KrautFed

I just moved to just 1 block away from a velodrome, however it's been closed for over a year due to renovation of the surrounding park. I understand that the true answer here is to attend beginner classes, but the park won't be officially opening until winter 2010. I am also having trouble finding track cyclists that were here before because this is a college town and it seems most of the racers have graduated and moved on.

My current bike is a bone stock IRO Mark V with a basic 46x17. For the past month, I've been working on getting used to clipless while fixed gear. I added a computer to check my stats and I've been working on 130rpm sprints for short distances. I've also been working on acceleration and more specifically, standing accleration and transition to being seated... trying to push my standing position higher and higher in the rpm range.

My biggest concern/issue is breathing. I seem to breathe with my stomach which gets constricted when I'm in the drops on a track bike. I can't catch my breath and stamina goes to **** because I am basically cycling anerobic. I don't know if I need to change posture, bike setup/position, learn to breathe through my chest more, etc. Any tips here?

I also looking for advice on actual riding for training. The velodrome isn't 100% finished but the concrete surface and apron is mostly finished and safe enough to ride on after a debris check. Riding on the superelevation is a completely foreign feeling to me and I want to get more comfortable with it. What types of riding/distances should I be doing at the velodrome?

At the moment, my IRO is my only bike but I plan on adding a commuter. Should I change my IRO setup to different gearing to get into track racing?

theblackbullet

46x17 is a bit low for actual racing.
here is a little tidbit from my local velodromes website (46x17 = 73.1 according to their chart)

The Heckler

Don't worry about the gear for now. What you need to do is develop some endurance, it's called Base training.

Every cyclist needs a combination of 3 things: Speed (to pedal fast), Strength, and Endurance.
You must develop your endurance at the beginning of the season, or in your case, at the beginning of your cycling career. To do this you have to ride a lot of miles, but they have to be quality miles. Put effort into it and feel some burn, just don't go flat out or you will hit a the wall.
Start with 5 or 10 miles every other day, then go up in increments of 5 after a week or two. If you feel tired, take the day off. Recovery is just as important as work. Eventually you will be riding 30 and 40 miles.

It's okay if you do a sprint or two when you ride. Warm up lightly for 10-15 min before every session, this is super important! Then do an all-out sprint for as long as you can go. No more than 2 in one ride in the begining! If you ride 4 times every week, have a day where you do 2 sprints after the warmup and before the ride.

After a month of this you will be ready for some intervals. Do some research on interval training. I strongly recommend you leave it out for now because it can easily overtrain you if you don't know what you're doing.
Look for books about bike training. Joe Friel's Training Bible helped me a LOT in training. Also an old book about tactics is Bicycle Road Racing by Edward Borysewicz is one of the best out there (they work for track too).

The kind of gears you will be using are: 47,48,49, maybe 50, and 14,15,and 16 tooth cogs. That's all I ever use. I've been racing in a 48x14, and I think I'll be moving to a 49x14 soon. And for warmups just use the 16t cog with either a 47, 48, or 49...it doesn't really matter. As I said, though, worry about your endurance for now and not how big of a gear you can push.

In the meantime, here is something to pump you up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki2re9uILtc

carleton

If you can't breathe, then maybe your bars are too low. Can you provide a photo of the bike? And better, a photo of you on the bike in a normal position in the drops.

Low bars do not mean "faster" all of the time. Too high can be detrimental, too. There is a sweet spot that is different for every rider. It really depends on your flexibility, gut, chest size, and how thick your thigh muscles are. For example, if you are a "big guy" and have a big chest and thick quads, then you may not be able to get super low because your thighs will bang your lower ribs. Also, being too low hinders part of the pedal stroke.

On a related note, are you fit properly on the bike? Your "cockpit" may be constricted because your saddle may be too low or stem too short. Hard to say without seeing a photo of you on the bike.

Let's start there.

carleton

By the way, has there been any news about the re-opening? Estimated date? Progress? Is there a website or something that has current info?

I think winter racing wouldn't be so bad being that the winters are so mild in the area.

thatmikeguy

The Bicycle Shop on campus can help with getting in touch with other riders. I believe Tom was involved with the velodrome (I think he may have been the one to teach the beginner classes, but don't hold me to that) and should be able to point you in the right direction. I've been wondering the same thing, and don't worry, you're not alone!

Mid October is when they're having the Grand Opening, so hope to see you there!

carleton

Is there a website or someone from whom to get some reliable information?

Are there going to be any organized races soon?

Are there any specs of the velodrome available? Recent photos after the renovation?

thatmikeguy

Don't know if you're on facebook, but here's the event page for the grand re-opening.

https://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/...47189468643870

Also, Chris Clark at Pedal Play out on Perkins is involved with Team Geaux Race (teamgeauxrace.com) who is sponsoring clinics and demonstrations for the event. He sounds like the guy to talk to.

Good luck, and let me know if you find anything out.

billh

how's the new velodrome? what kind of renovation did they do? bh