Who wants to race?
 

Is anyone interested in racing at the velodrome with TejanoTrackie, Dannihilator, myself, and a few others on here that race? If any of you guys have done the beginner class or have started racing, let us know who you are.

If you are curious about it I hope this thread will help you find out more.

Many people are very reluctant to show up at a track and say, "I wanna race." It can be intimidating if you don't have a friend to go with you and help. I am that friend :)

Local racing is NOT a big deal. Ever play a game of pickup basketball at the rec center? It's pretty much just like that. Basically many people think local track racing is like this:
http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/wp-...an-dunking.jpg

But it's more like this:
http://www.cuewb.com/files/images/ba..._2.preview.jpg

Alleycats are more complicated than track races. If you can do an alleycat, you can race on a velodrome.

Every track has a "Rookie" or "Beginners" program that is designed to teach people track etiquette. Basically the "dos" and "don'ts" so that you know what to do and won't be nervous.

Racing is for ALL ages. There are kid from 8-17 and adults from 18-70+. There were 60 year old guys in my beginner program. All body types. You can start at anytime. Everyone gets up to speed very quickly (literally and figuratively).

Racing is based on skill and speed. You will be grouped with people of similar skill and speed. This keeps it fun. This is like the "A" and "B" basketball courts where the fast skillful players are on one court and the less fast and less skillful guys on another.

Don't worry about the kits. All uniforms feel weird when you first start using them. You get used to it. Oh and you don't wear underwear under your cycling shorts. You put what's called Chamois Cream (pronounced "shammy") to keep the friction down.

I have seen some STRONG and FAST racers come from the FG scene and kick butt on the race scene. TwoTone from Atlanta (Twotoneatl.com) is one of them. John Prolly raced for a minute. He is really fast. Not sure why he stopped.

Any well maintained FG bike is probably just fine. You don't need a space-aged bike to race. Just like you don't need Jordans to play basketball.

You don't have to race. You can just train on the track. There are LOTS of people that go through the beginner classes just so they can train on the track and have no interest in racing.

To get an idea of the atmosphere, here are some photos from the Dick Lane Velodrome in ATL: http://www.flickr.com/groups/dlv/pool/

Any questions? Fellow track racers/trainers please feel free to chime in.


Put those track bikes on the track! :)

<---- Cat. 6 ;)

I dont race i just have bikes to look super cool.

I've never even seen a velodrome.

I live an hour away from this:

Major Taylor Velodrome

Wish I knew peeps to go to the track with. Carleton makes a great point about having someone to make the experience less intimidating.

Email that lady listed in the contact info and mention that you are a "new racer looking for information about a beginner certification class". The classes usually last a few hours and they cover everything you need to know. They probably won't happen till spring when the weather gets better.

In those classes you will find other people who are just as new as you. It's just like Freshman Orientation.

I was just reading their calendar and their track intro clinics start in May. And Cat 4 on Thursdays throughout the season. I'll put in on my calendar to check out. Time to start getting into shape, methinks.

Ah, racing (or just training on a velodrome) would be so sweet. I need to get out there! There is one about an hour and a half from my home, and one about an hour away from campus.

Anyone interested in trying out Alkek Velodrome in Houston, let me know. I ride/race out there regularly and would be available to show some noobs around.

I am going to take the intro classes at Major Taylor in Feb.

I have been wanting to race for a LONG time

man i really really would love to ride in a velodrome! i wish there was one closer to me!!!!!

I'll be seeing the lights, or unlit velodrome very closely soon..

Where'd you find the dates for 2011 classes?

It's been on my bike to-do list for awhile but I just haven't been able to clear the time necessary to drive down to Hellyer. It sure looks like fun.

carleton - nice post, thanks. Now if only there were a velodrome in Boston for me to explore...

Many people travel to train and race. People from AL, TN, and NC drive to Atlanta every week.

There are also lots of ladies, ladies.

Don't worry if you can't ride really long distances. Track races range from 1 lap (333M or .2 miles) to 20 - 60 laps. There is something for everyone!

I really hope they actually put the velodrome in cleveland like the rumors state.

The New England Velodrome in Londonderry, New Hampshire is less than 50 miles from you straight up I93 >>> http://www.fixedgearfever.com/module...howtrack&id=31

Actually, I am planning to go to the velodrome tonight to watch the Burnaby 4, so it'll be fun.

As for racing, I've always been interested in taking the Learn To Ride classes there, but I have been really lazy to sign up. It's only like 9ish miles away too.

Same here. I know the Hellyer track isn't that far away, but still. I know there have been rumors of a Sacramento velodrome some day. If that does happen, I'll have no more excuse!

This year I am focusing on the hour solely. Going to be balancing between this and teaching technique at the local pumptrack.

I wouldn't mind it, but the nearest track is 150 miles from here and buried in snow. That, and I haven't ridden on a track for over 25 years now.

Where's that at? I've never seen or been to a Velodrome. I'd like to someday.

He's probably talking about Kenosha. I've raced there; it's a neat 333m asphalt track.

Also, a further 50 miles south you've got Northbrook in North Chicago, which is a nearly flat 1/4 mile (about 400m) concrete track.

I'm interested in going to the velodrome, I live in gwinnett county in Ga. I guess I need to start with the beginners classes?

Read here for more info. Make sure you send the email expressing interest: http://www.dicklanevelodrome.com/pag...erprogram.html. I wrote the "I've Completed the Beginners Class, Now What??" section :)

Dick Lane Velodrome is in East Point, GA (about 15 minutes south of downtown). Keep an eye out here for class info: http://www.dicklanevelodrome.com/. The website/blog is updated several times weekly (last update was 2 days ago).

If you are on Twitter, follow @DickLaneVelo

The calendar is up to date with relevant info. The 2011 season schedule hasn't been set yet, but when it is, it will be posted there. That should happen in January.
http://www.dicklanevelodrome.com/calendar