I did blow the seals on the fork today so I shouldn't have a problem training for the rest of the week.

Austin needs a track, but I guess Houston and Dallas had to have something. After all, we got all the good hills

Go figure, can't string together two training days together without the weather interrupting.

I'm slowly getting more and more hyped on training and racing again.

Hey Carleton i want to start the beginner program at dick lane velodrome this month most likely next thursday. I see that it is a fee of 60.00, is that per class or does that cover all beginner classes? Also I know you need to have drops for handlebars but do they have to be track drops or will any set of drops due? Thank you

$60 covers all of the classes.

Any drop bars will do. No aerobars or bullhorns (these are for time trials only).

Good luck and have fun!

Started the beginners program yesterday and had a chance to ride my bike on the track. It was crazy cant wait to go back next week.

The hour record?

[QUOTE=Cglenny;12026331]I want to go to there! Looks like there's The Alpenrose Velodrome in PDX, is that the only one? Anyone go there? I'm interested in giving it a go. Carleton you have interested me [/QUOTE

I'll be out there this year. Gonna go for a couple more classes and then race... I'm pretty stoked!

I'm moving this summer for an internship, so I won't be as close to my local velodrome, but I plan on racing more seriously when I return. Since I won't be burdened with school I'll have more time to do some serious lifting. Is there anything I should focus on as far as workouts go besides squats and deadlifts? I have a fairly standard workout plan right now.

To put it succinctly: Summer is for riding and racing. Winter and Spring are when you want to lift heavy.

You can do your on-the-bike training on the road and then drive to the velodrome for track skills training or racing.

Some people drive 3-4 hours weekly to get to a track and have no problem doing it.

Does anyone know if the Brian Piccolo Velodrome is still open, their official site seems to be down. I was thinking of maybe making a trip down there this summer.

Yeah, it's pretty active down there:


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Florid...54110287968262

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ampionships-!!

Well the track here isn't very busy. Tuesday night is when everyone is out there. There is no way I could make it out during the week, and I dont feel like driving all the way to ride around the track by myself on the weekend.

Awesome, that just made my night better. Thanks Carleton.

BRAC?

Aye, so it's Tuesdays. Thanks.

any of you have any experience with the LA velodrome? I would like to go work out there but since it seems to be a legit olympic facility I don't know how easy it would be to do that. I hear the encino velodrome is a good place to go too but I would have to drive there and even on car it would be quite the commute. also what's the whole cat1 cat2 thing about??

You need to take a class at most velodromes, particularly LA (Home Depot Center) before you can ride there. Look for a website to get more info on a particular facility. As to cat1 etc, these are racing categories assigned by USA Cycling based on ability. You need a USCF racing license to compete, and when you start off you are a Cat 5, and then work your way up based on racing results. Very few people ever get to Cat 1. You don't need a USCF license to ride the track, but it's usually a requirement to race.

+1 to what TT wrote.

There is local beginner racing at Home Depot Center. Info is on the website.

I've ridden there. It's fun and the best part is that you can train or race year-round rain or shine.

sweet, new goal to fail at; becoming a USCF Cat 1 racer ;D

as for the classes they seem to be a little over 200 dollars for 4 classes. I need a helmet, riding uniform, cycling shoes, gloves and 'pedals preferred'
the helmet and gloves I can get, the cycling shoes and pedals I got. I also have some cycling shorts but i'm wondering if they would allow me to use a snug t shirt? I can't find any jerseys that fit me. I've tried on the xxl jerseys and they zip up fine standing straight but I got a gut and that sh*ts emberassing haha so i guess they do fit but i would feel rather goofy in them.

$200 sounds like a lot. Maybe it's $50 total instead of $50/class?

Buy some cycling shorts. Bib shorts (with built in suspenders) are preferred because regular shorts WILL slip down often so, you'll be pulling them up all day. A regular Under Armor or Nike Dri Fit athletic shirt, either loose or compression, will do just fine. Those tops are like $25. Just make sure it fits and isn't flopping all over the place. Cotton just gets soaked with sweat and is a mess.

Some jerseys are just cut short...even in XXL. You gotta just try different ones on from different manufacturers.

https://www.lavelodrome.org says the 4 classes are 225 and theres an accelerated class for 65 bucks. sooo idk, sounds like a gip to you? and I was thinking of getting some bibs but they are pretty pricey and I'm already gonna be dropping some dough on the helmet and jersey, I'm a broke college student after all haha so I'll just stick with my shorts

Well, it's not a "gip". You will definitely learn a lot, and it's a world-class track that has to pay someone to keep the AC and lights on. Outdoor tracks don't have nearly the overhead costs that a track like HDC does.

Man, competitive cycling is not an inexpensive sport. Like golf or tennis, there are some minimum pieces of equipment that you will have to buy. Maybe you can ask on a local velodrome message board for stuff. That's what some college kids do in ATL. I works sometimes. There are plenty of racers that don't mind helping out those coming along. I would ask to "buy for cheap" as opposed to "give me for free".

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.

ok well I just have one last question, whats the difference between shorts and liners? I have some padded liners I wear under my cutoff jeans (gotta be comfy AND look cool to sup the sqrls right? haha) and they look like normal cycling shorts to me, except without all the logos and loud colors haha.

They are thinner and less durables. Since they are designed to be used under shorts they wont hold up nearly as long if you ride with them alone. Theyll be fine for a little while, but you should definatly get some regular shorts if you plan on racing or riding in a kit more often.