Originally Posted by
carleton
Shorts may not be allowed because they are a snag hazard when hopping into the saddle, especially basketball type shorts. If your shorts get snagged, you will quite possibly fall, so proper cycling shorts are highly recommended.
Also, falling at the velodrome isn't as catastrophic as lots of people believe.
1) It's very uncommon.
2) It usually means someone falls over, slides down the track, dusts himself off, and starts over.
3) HOWEVER, falls may involve other people. This is how you will make people mad. If a beginner does a bone-headed move and falls right in front of some guy and his $$ or $$$ bike and they both go down, the second guy is gonna be pissed. This is why lots of regular racers don't like being on the track with beginners. Which is why many tracks will have certain times where only the more experienced riders can ride. Sort of like "Old Man Night" at the skatepark.