TRACK FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Track Racing

 
TRACK FAQ:

Frequently Asked Questions About Track Racing

Submitted by: Durer Shomer

Durer was the former webmaster of a website dedicated to track racing. When that site was closed down he generously permitted me permitted me to put it on this site. Please note that some of the links and names that he has regarding each track may not be correct. Those accessing this page who have up to the moment information should contact the webmaster so that the necessary corrections can be made.
 
Is Bicycle Track Racing A New Sport?

People are often surprised to learn that bicycle track racing in the USA has a long history. During the early days of bicycling, as far back as the turn of the century, track cycling was just as popular in America as it is now in Europe, the undisputed track racing capital of the world. By the time the "Roaring '20's" rolled around, indoor track racing had become one of the nation's most popular spectator sports, drawing enormous, celebrity-filled, capacity crowds in such huge stadiums and auditoriums as Madison Square Garden in New York City, and the Chicago Stadium, and the like.

But, unfortunately, just as sports can grow in popularity, they can also fall out of favor, and that's just what happened to track racing in the USA during the late 1930's and early 40's. The decline was principally brought about by two things; the rapid development of the internal combustion engine, and the wide scale production of automobiles on an enormous scale. As the American public discovered the thrills of the automobile, the bicycle was soon all but forgotten, and bicycle track racing lost its former position as the nation's number one spectator sport. Incredibly, virtually all of the hundreds of indoor bicycle tracks in the country were torn down during this dark period, and most of the outdoor tracks were demolished as well. America had completely turned its back on track cycling.

Then, gradually, in the late 1950's and early '60's, the public's interest in track cycling was slowly revived. A half-dozen bicycle tracks were constructed in America during the 1960's alone, and yet, even so, when the cycling boom of the 1970's got underway, the US could claim only nine world-class tracks in the entire country! Today, as all forms of bicycle racing are growing in popularity, velodromes are very slowly being built again in many states, and, perhaps, one day, just about everyone in the USA will once again be able to observe and participate in the exciting sport of bicycle track racing just as their grandparents once did.
 
What's Different About A Track (Or "Fixed-gear") Bike?

The bicycle ridden on the track is different from the one ridden on the road, and it is one of the simplest and most beautifully designed machines in the world. A bicycle that has been stripped to its basic components, it has none of the complicated, and sometimes delicate, gearing and braking systems found on a road or mountain bike.

A track bike is a direct drive mechanism with a single, small gear cog on the rear wheel that is firmly attached to the hub without the usual "freewheel" mechanism found on most bikes that normally allows the rear gears to spin independently of the wheel. It is therefore referred to as being "fixed" in place, hence the fact that track bikes are sometimes also called "fixed-gear" or "fixed-wheel" bikes. A track bike also has only a single larger gear, or "chainring" attached to the pedals. Simply put, this direct drive arrangement means that every time the wheels go around, the pedals also must go around as well, because the bike has no freewheel for coasting.

Additionally, a track bike also has no brakes for stopping, and also no derailleur for shifting gears. On a track bike, the rider controls the bike's speed directly through the pedals, and through the pedals alone. When the rider presses down on a pedal, the bike moves forward, and, as the rider pedals harder, the bike moves faster. To slow down a track bike, the rider simply relaxes his or her feet on the pedals, making them "heavy," to slow the pedalling motion. To bring a track bike to a complete stop, the rider firmly resists the pedalling motion (or "backpedals"), and may sometimes also rub a gloved hand on the front tire as well.

Designed especially for use on steeply banked tracks, and usually for shorter events than a road racing bike, the frame of the track bike has much steeper angles and is more "upright" than the frame of a road racing bike. In addition, a track bike has a shorter wheelbase with less space between the tires and the frame tubes, and a higher bottom bracket coupled with shorter crankarms for greater pedal clearance on the steeply banked velodrome.

