gtrob

cogs and rings are cheap, dont be afraid to try things out and see how they feel. Or borrow them.

Keep it simple and dont sweat the 1 or 2 gear inch differences.

bouldergeek

Thanks to all for very helpful recommendations. That does answer my questions.

I guess the next track parts order will be a 48 and 15.

Honestly, I am just enjoying club pacing, tactics for n00bs and exploring our new velodrome. I would enjoy evening club racing, but I doubt i will be fit and focused enough for sanctioned racing. My last Cat4/5 crits and 40+ tris were mighty challenging. Just looking for regular scheduled activities that I can train for and show up to.

I'm something of a clyde. Lots of strength, but not bottomless endurance. I get winded hard, even though I have above average VO2-Max. But I can pound out a solid anaerobic effort. My problem right now is flexibility, and getting my lower back to support efforts in the drops. My tight IT bands and hamstrings seem to be pulling me out of alignment, and my back spasms and locks up.

carleton

Sounds like you may have more fast-twitch than slow-twitch muscle fibers. This means that track may suit you especially well.

Muscle fiber type generally doesn't change over the years. Did you play sports in high school? Track and Field? What sports/events were you better at?

Raise your bars now and work on flexibility and lower them as you get more flexible.

carleton

I've seen a lot of big, strong guys absolutely suffer through years of being a crit/road racer with very little (if any) success. One guy that comes to mind in particular was simply not made for it. He was over 6ft tall, wide shoulders, naturally muscular, and looked like he could play baseball (meaning strong and stout, but not huge). Definitely not lean like a prototypical road or MTB racer.

For years his buddy (a world-class masters racer) kept telling him, "You should try the track." and for years he didn't do it. The guy just suffered at the back of CAT 4 crits. Then finally one year he tried the track...and had immediate success.

He raced for maybe 2 seasons and won a lot and was dominant in his category...then got into some drama at the track (that's beyond the point of this anecdotal story) and never came back.




Personally, I know for a fact that I wouldn't do well in any other discipline of cycling. Cycling is like Track & Field (aka: Athletics), there is an event for everyone

bouldergeek

Heh, my only sport was cycling. Running sports were always awful for me, and I don't enjoy ball sports. Tried soccer because I thought it was expected at my school. Hated it.

As an adult, I discovered skiing and snowboarding while living in Aspen, and cross country Colorado/Utah mountain biking. I usually hit the gym a bit throughout the year to support those activities. I've been letting myself go completely since my absorbing job search last summer.

I was a bit of a beastly USCF Intermediate. I was very into leg press/squats/deadlifts as a 14 and 15 year old. I had lots of strength and was trying to get "Eric Heiden" quads at that point in my life. Still, i have to wear relaxed fit jeans, because even normal pants look like "skinny fit" across my quads.

Yeah, I've never been a dainty, lanky climber or endurance specialist. My best friend from childhood (one of those mega-skinny roadies) had strong local success in Colorado's road scene in the 90s and would do the mountain race series with Alexi and Rishi Grewal, rode with Andy Hampsten a lot, etc. He's got a garage of Teschner and Colnagos that is enviable. He will always be able to crush me on the road. The only time we can really ride together is when he is "fat" and I am at my fittest.

carleton

I've always believed that we (as athletes) should strengthen our strengths as opposed to the adage of strengthening our weaknesses.

Try all of the events, from "Standing Lap" to "4KM TT" and you'll quickly see where your talents lay with regards to your peers. You'll notice after a month or two of regular training/racing what you are better at.

Also, even if you are really good at the short anaerobic events, it's good to sit in on the longer events for training. This trains your bike handling, pack skills, on-bike recovery, and endurance. And if you are an enduro, it's good to do the shorter events to train your strength and power.

SBUndefeated201

I just bought a pair of miche pistards and the supplied track bolts don't fit the axle.. any advice?

Oldan Slo

Just in case you didn't know: front axle is smaller (9 mm) than the rear axle (10 mm).

carleton

Yeah, and sometimes, both are 9mm (Mavic Ellipse) and sometimes both are 10mm (some other wheels that I've heard of but can't recall the brand)

Racer Ex 

Agreed. The caveat I run with is that work on your weaknesses until they aren't obviously exploitable. You don't want to be the sprinter everyone knows they can kilo out.

Unless you want a new challenge. Friend was an alternate to an Olympic squad as a track sprinter. Decided he wanted to be a road TT guy. Hasn't done badly.

Racer Ex 

What size do you need? I have a few laying around. PM me.

TurtleRacer

Bring the wheels to where you bought them from (if a brick and mortar store) and ask them to give you some bolts that fit. If it's an online retailer, you can ask them to send you some bolts as well (doesn't hurt to ask). I've got a set of miche pistard tubulars and the wheels came with the bolts on the axles, and the axles were the same size.

SBUndefeated201

Thanks everyone. Two bolts were installed and the other two came in a plastic bag. I had to swap them all around a few times but they fit now.

WhatsYoCadence

Anyone been to the Brian Piccolo velo in Florida? I may get to make a visit soon!

SBUndefeated201

I've started racing out there this winter season. Monday nights at 6:30 are free. It's a helpful course before getting into racing.

carleton

@SBUndefeated201, is your name in reference to these?:

SBUndefeated201

haha no, high tops are not me. the SB is for state bicycle and the undefeated is the model I have. not creative but oh well.

carleton

Ah.

The Nike Skateboard line is called "SB" and they made some rare shoes for a streetwear boutique called "Undefeated". So "SB Undefeated" refers to those select shoes.

Never mind me. Carry on

SBUndefeated201

I knew about the Nike SBs and knew about Undefeated but never put the two together. You learn something new everyday!

MarkWW

some of the kissena guys winter down there. I'd ask in the kissena fb group.

WhatsYoCadence

Is it not free on other days? Anything I need to know if I want to just show up with my bike and do some laps?

SBUndefeated201

I think it's 5 dollars to ride a day. or 20 for a month pass. not too sure about that because I only go on Mondays or Tuesday night race events. assuming you have been on a track, I don't think there is much else to know. check out brian piccolo's website and flavelo.org

intransit1217

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAhlewcOxAI

What the heck is going on here? After the holders release the riders, there seems to be this psuedo chase/ posturing thing that goes on before one rider actually makes a move then the race is on. And there's a bell ?

Is there a reason for the posturing?

queerpunk

This is an event called the Match Sprint. On a 250m track, it is 3 laps. In competition, there is a tournament bracket that is seeded by a flying 200m time trial, and then it's elmination brackets to determine a winner.

There is so much going on, on a tactical level, that is nearly invisible to non-sprinters. It's not posturing. They're watching each other, seeing what the other is trying to get the other to do, and then inferring their strategy, coming up with their own, and maneuvering in to it.

Often things start out slow and get fast gradually, building to a 45mph sprint - but sometimes other things happen, too - here's a clip of Chris Hoy and Robert Forstemann. Same event... very different race.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDMmPNuO0Bo

intransit1217

Sometimes you try to psyche out your comp and other times just get after it? I suspect there isn't a simple answer to my question. I'm looking at a microcosm of the track world and should watch more races
?