$14 + $3 shipping = $17.

According to your profile, you are in Atlanta. Call around local shops like Loose Nuts (great shop, BTW) and get a Shimano or EAI cog that will last you for years.

Also make sure that you have a quality chain that won't stretch on you.

Track racing isn't as expensive as road or MTB racing, but there are some basic quality investments that you should make that will pay off for years. Go to this thread for more stuff that you should consider getting before the season. You have a few months.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ew-track-racer

I still have all of the tools, chainrings, cogs that I purchased during my first season of racing except for:

- 15mm craftsman wrench that I left on the roof of my car one day
- 48t chainring that I gave to a new racer to start his kit. He's still using it. I got a newer one when a guy gave up racing and sold lots of stuff.
- 5mm allen wrench that I *still* believe that my teammate borrowed and didn't return He denies it.

I know one guy who has an original Campy "Peanut Butter" wrench from when he started racing in the 70s. He still uses it to this day.