With little or no modification, a track bike can also be ridden on the road for training, and for pleasure, too, of course, although it's never advisable to ride any bicycle on the public roads without brakes, and is probably illegal as well, although that may vary according to your locale.
 
What's A Velodrome?

The oval tracks used for bicycle track racing are called velodromes (VELL-o-dromes). They can be found indoors or outdoors, and can be made of wood, concrete, asphalt, or cement, and, occasionally, grass or dirt. Velodromes are usually 333.3 meters around, although they can run as long as 500 meters or more, or as short as 200m, or, in the case of some of the "portable" tracks, even less.

All velodromes have two long sections called "straights," which are linked by two curved end sections, giving the track a total of four turns. Bicycle track races are always run in a counterclockwise direction, so all four of the turns are to the left. The turns on a velodrome are usually "banked," or constructed at an angle, and the banking on some of the shorter tracks can reach such incredible angles that it would seem impossible for anyone to ride a bike on them. The centrifugal force generated by the riders' speed, however, usually keeps them firmly glued to the track's surface no matter how steep the banking may be.

The area inside the track is called the "infield," and is used as a warm-up area for riders and as a seating area for competitors and coaches. Encircling the infield, just at the edge of the track itself, is a flat, paved surface called the "apron." This can be used as a warm-up area, as a place for mounting your bike, or as a run-off area for coming off the track in case of an accident.

Several lines are painted on the track and run around the full oval. The line, usually black, at the bottom of the track, nearest to the infield, is called the "pole line," and is the line along which the length of the track is measured. Some seventy centimeters up the track from the pole line is painted another line, usually red, called the "sprinter's line." The area between these two lines is called "the pole," and is involved in the rules for a very popular event called the "Match Sprint." About halfway up the track is another line, called the "stayer's" line," which is usually blue, and is used in team racing and in motorpaced events as well.
 
What Kind Of Races Are Ridden On A Velodrome?

There are many different events, each with its own set of very detailed rules. Some of the more popular races you'll see at the velodrome are listed below, and there are two points to keep in mind as you read them: in some events, most notably the Olympics, the distinction between the amateur and 'pro' riders is now gone. Also, the way that every track cycling event is conducted is dictated by the fact that it is very much easier to cycle closely behind another cyclist (or behind a motorcycle) than it is to ride completely on your own or at the head of a group. For example, in the Kilometer, where you ride totally on your own, you'll be riding full speed against the clock, while in the Match Sprint, you may try to make the other rider ride at the front to tire him out. So, depending on whether an event is a solo or group effort, pure aerodynamics vs. cunning and strategy may have more or less of an effect on the outcome.

Kilometer, or 1000 Meter Time Trial:

A timed race that pits a solo rider against the clock, the "Kilo" is a test of speed and stamina in which each rider tries to cover a distance of 1000 meters (usually three laps) in as little time as humanly possible. Ridden from a standing start, the Kilo is won by a rider pushing himself to the utmost limits of his endurance.

Match Sprint:

Like the Kilometer, the Match Sprint is run over a distance of 1000 meters, but in a Match Sprint, two to four riders start at the same time, and they race against each other rather than against the clock. Although they are timed over the last 200 meters of the race, the winner of the race is the rider who crosses the finish line first, regardless of how long it takes. Match sprints work by a process of elimination, so that the riders must work their way up through several rounds of sprints, called "heats." Only two riders compete in the finals, which consist of three races. By scoring two wins in the finals, a rider becomes the winner of the event. It's in the Match Sprint that you may witness a "trackstand," wherein a rider will bring his/her bike to a complete stop and remain upright, balancing precariously. The reason for this peculiar behaviour is that the rider in front is trying to control the race and wants to force the rider in the rear to come around, so that she can "draft" off of the front rider, following her rear wheel very closely, to decrease wind resistance and therefore conserve energy. By following in the slipstream of the other rider, a rider can not only keep a watchful eye on her opponent, but can also save enough energy to put on an extra burst of speed at the finish.

