Originally Posted by
1incpa
Carpediem- Are you talking about coming down this week for regular Sat and Tue night racing? If so, I can answer your questions.
Yes, there is a "load in" time on the schedule. That's when they open the gate to cross the track. It's way easier to get stuff across then. I use a wagon, and getting that over the bridge isn't fun.
The spots are first come, first served. It usually isn't a problem on regular race days. There's a big tent with chairs too. My crew and I usually grab a few chairs and set up there to try and stay out of the sun.
What category will you be racing on Sat? I'll be in the 55+ field.
Paul
Thanks. Yes, the regular Sat and Tues, or as the case may be now, the Tues (24th) and Sat (28th).
Having never done this before, is it normal to bring, say, a work stand? I have a folding Park one, as well as a much lighter, more compact fork/BB mount one (Blackburn TrakStand). I find it a bit awkward to change cogs or wheels without hanging the nose of the saddle on something. In NEV the cars are 50 feet from the track so I just do stuff at the car.
I assume my tools, cogs, rings, pump, wheels (I have 2-3 rears, 2-3 fronts, but really I use one front, one of two rears, and I'll have a spare front). A lawn chair or two. Rollers (I only have a regular size folding set, Kreitler plastic drum ones).
Jeepers this is a lot of stuff.
I'll need to go wagon shopping tomorrow. If it comes to it I could use a hand cart dolly thing. Or a rolling bag / toolbox / cooler with stuff on top of it. Hm maybe a rolling cooler that I can sit on. We could use it for regular races too.
I'd be racing Cat 4-5 and possibly M45, although that's highly unlikely. Not quite M55 at this time. I'm lacking any semblance of endurance and will struggle in the 3 km races. I'm still a 4 on the track.
Finally, and I know this is individual, but what kind of gear ranges do people use? I tend to use larger gears as I'm lacking pedal finesse and I'm also running 170 cranks. Last Tues at NEV I ran a 97 (54x15) and it seemed pretty reasonable, although I seemed to get to a power-cadence ceiling with that gear, at a speed much lower than I would hit on the road bike (32-33 mph - on the road I'm good at higher speeds, but I am much, much slower on the track). I started the night on a 104 (54x14) and that seemed high, too high, so I switched to the 15 for the actual races.