitement it can't be beaten imo.

Sadly, the British are also-rans this year, and I'm intrigued why the U.S. is not a much bigger player in this sport.

hueyhoolihan

i am.

New Zealand's sprint team, that competed against France for the gold medal, won, but was disqualified ("relegated" in trackese) for an illegal leader change.

been switching back and forth between it and the Tour of Andalucia.

BTW, did you see the women's points race? first ever medal (bronze) by an American woman. it's all here.

jyl

I've been watching the World Championships. Don't understand anything that is going on, but I enjoy it anyway.

It is cool that, on the track, the women get equal events and headlines as the men.

I will always prefer watching road cycling, for the beautiful scenery, man-against-nature days, subplots and races-within-races. But track cycling would get plenty of my viewing time, if it was aired more often.