Tandem Sprint:

Like the Match Sprint, but ridden on two-man tandem bikes over a distance of 1500 meters instead of 1000. The Tandem Sprint is one of the fastest events on the track.

Olympic Sprint:

"Take three of the fastest men on the track (sprinters). Line them up, Team Pursuit style, with three of the other fastest men on the other side of the track. When the gun goes off, each team moves into Team Pursuit position, one in back of the other, acclerating to top speed as quickly as possible. The first man rides one lap on the front and pulls off. The second continues, pulling off after the second lap. The last man continues for the third and final lap, driving through to the finish. This race is an all-out drag race, dependent for success on speed, teamwork, and consistancy. There is no use of the banking as in the Team Pursuit, and no possibility of half-lap pulls." This event, although not yet an Olympic medal event, was run at the U.S. Track Nationals in Indianapolis, in 1995. It was won by Bill Clay, Jeff Solt, and Sky Christopherson, and this was after they had been able to practice together for only 15 minutes!" (This "Olympic Sprint" description is from the excellent book "NO BRAKES!" by Sandra Sutherland, and was submitted to us by Dave Christopherson, Sky's dad!) (Editor's Note: Reader Paul Webb reminds us that the Olympic Sprint, while ironically still not an Olympic event, is however, now a 'medal event' at the World Championships.)

Individual Pursuit:

A race in which two riders start on opposite sides of the track and chase each other for a given distance. If one rider "catches" the other before they've gone the full distance, the race ends immediately (although the winning rider may have to continue on to 'go the distance' so that he may record his overall time). If neither rider catches his opponent, the race goes the full distance, and is won by the rider who covers the distance in the least amount of time. Women and juniors go a distance of 3000 meters, amateur men go 4000 meters, and professionals go 5000 meters.

Team Pursuit:

A 4000 meter race, the Team Pursuit is like the Individual Pursuit, except that it involves two teams of riders instead of two individuals. There are four men on each team, and they ride in a single file "pace line." Each of the four riders takes a turn at the front, changing the lead every lap or every half lap. The front rider swings up the track's banking, letting his teammates pass, and then drops back down to catch on to the back of the line. Only three of the four riders need to go the full distance, because the team's total time is taken as the third rider in the group crosses the line.

Mass Start or "Scratch" Race:

Not surprisingly, all the riders in a Mass Start race start at the same time. The riders all cover the same distance, with the winner being the first rider to cross the finish line at the end of that distance. Although speed is important, tactics and teamwork are equally vital. Groups of riders often take an early lead, and then work together to increase it while their teammates try to block and slow down the "field." On a small track, the leaders may gain an entire lap on the other riders and then join in with the main group again.

Points Race:

A variation of the Mass Start race, in which points are awarded to the top placing riders in a series of sprints contested at various intervals during the race. The winner of a Points Race is not necessarily the first to cross the finish line, but rather the rider who has accumulated the most points during the race.

Miss-And-Out:

Another variation of the Mass Start race that's sometimes called "Devil Take The Hindmost," because the last rider to cross the line after each (or every other) lap is taken out of the race. The field diminishes rapidly, until there are only a few riders left to contest the final sprint.

Motorpace:

Very popular in Europe, but rarely seen in the USA, the Motorpace is a race in which each rider stays glued behind a small motorcycle or moped, with only inches between them. Because the motorbikes break the wind and provide the riders with a slipstream to ride in, Motorpace riders can go much faster than the riders in most other events.

Keirin:

This Japanese version of the Motorpace, which is subject to parimutuel betting over there, has become very popular in the US, although, so far, without the betting. Keirin races, in which all the riders on the track jockey for position behind a single motorbike, sometimes most closely resemble the "Roller Derby" of old, with riders jostling and jabbing each other with elbows to get into the "sweet spot" behind the motorcycle. Then, just before the last lap, the motorbike pulls off the track, and the riders sprint madly to the line.

