chas58

Here is an interesting video of our local Madison racing. I'm always looking forward, so I never see the rearward view like this. These races typically are about 10 miles / 16km in length (80 laps of 200m) at average speeds of around 33mph. I never look at my speedometer at the sprints (or ever really in a non practice race), but the top speed has to be close to 40mph in the sprints.

The rider is wearing pink, so any time you see a pink jersey, it is at the point of a hand-off. For instance at the 2:50 mark, pink comes in hot at over 30 mph, hands off to his team mate (with the camera), and quickly falls back as all of his momentum is transferred to his team mate (its quite a rush when done well).

The handoff and sprint starting at 4:10 is strong enough to throw the team in front of the green team (that is how you do it when it goes well).

Don't worry, its not the whole 10 miles on the video.

https://youtu.be/vMMNFDisAGk

bitingduck

That's very cool video.

We tried making similar videos a few years ago at encino when the oregon scientific cameras first came out. The quality wasn't nearly as good and had some strange artifacts from how the sensors read out.

Hida Yanra

Man, right around 4'20" it looks like some excitement - were you following a move up ahead, or attacking? Looks like the green shirt guys thought you were splitting their exchange.

queerpunk

nice. madisons just seem perfect for a 200m track.

here's one from our track last year -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S6H9Ai3OeQ

chas58

Yeah, that was a bit of a squeeze. It was an attack taking advantage of a rider getting tired before he was relieved. Things happen so fast in a madison, you really have to be on your toes and watching what is happening way down the track (all why struggling to get enough oxygen).

chas58

that is great how you have the two point of views.

Something like the 27:54 spot where you see the 1st rider coming up from behind when the 2nd rider drops down for the exchange, the hand off where the first rider is briefly in the frame of the second rider; and then from the 1st rider's perspective the sudden difference in speed after the momentum has been transferred. Good example of a smooth and effective exchange.

Hida Yanra

Yeah- I've been there before, making the judgement call of "how close is too close" is one thing I'm not great at yet.
I tend to be more cautious, especially in a madison, but that situation sure does look like ones I've been in.

big chainring 

I raced Madisons at Northbrook in the 70's. We would have 20+ teams, with many National Champions, and no one over 22-23 years of age. Crazy fast. And the first few exchanges were madness. Roger Young was one that always found his spot for exchange just before the 200 meter mark. The guy could fly.

We also did a mixed Madison in Kenosha one night. Guy/Girl teams. That was really fun, especially back then as we used jamming tools in the butt of or shorts, handslings weren't allowed.

700wheel

Slight thread hijack: What is the yellow line on the track just above the stayers line? Just curious - never seen one before.

bitingduck

He runs a motorpaced madison practice every sunday in LA now-- he's a great instructor for madison and manages to help get a lot of inexperienced people safely up to speed in how it works.