MrMinty

Ok so I took the plunge and bought a track bike. Went to my first training session tonight. I keep the bike in a padded bag when not in use. Was wondering the best way to set up-

Front or back wheel on first?

What level of tension should be on the chain?

How to keep the chain tension right when tightening the bolts?

queerpunk

hold your frame. put the front wheel in the fork. don't tighten it.

then put the rear wheel in the track ends.

then tighten the front wheel; then tension and tighten the rear wheel.

there should be about a half inch of vertical movement in the middle of the chain when it's properly tensioned. you shouldn't be able to push it off of the chainring with your finger, but you shouldn't be able to pluck it like a guitar string either.

rvigeant

I ran a 49/15 (94.5) for the Master's races. I cant imagine you would of survived in an 86!

gtrob

Is there a quicker way to remove front rings? Maybe rings that you hold the bolts in so you only have to undo the outside?

I was looking at the white industries cranks, looks like they are splined and use a lockring, would make life a lot easier. Only issue is it looks like they only make them 48t big.

kkxaq

You can glue the backside of the chainring bolt to the crank.

carleton

Use these: https://www.benscycle.com/p-530-sugi...s-knurled.aspx

The knurled female nut seats into the chainring spider and won't spin during screwing/unscrewing of the male bolt.

This is the style Dura-Ace, Campy, and others use.

misterwaterfall

49/15 is 88.2, 49/14 is 94.5...

rvigeant

Oops....yes, a 49/14.

Hida Yanra

You were in a 14, there's no way you'd be holding on to the field in an 86, when Adrian and the others hit the gas, an 86 just doesn't work.

Q: given the speed you were going, could you (or anyone not named "Lea") be 10" under everyone else's gearing and not redline/blow-up?
A: No

sbs z31

Can someone be a competitive track cyclist without hitting the weights/gym?

gtrob

Competitive sprinter on a national/international level? no

Competitive amateur at the weekly race series? Of course

Dalai

sbs z31 didn't specify sprint...

carleton

It's possible. Trust me.

carleton

It's possible. You have to train functional power. Rocky style. Seriously.

jods

Queally used to do all his strength work on the bike.
Never saw him in the gym. Although I only joined the squad in 2006.
By all accounts I'd say he was fairly competitive on an international level!

gtrob

Well we could reference the 1 in 100 guys who managed to be top sprinters without ever lifting a weight. And you could use their training plan, which I am sure is much harder than the gym anyway.

Or...you could follow the advice of about every sprint coach out there and work out like the 99 others


And I assumed we are talking sprint here. A pursuit/points rider isnt going to be too concerned with the gym anyway. of course, you can now reference Joe Blow who does a 4:20 4k and also gym work right after this post if you like

Owen21

First time on the velodrome tomorrow, supervised obviously, but does anyone have any tips? cheers

carleton

Sprinters who don't lift weights aren't as uncommon as you'd expect and definitely much higher than 1%. I can name probably 10 off the top of my head. These guys are very competitive in their respective Elite or Masters divisions. The only reason that I can't name more than 10 is because I don't know everyone's training program. Not to mention juniors who don't lift who are very fast.

By the way, I trained 1 full year without a gym and I was just as fast as the years I had trained with a gym (maybe faster). I also reached my all-time peak wattage numbers.

It's not as uncommon as you may think.

1) Don't try to lean. Do you lean when you walk sideways on a hill? Nope. Your feet adjust, but your body is upright. Relax and remember that if 8 year olds can do this, you can too

If you are using your own bike and not a rental:

2) Double-check that your bike is in good working order and tire pressure topped off before you get on the track.
3) Take off all lights, bells, brakes, etc...
4) Don't equip a big gear ratio on your bike. You'll suffer. Use something close to 48x16.

Have fun!

sergioflorez

has anybody here had any experience with gipiemme track wheels. im interested in their carbon wheelset Gipiemme. Gipiemme Pista H60

Owen21

I know it's not massively important or a great indicator. But. Does anyone know vaguely what kind of weights top track cyclists (sprint) shift in the gym? Squat front squat deadlift power clean etc???


secondly. What's a good mileage to do on the road for a sprinter? And what type of exertion? Got a road bike yesterday so want to utilise it tomorrow :-) thanks

carleton

Gipiemme makes good stuff. That wheel seems to be new for 2015, so probably no reviews yet. It seems to fit between the reference Zipp 404 and Zipp 808 wheels.

Do you mean poundage, poundage relative to body weight, or just what exercises they use?

To be honest, there is very little direct correlation to gym poundage and on-the-track speed. There are too many variables between what happens in the gym and what happens on the track. The biggest being an individuals fast twitch or slow twitch predisposition.

Most sprinters use road riding for fitness, aerobic conditioning, cadence drills, training, and/or recovery depending on what else is going on in the training week or time of year. It not common (but not unheard of) for sprinters to engage in 4-5 hour rides that roadies will do.

Owen21

Just poundage. Like I've seen vids of Hoy squatting etc but just wondered waft else they could do. Just out of interest, regardless of the correlation

ok so a 14 mile route tomorrow at a decent pace would be fine for starters?

carleton

Have a look in the weightlifting thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/track-cycl...t-lifting.html

Maybe ask there.

When it comes to training: Generally speaking, doing something is far better than doing nothing.

Riding your bike is a good thing. There is a basic level of conditioning that will take you a long way in track racing. Being fit and trim is most of it. This is why cyclists that transfer from other disciplines experience early success.

MrMinty

I was running 50x15, but I felt that I didn't have enough to kick on things such as a devil race or warm
up sprints. I've changed to 49x15. How much difference will losing the 2 inches make?

I've 50, 49 and 45 chainring and a 15 & 16 tooth sprocket. At the moment a beginner but feel quite strong. What would be the ideal gear set up for an enduro using these combos? (They all came supplied with the bike)

Owen21

Okay thank you. Really appreciate your help. P.S I loved the velodrome. I definitely want to race and train on there. I'm booked in for another training session next week