Track Cycling: Equipment and Venues

Track bikes are simplistic. They are fixed gear bikes, so when the wheel is moving the pedals are moving, and there is no shifting. Also, there are no brakes, so to slow down, the rider must “back pedal,” meaning they slow their cadence by putting less forward pressure on each stroke. This helps to control the riders’ decelerations, so that no one can slam on the brakes, which makes it easier for racers draft very close, even at top speed.

There is no standard track length and banking because track builders are experimenting, trying to find the best design for the transition between the straights and corners. The objective of track design is to help the rider stay at the bottom of the track (the sprinters lane) with minimal effort at top speed. Tracks can range in length from 200 to 500 meters, and the banking can range from 20 degrees to over 40 on some of the shorter tracks. Most tracks are oval in shape and have steep banks on the two ends with moderate banks in the straights. There are two main surfaces for tracks: concrete, and wood. Concrete lasts longer, but wood is faster and smoother. World Cup competition has recently been standardized to 250 meter tracks, and the Home Depot Center fits the bill, being a 250 wood track.
The most exciting aspect of track racing is taking a corner at top speed and feeling the g-force. The experience is similar to a roller coaster, or high speed cornering in a car.


This Article Published 2004-07-26 10:12:23 For more information contact: membership@usacycling.org