Madison:

Named for the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City, and known as the 'American' race in Europe, this most prestigious of track events is a race for teams of two or three riders, and can last anywhere from six hours to six days!! All riders start at the same time, and the winner is the team covering the most laps in the time allotted. Each team has only one rider in the race at any given time. After covering one or two laps at top speed, that rider drops out of the race so that another member of the team can come in and ride for a while. During the changeovers, the rider coming off the track literally throws the second rider into the race- either with a handsling, or by grabbing onto a special handle sewn into the rear pocket of their teammate's racing shorts. The Madison is considered to be the ultimate event in bicycle track racing, not only because of the length of the race, but also because of its incredible combined demands of speed, endurance, teamwork and tactics.

Handicap:

Although not very popular in Europe and the USA, the major race of just about every track meet in Australia is the Handicap, or 'Wheelrace.' The Handicap race is generally run over 1, 2, or 3000m, although the major events are generally 2000m or 3000m. The race consists of a number of riders starting at the same time, but at various different points on the track! The 'Scratchmen,' starting at the 0 meter line, are the only riders who actually ride the entire distance. The 'Out-markers' are the riders who start at various distances away from the 0 meter line, and they can start at up to 250m out for a 2000m event! All riders are held up at the start, and they're pushed (the bigger the better) until they get going. The race generally consists of a number of heats, where the first few riders in each heat make the final. The beauty of the race is that it gives every rider an equal chance of winning the event, and thus attracts a large field. Also, it tends towards close race finishes, where the Out-markers are hanging on for dear life, and the Back-markers are storming home. The times for the last few Austral Wheelrace finals have all been around 2:02:00 to 2:04:00 which is extremely fast!
 
OK, This Sounds Great- So Where Do I Find A Velodrome?

Unfortunately, compared to the earlier part of this century, when there were literally hundreds of velodromes in the USA, there aren't a whole lot of them out there these days, although new ones are currently planned for several cities around the country.

In addition to their well-publicized "feature" events, many folks don't realize that most velodromes have racing and training programs for 'regular' citizens, too! So, if you're one of those lucky souls who happen to live near a velodrome, contact your local track to find out what programs they may have available for "just plain folks."

(NOTE: The contact addresses listed below may not be the actual address of the velodrome itself, so save yourself a wasted trip and call or write before you go!)

CALIFORNIA:

The Hellyer Park Velodrome: Contact: Casey Kerrigan, 385 Hellyer Ave., San Jose, Ca, 95111, 408-226-9716 or casey@ccnet.com

Encino Velodrome: Contact: Pete Dern, P.O. Box 8357, Northridge, CA, 91327, 818-249-5582 or PeteD21688@aol.com

The Olympic Velodrome/CSU Dominguez Hills: Contact: Kurt Markham/CSU-Dominguez Hills, 1000 East Victoria St., Carson, CA, 90747, 310-516-4000

San Diego Velodrome: Contact: San Diego Velodrome Association, 2221 Morley Field Dr., San Diego, CA, 92104, 619-296-3345 -or- Steve Meiche, 505 Orpheus St., Leucadia, CA, 92024, 619-942-0681

COLORADO:

USOC 7-Eleven Velodrome: Contact: John Cotton, 7-Eleven USOTC Velodrome, One Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO, 80909, 719-578-4894 or 719-634-8356

FLORIDA:

The Brian Piccolo Park Velodrome: Contact: Joel Goldmacher, Brian Piccolo Park Admin., 9501 Sheridan St., Cooper City, FL, 33024, 954-437-2600

GEORGIA:

The Dick Lane Velodrome: (aka "East Point"): Contact: Sam Prather, 1513 E. Cleveland Ave., Suite 301-B, East Point, GA, 30344, 404-209-5145

The 1996 Olympic Velodrome: Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta, GA. (Temporary installation, now closed and rumored to have been sold to the Disney Corporation for installation in their 'Wide World Of Sports' complex in Orlando, Florida)

ILLINOIS:

