topflightpro

Agreed. DA is the way to go.

Check out njs-export for lightly used DA cogs and chainrings. Generally the best bargain around for getting started.

Super D

Hi everyone, hope you're all healthy and having a good summertime. I haven't been on here since covid hit (it hit us pretty hard, I stopped track cycling and am just starting up again, after getting back out on the road and building some basic fitness this year).

I'm starting to learn about Team Sprint for masters, wondering if there is a gear ratio/inches reference doc to review with examples of gearing used for different masters teams for Man 1, Man 2, Man 3 (realizing that ultimately gearing is personalized, but good to see examples from different masters setups).

For flying 200, before I took a hiatus, I was comfortable using 108" for qualifying and 102" for match sprints, but for sure lots to learn, practice, improve, and gearing is subject to change over time. But that's where I left off.

I'm thinking Man 1 may be geared a little lower than Man 2 and 3, because he has to get up to speed slightly quicker and is leading, then Man 2 and Man 3 benefit from his draft, so I'm guessing a slightly higher gearing could be used for 2 and 3. Power levels and cadence that you're comfortable with at a given speed can vary, so those and other factors contribute to gearing choices no doubt.

From your firsthand experience, what do you tend to see for gear-inches for Man 1, 2, 3?

And are there any reference docs online that you would recommend I review?

Thank you, much appreciated.

P.S. I have front + rear disc wheels from pursuit, any reason why I shouldn't use those for Team Sprint (indoors)?

topflightpro

Hey Super D, I think the answer is: It depends.

You want to look more at your Kilo and 500TT gearing than your F200 gearing.

Super D

I ran 102" on 500TT, felt like it wasn't enough, but have to do some testing to dial it in for team sprint (and not exactly sure which position I should be for TS, have to test that as well).

RobertPaulson

for man 1 on team sprint (think roy v b), folks are running 95-98". ryan owens was on 110" at Tokyo (to not drop kenny) and still ran a 17.5 man 1 lap.

Yes run the double discs, make sure you are comfortable with the air push as you pass (its not a major thing, but it is a thing).

man 2/3 gears, its going to depend on how fast your team is, what masters cat are you and what kind of times can everyone do?

sergioflorez

Is SKA Velodrome in Lviv, Ukraine ok? The place looks so cool.

carpediemracing 

Question. It's illegal to have a computer on a track bike. I assume that a heads up display on glasses is considered a computer? And finally, if not numbers, just LEDs, is that also considered a heads up display?

I don't think it'd make a huge difference for me, honestly, but I tend to give up way too quickly when I'm on a decent ride otherwise (because I feel like I'm going like 12 mph). Seeing some feedback may encourage me to keep going.

I haven't asked a proper official yet.

m@tty

• Any electronic device with display (for instance speedometer or power meter) must be attached securely, and positioned so that it cannot be read by the rider whilst in motion.

carpediemracing 

I didn't realize it used the word "read". That seems to imply an LED would be illegal (like one that is green if you're over x watts). It took reading your reply for it to sink in.

topflightpro

I've done training efforts on the track with my computer visible. I'll be honest, even with a super large screen, I had a hard time trying to read the info while going all out. I might be able to use a green/red light as an indicator, but that would probably be it.

brawlo

For me, knowing that the computer can’t be visible in racing, one of the things I pay attention to in training is the feel. The feel of the speed in a F200 windup. That’s about it for me, as the rest was very much opponent based and just riding flat out. I can only assume pursuit is similar in knowing how you and the speed should feel.

I was never one to look at my computer while racing track even when I could see it, but there were riders that just couldn’t stop looking and quite often they needed a gentle yelling at because they could be downright dangerous

carpediemracing 

I get the reason for not having a computer visible. On the track in NH no one said anything, but at the same time I never look anyway, even on my road bike. Took me a few years to realize that I was doing something wrong, so I went and figured out how to mount the computer head under my saddle. For me the power data is a recording of history, and I look at it after I'm off the bike and sitting at a desk with my computer.

The exception is when I give up doing a 500. Like the last one I did, in NH, I was disgustingly slow, I was tired, and I blew up half a lap into the thing (1.5 laps). So I sort of half heartedly pedaled the next half lap then soft pedaled the last lap, at up on the final bit, etc etc. Thought it was such a waste, so terrible, etc. Didn't even bother getting my time. I packed up my stuff so as not to hold up my carpool mate. We made the drive to his house, then me to mine (another 45 min or so). When I got home one of the texts waiting for me was "check your time". Not only did I not do that poorly, I even beat my carpool mate's time (and he's a former 1 and I thought he did a decent ride). Only one other rider beat me. Now, had I actually not sat up, I don't know how much faster I'd have gone, but I totally read things wrong. Having some feedback might help avoid that.

So, the reason this came up. I have an LED based heads up display. No numbers, just lights. It's no longer made but I have the unit sitting on the desk in front of me when I ride Zwift and got to thinking, it'd be nice to know if I was, say, holding between 800-900w or whatever (for the 500).

There is an audio component to it as well, I could wear it near my ear (normal location, just without the LED stalk in view) and it would tell me my power, but I think I'd have to prompt it to do so, so not practical.