I always inflate my tires *at* the track using their air compressor or pump.

Anyhow, I am going to keep racing the way I already do with some tuning to my seatpost and stem, til I get new new pedals, wheels, etc. I am pretty sure what will make me better is going there every Tuesday for the beginners races but regardless, I am going to also gear up and replace my crappy parts with nice parts. It's not really my job, as a beginner at the track, to impress people who have been going to the track for years, but if you get a kick out of telling yourself how much faster you are than me or how much better your setup is than mine or how many more hours you've spent at the track than me, please do so because you will not find a more willing target. I don't want to be a professional track cyclist. I want to enjoy bikes.

Dtret, we were all disappointed you didn't show up tonight to introduce yourself to us.

EDIT: Adriano ... I think you've missed the point altogether ... no one here harbors the delusion that better gear will give the greatest performance gains. That's not just something that applies on the track. That is a rule that applies across cycling, unless perhaps you are comparing regular bikes to recumbents or SS bikes to geared bikes. In all honesty, I am surprised you don't realize it is people like me 99% of the time arguing in favor of steel for daily riding.