Edward Rudolph Meadowhill Velodrome: (AKA "Northbrook"):, Contact: Dimitri Simos, Northbrook Park District, 1730 Pfingstein Rd, Northbrook, IL, 60062, 847-291-2985

INDIANA:

The Major Taylor Velodrome: Contact: Linda Fink, 3649 Cold Springs Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46222, 317-327-8356

LOUISIANA:

Baton Rouge Velodrome: Contact: Baton Rouge Velodrome, 3140 N. Sherwood Forest Drive, P.O. Box 15887, Baton Rouge, LA, 70895, 504-273-6400

MICHIGAN:

Dorais Velodrome: Contact: Dale Hughes, P.O. Box 63, Royal Oak, MI, 48068, 810-545-1225 (rumored to be unrideable)

MINNESOTA:

The National Sports Center Velodrome: Contact: Bob Williams, 1700 105th Ave. NE, Blaine, MN, 55449, 612-785-5614

MISSOURI:

St. Louis Velodrome: Contact: St. Louis Velodrome Association, 1550 Eastham, St. Louis, MO, 63146, 314-434-7357

NEW YORK:

Kissena Velodrome: Contact: Greg Avon, 6-6 Bridle Path, Ossining, NY, 10562, (718) 343-7343 (leave message on 'Track Info' mailbox), -or- KissenaNY@aol.com

OREGON:

The Alpenrose Velodrome: Contact: Mike Murray, 4318 SE 8th Court, Gresham, OR, 97080, 503-661-5874 -or- mmurray@teleport.com

PENNSYLVANIA:

The Lehigh Valley Velodrome: ("T-town"), Contact: Lehigh Valley Velodrome, 217 Main St., Emmaus, PA, 18049, 610-967-8947 -or- info@lvvelo.org

TEXAS:

Alkek Velodrome: Contact: Kathy Volski, Houston Parks Dept., 18203 Groeschke, Houston, TX, 77084, 281-578-0693 -or- 73611.2667@compuserve.com

WASHINGTON:

The Marymoor Velodrome: Contact: Terry Buchanan, 4015 95th NE, Bellevue, WA, 98009, 206-462-1326 -or- Terry.buchanan@accessone.com

WISCONSIN:

Washington Park Bowl Velodrome: (AKA "Kenosha") Contact: Tim Kemen, 5409 58th St., Kenosha, WI, 53142, 414-657-5861 -or- skingco@pitnet.net

PORTABLE:

Vandedrome Portable Track: Contact: John VandeVelde, 13649 Elm Court, Lemont, IL, 60439, 630-243-1976

CANADA:

Argyll Velodrome: Contact: David Embury, 10025 140th St., Edmunton, Alberta, Canada, T5N 2M2 -or- master-piu@msn.com

The Harry Jerome Sports Center Velodrome: Contact: Tony Badger, Suite 332, 1365 W. Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V6H 4A9, 604-737-3034 -or-Ken Legge, 604-434-4004

Glenmore (Calgary) Velodrome: Contact: Derek Lofthouse, Calgary Bicycle Track League, PO Box 20228, Bow Valley Postal Outlet, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 4L2, 403-230-5264 -or- Craig Stowell 403/299-0867

Edmonton Velodrome: Contact: David Embury, 10625 140th St., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5N 2M2, 403/451-0633

Fonthill Velodrome: Contact: Michael Parrauto or Peter Junek, 84 Martindale Rd., St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, L2S 2Y3, 905/682-6966 (rumored to be closed)

The Juan de Fuca Velodrome: Contact: Jim Jenkins, c/o 1767 Island Hwy., Victoria, BC, Canada, V9B 1J1, 604-727-5426 -or- Geoffrey Dalmer, Greater Victoria Velodrome Association, 2044 Granite Street, Victoria, BC, Canada V8S 3G3, 604/478-8384, ext. 2280

Winnipeg Velodrome: Contact: Eric Reid, Room 309, 200 Main St., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 4M2, 204/925-5685
updated 04 December, 1998 00:18