Originally Posted by
TejanoTrackie
So, are the bikes in a specific gear? I've done roller races that were 1500m, and limited to a 90" (50x15) gear on a track bike. They lasted a little over 1 minute, and the last 20 seconds were pure agony.
The promoter will provide the bikes. They are setup with a fork stand as in this photo. So, no need to balance. The old-school way was to balance with real bikes.
The bikes should have identical gearing. Something in the 75-85 gear-inch range. "Should" because I've been in races where the gearing was not identical and caused drama. Sometimes there will be two different bike sizes, like a 54 and 56 or a 56 and 58cm. The larger rider will get on the larger bike. They will have quick release seat post clamps to adjust height. The pedals will be basic pedals with toe clips. These days, there will be a big screen displaying the real-time progress bars of each rider being projected on it.
Pro Tip: If you are there to win real money, wear cycling shorts. Blue jeans are a speed killer.