![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2016\/08\/Velodrome-lines-explained-3acb174.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>There are coloured bands painted at various intervals up the track. At the base, adjacent to the track, is a blue <\/strong>band, which is called the \u2018c\u00f4te d\u2019azur\u2019. This is not technically part of the track \u2013 you should try to stay out of this part.<\/p>\n Then, 20cm above the blue band, is a black<\/strong>, 5cm-thick line that defines the length of the track \u2013 so this line will be 250m long on an Olympic-standard track. This is also known as the datum line.<\/p>\n Above that by 90cm is the red<\/strong> sprinter\u2019s line; the gap between black and red marks the optimum route around the track.<\/p>\n Lastly, a\u00a0minimum of\u00a0250cm, or halfway up the track, there is a blue<\/strong> line called the stayer\u2019s line. This is used in stayer races (races behind pacemaker-motorbikes) as a separation line.<\/p>\n Modern track racing bikes are designed to be aerodynamic and exceptionally stiff.<\/p>\n At Olympic level,<\/a> track bikes look like something from the future, with extraordinary amounts of effort (and money<\/a>) going into making the fastest bike possible.<\/p>\n At a beginner or enthusiast level, bikes look more like stripped-back versions of road bikes<\/a>, with familiar frame shapes and \u2013 depending on the type of racing \u2013 drop handlebars.<\/p>\n All track bikes are fixed wheel<\/a> (in other words, they cannot coast) and have no gears or brakes.<\/p>\n Most velodromes that offer taster sessions will also offer bike hire, though track bikes are pretty affordable compared to road bikes thanks to their relative simplicity.<\/p>\n For more information, check out our in-depth guide to track bikes<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are a number of different types of race events that take place in the velodrome.<\/p>\n These include individual and team sprints and pursuits, time trials, points races and more exotically named variants such as keirins \u2013 an outlandish form of motor-paced cycle racing that originated in Japan.<\/p>\n For more information, check out our full explainer on track cycling events<\/a> or find out how to watch the 2022 Track World Championships<\/a>.<\/p>\n So, what\u2019s it like for newbies?<\/p>\n Back in 2016, Annie Gowing, a member of amateur women\u2019s team the Crankettes, spent the day with her teammates at Newport\u2019s Velodrome. She reported that \u201cWalking out into the velodrome and seeing the banking for the first time does nothing to calm the nerves! It\u2019s so much steeper than it looks on television \u2013 42 per cent at the Newport Velodrome.\u201d<\/p>\n After a briefing from their coach for the day, the Crankettes were asked\u00a0to ride around the concrete area surrounding the infield, speeding up on the straights and slowing for the corners.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was to get used to riding a fixed-wheel bike,\u201d says Annie. \u201cYou cannot stop pedalling, so you control your speed by your cadence<\/a> [the speed of your pedalling].<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t as easy to control the pace as you might imagine. Then we practised how to stop, slowing our cadence down to a walking pace, and coming alongside the inner railings until we came to a halt.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce we\u2019d mastered these skills, we were allowed on the track itself. To get up to speed we used the almost-flat, painted wooden section at the base of the boards. Then, when we were up to 20mph, we could move onto the track itself, initially between the red and black lines, and eventually moving up to the blue line.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite our fears, the bike was actually very easy to ride and felt quite stable on the drops.<\/p>\n \u201cWe found we had to do no more than pedal in a straight line, keeping up the speed, and the banking took care of the rest \u2013 no need to steer, or lean into the corners. It was an amazing feeling and by the end of our first turn, all the terror had gone.<\/p>\n \u201cOur next task was to ride in a single-pace line formation, taking turns to peel off the front, riding up to the blue line and then dropping back on to rejoin the group at the back. All of us were very comfortable with this exercise, being well used to team time-trialling.<\/p>\n \u201cOur final exercise was a pursuit. At a signal from [coach] Brian, the front rider had to sprint away from the group and keep going until they rejoined at the back. This was pretty tough. But great fun and good for getting our speed and confidence up.<\/p>\n \u201cThe two-hour session was over all too quickly. Everyone was buzzing, and we can\u2019t wait to go back.\u201d<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be scared. If you can ride a bike, you can ride on the track. Track bikes are very simple to ride and you\u2019ll soon get the hang of riding fixed wheel<\/a>.<\/p>\n Helmets and gloves are compulsory, so don\u2019t forget to take them.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re hiring a bike at your chosen velodrome, it\u2019s worth changing the cleats on your shoes<\/a> to match their preferred clipless pedal system<\/a>. The pedals on hire bikes generally can\u2019t be changed and the only other option is usually to use pedals with toe clips.<\/p>\n Take plenty of water and drink often \u2013 track cycling is thirsty work.<\/p>\n Go with friends, make an outing of it, and have fun.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section><\/body><\/html>\n By Aoife Glass Published: Tuesday, 11 October 2022 at 12:00 am The thrill of the boards, the massive gains you can expect in stamina and explosive power, the chance to emulate Sir Chris Hoy or Laura Kenny\u2026 track cycling has something to offer nearly every rider, and it\u2019s loads of fun. So how do you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":42379,"template":"","categories":[1,36],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/10\/how-to-get-started-at-track-cycling-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/10\/how-to-get-started-at-track-cycling-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/10\/how-to-get-started-at-track-cycling-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/10\/how-to-get-started-at-track-cycling-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/10\/how-to-get-started-at-track-cycling-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/10\/how-to-get-started-at-track-cycling-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/10\/how-to-get-started-at-track-cycling-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Aoife Glass Published: Tuesday, 11 October 2022 at 12:00 am The thrill of the boards, the massive gains you can expect in stamina and explosive power, the chance to emulate Sir Chris Hoy or Laura Kenny\u2026 track cycling has something to offer nearly every rider, and it\u2019s loads of fun. So how do you…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/42378"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What is a track bike?<\/h2>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2016\/08\/Dolan-Pre-Cursa-track-bike-61eb4ae.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Track cycling events explained<\/h2>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Track cycling for the first time \u2013 a beginner\u2019s perspective<\/h2>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2016\/08\/RussellBurton_20180210_2DX2795-91bce65.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>5 tips for track cycling beginners<\/h2>\n
1. If you can ride a bike, you can ride on the track<\/h3>\n
2. Don\u2019t forget your helmet and gloves<\/h3>\n
3. Bring your own pedals and cleats<\/h3>\n
4. Take plenty of refreshments<\/h3>\n
5. Bring your mates<\/h3>\n
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