taras0000

Clearly decorative. He actually could've made something properly structural that looked exactly the same if he wanted too.

sergioflorez

did the diamondback vails ever come out? axman

taras0000

Apparently only a small production run. By small I mean roughly 25. About half went to "sponsored" riders.

MrMinty

Assuming no need for seating, what is the minimum surface area needed to build a 250m velodrome?

Flatballer

Anyone here race at T-Town? Their website is beautiful but confusing and seems tailored more towards spectators and pro racing (not a bad thing necessarily). I'm moving to the area (working in Allentown for at least a little while) and want to get back to racing (didn't race at all in 2015, pregnant wife and now baby here) and at least training again.

I can't for the life of me figure out when the non-masters amateur racing is (I'm a Cat 4 on the track, racing age 28) or if there is any sort of training to ride on the track. I've raced at Giordana which is a 250, so I assume they'd waive any training since 333 is the same lines/etiquette/rules but less steep, but I can't find that anywhere online. I don't want to show up some day to an open session hoping to ride a bit and get told I need to take a class or whatever.

I sent them an e-mail, but I assume someone here will know something too. Any advice/experiences/thoughts to share on T-Town in the meantime? It looks really nice and very well established and busy, which is great. I hope there's a place for fat slow guys like me though.

MarkWW

As a 4, you'd race on Saturdays (Masters & Rookies). Saturdays are cat 4 and 5 men, I think cat 4 women, and masters. Probably juniors, too. Tuesdays are stagiares (cat 2/3 men), pro-am (p/1/2 men), women (p/1/2/3), and i think some juniors, too. Fridays are P/1/2 men and women. As far as training, I think it's all fair game as long as there isn't anything already scheduled on the calendar. Sometimes you'll have to work in with another group, but everybody is pretty chill. Also, there's no certification required to ride or race the track.

Flatballer

Great, thanks. That's helpful. The Masters and Rookies thing threw me. It sounds like Masters (as in 35+) and juniors or something. I didn't know what rookies meant. So once I got to 3 on the track I'd move to Tuesday night (and get shelled by 2s).

Interesting that open track is just that, open to anyone. Seems a bit crazy coming from Giordana, but maybe the banking is low enough that it isn't as intimidating for new people or as dangerous (30 versus 42.5). If you go too slow or ride a road bike at Giordana, you're gonna have a bad time pretty quickly. Seems like they allow any bicycle at all, at least on the FAQ (No skateboards or roller blades, though those both sound pretty awesome).

It looks like an awesome facility with a lot of support and a lot to do. I'm excited to be in the area. Hopefully it'll be convenient enough that I'll start racing again.

queerpunk

I had a teammate who'd only ridden on 250m/43d tracks go race Masters Nats in Indianapolis a couple years ago. On the neutral lap, everybody was going super slow and he started freaking out, going, "Guys! Guys! Guys! You gotta speed up!" - before he realized that on 27deg banking, going too slow wasn't going to cause any calamity.

Flatballer

Yeah, I've seen some ugly crashes from people going too slow on the neutral laps. It's a long way down from halfway up the banking at 12 mph, and the transition to the apron is sudden and hard when you get there.

1incpa

I don't think there's much open at T-Town once the season starts. The track is open for training Thursday nights. Motorpacing is Wed afternoons. They're usually pretty good at getting back to emails, so they can fill in the details
MarkWW has the race schedule correct.
See you on Saturday!
Paul

carleton

Also, racing on Saturdays starts at something like 9AM and is done by noon or so. Personal warmups start before that. I don't recall there being an organized paceline. Coming from NOVA, I had to leave at like 4:30 in the AM to go race up there.

700wheel

The area required varies according to local government rules - considerations include drainage, restrooms, parking lot, access road, and landscaping (and of course seating).

This publication might provide answers to your question:
project guide velodromes

Flatballer

Looks like they fixed that. Noon to 3 now is what I see. Much more convenient.

gycho77

T.Town changed their website few days ago, so call T.Town amd ask them.
Before you visit check T.Town facebook, because they might move pro races, so you are not allowed to ride on the track.
And if you are sprinter, you have to attend endurance races until you become a pro

carleton

...and much more hot.


Maybe I'm remembering the start times wrong. I do recall going there early in the morning. But, maybe those were training days for me. This was like 5 years ago.

taras0000

Tracks have different shapes. Some have shorter straights but larger radius bends. Some are longer (cigar shaped).

A circle encloses the most area for the least amount of perimeter. A circular track that is only as wide as the sprinters lane will technically give you the least surface area. In reality, the shape, width of riding surface, and banking will affect how much area you need. Steeper bankings need less area for the same width, but this usually necessitates a tighter radius turn, giving you longer straights, will increases area.

taras0000

Not accounting for structural buttressing, you could fit one of these in an 80mx80m square

700wheel

To expand on the above you could find the area required for various velodromes by finding them on Google maps and measuring the area. The scale is on the lower right of the map page.

For example here is Encino (250 m)
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1818...18.5084442,20z
The track alone would fit in a rectangular area 220 ft x 420 ft = 92400 sq ft or 10,267 sq yd.

dunderhi

It's a great facility with a great atmosphere. Please be sure to watch the opening night of UCI racing on Friday June 2. They will have fireworks that weekend and the racing should motivate you to work your way up the ranks to race on Fridays.

As for me, I live in MD, so during the Summer I drive up to Ttown in my RV and ride the track Friday afternoon just before the pros start showing up, watch the Friday night races, hit the track-side farm market for breakfast, race Saturday afternoon, find dinner at a local restaurant, hit the track on Sunday morning followed by a road ride and the trip back home. I think it makes for a perfect weekend. Now only if I hadn't let myself get so out of shape this cold and rainy spring.

Flatballer

Won't be up there yet, unfortunately. I get into town the 12th, start work 13th. That sounds like a great weekend though.

gycho77

I heard that there are some restrictions on tires in Velo sports center.
Is this true?
and can anyone tell me rules in Velo Sports Center(ex. tires, wheel, gearing, and other)

velojaxkon

I have recently been looking in to upgrading my track frame to something better. Right now I have an Aventon Mataro, and have been riding with it at my local velodrome for a good while. I have found two frames, the Dolan tc1 and the Planet X full carbon which both look good and both cost $510 usd. (Also both British) The problem is I can't decide which one to get. The Planet X is lighter and carbon, but I like the look of the Dolan better and the Planet X seems a tad bit flashy. Also the Dolan seems better if I want to ride on the street. Anyone have any suggestions on which one to pick? Has anyone owned any of these frames? Thanks for the input.

taras0000

What's the intended end use of the frame? Is it going to be a track bike that sees only occasional street use, or is it going to be a street bike that is going to see occasional track use?

velojaxkon

It's going to be more a track bike the sees occasional street use. Why do you ask?

taras0000

Because if it was going to be more of a street bike, then the guys over in the SSFG forum would've been able to give you more insight. Which track do you plan on riding at?