Track cycling is great. For the uninitiated, it means riding round a banked indoor track (velodrome) on a fixed wheel bike. The video below was shot at the Newport Velodrome in Wales, riding with the Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club:
If you haven’t ridden a fixed wheel bike before it’s hard to explain the feeling. You’re solidly clipped into the pedals, there’s no freewheel and no brakes. You slow down simply by pushing back on the pedals – and there’s no chance of stopping pedalling once you get going. Adding to the fear factor is the 45 degree slope at the ends of the track. It sounds terrifying to beginners but once you’re caning round the track at 25mph it feels just great.
So, what do you need to have a go? Obviously it helps to go with a club (or your mates) – particularly if you haven’t done it before, but the only bit of specialised equipment you need is cycling shoes with Look Delta Cleats. You don’t even need these if you’re happy to use toe-clips on your trainers.
Now, can we please have a velodrome somewhere in the East of England?
There’s an oval outdoor “cycle track” in the Phase One plans for the Cambridge Sport Lakes facility between Milton and Waterbeach. They also claim “A triathlon facility suitable for day-to-day training and hosting all levels of competition. A 3-mile long cycle circuit built to international competition standards.” for info — which has been all about the Milton Country Park this year, not on progress with the Sport Lakes….
Comment by Mike Causer — December 9, 2009 @ 10:32 pm
The Cambridge Sport Lakes facility (http://www.cambridgesportlakes.org.uk) looks great, but progress seems to have ground to a halt. There don’t seem to be any plans on estimated completion dates, unless I just can’t see them. The other potential option is the new London velodrome being built for the Games:
‘Fastest track in the world’ takes shape in London
Comment by Jamie — December 10, 2009 @ 11:53 am