Lord Sebastian Coe has very kindly built me a lovely new World Class Olympic Velodrome just down the road from me, which got me thinking I’d really love to be able to use this wonderful facility, and enjoy the much mentioned ‘Legacy’ of the Games.

Went to Condor yesterday, chatted to a lovely bloke called Angel, about track bikes and stuff. Looked at a lovely steel-framed machine, blue with white rims and accents.

Now, I know I’ll probbly be needing to join a proper club and all that, and I’ll need to have a go a couple of times first, see if I actually like it (fancied doing it for years, but no facilities down here). Plus there’s probbly gonna be an issue with access, as it will be a very popular place in the years following the games I’d imagine. So probbly never going to be just pop down three times a week kind of thing.

So what will I need? Don’t know much about track bikes (more than the bloke in Cycle Surgery although he was very pleasant), other than you need a higher BB, the bikes are shorter, and you need specific track tyres and that. Are there any other requirements?

Where’s a good place to start? S/H frame/bike? I’m light (sub 10st), and not mega-thighed, so won’t need super strength. Deep section rims or standard lighter ones?

One possible issue is that I’ll need to actually get to the place, and don’t have a car, so I’ll need at least one brake and probbly a flip-flop hub. Changing tyres will be a faff, but not that big a deal.

So, any thoughts to someone interested in getting started?

Track wheels slung over your back used to be the way to do it 🙂

If you want to give track riding a go, then either try going to
Herne Hill, Brighton, Reading, Welwyn Garden or Calshot.

Second hand fuji, that’s all you need. And a killer instinct. Re getting there, I believe Newport will garage your bike for you so you can ride there on whatever you fancy. Yours may well do the same.

Racing is a bit obscure though. You need accreditation, which a coach will be able to do for you, then as for actually entering races this is where the trail dries up a bit for me. I THINK my local one has an open race night once a week where you sign up for whatever race you want and then wait for it to come up.

It’ll probably be different for you though as it’ll all be new, there’ll be loads of interest due to more interesting people in London 🙂 and there’ll be lots of clubs getting into it too I spect.

Indoor track riding is pretty different to outdoor tho, and about 104325 times better.

Elf, hurry up – they’re shutting it all down on 14th August

Gonna be a nice set of luxury apartments

aP; I don’t want to ride outside. Herne Hill can be ridden with a standard bike anyway (I’ve gone round on a mounting bike!). It’s the full on scary 250m super-banked track I’m interested in. TBH, I’m only interested cos I live less than 2 miles from a World Class Velodrome. Otherwise I woon’t bother, as it would be a faff.

I think I may go to Brick Lane Cycles at some stage, see what they’ve got to say.

So would a track bike with flip-flop hub and one brake be good? Only takes a couple of minutes to unbolt the brake and lever, and unclip the cable. Or are brakes allowed on track?

Is there a minimum BB height for indoor tracks?

And what’s the politics like? Stuffy old blazers don’t want to see Darkies in their exclusive club? A bit of initial enquiry seems to suggest it’s not that open and welcoming an activity. Well, not traditionally, anyway. Will I have to jump through hoops and fight through a bureaucratic minefield just to ride a bike on a track we’ve all paid for?

Just ride there fixed and brakeless, you will fit right in. There is a minimum height for bbs (or is it pedals?) so you need a high bb, or short cranks (which make sense anyway).

I’d guess you can hire bikes there, so give that a go first.

You might find glueing your tubs on and waiting for them to set is a bit more of a faff than you want.

And I don’t think they like people using outdoor tyres on their indoor tracks. Makes it dirty and slippy.

We always used to use a couple of brackets attached to the front wheel dropouts so we could carry our track wheels while riding to the reack on road wheels.

Get a trailer. Wheels off the track bike, whole bike in the trailer, off you go.

I don’t think you’re allowed any brakes or anything, so yo’d have to remove the lever which would mean no bar tape. And it’s a faff cos you’ll be late for the first session etc etc.

You should definitely do it tho mate. Someone with your temperament will be brilliant 🙂

You’ll almost certainly have to get a track frame and cranks with specific measurements to ride the new velodrome in 18 months time when members of the public are allowed to use it. I know that Manchester track has specific BB height and crank length restrictions.
You’ll be better off going to Herne Hill and hiring one of the bikes there and seeing how it goes, and banking at Herne Hill feels plenty disturbing when you ride round at the top.
Ask if you can ride behind one of the 500cc Triumph motor paced bikes if you want to really feel the fear.

You’re wanting to know where to get a track bike? In London? Surely Hoxton and Shoreditch are overflowing with the **** things?

Just go and lamp some trustafarian who’s about the same height as you and wearing their sisters jeans. You’ll probably get a nice full carbon Dolan or something. Remember Its not theft Fred. Its socialism. Redistribution of wealth and all that 😀

One possible issue is that I’ll need to actually get to the place, and don’t have a car, so I’ll need at least one brake and probbly a flip-flop hub.

+ sister’s jeans
+ fake dreads

He he

[semi serious] I reckon there could be some useful advice on the LFGSS forum [/semi serious]

Just find a Bo-Bo and liberate one.

there is a bloke who rides into my place of employment on a fixie. I don’t think he is a terribly fasionable/unfashionable bad/good person, I just wonder if he rides over *that* hill! umm. are you on one Elf?

it’d be fookin ace if you blazed it on a velo.. do it do it! April 1st is over BTW, before you get too fat!

This is Manchester’s rules for track bikes, believe it is the same for Newport

* Track bikes must have a fixed wheel, 165mm cranks, and 280mm (11”) bottom bracket height (measured from floor to centre of bottom bracket), no braze ons, and must have track ends. Coaches must advise riders to check their own bikes before taking to the track, including: tyres, chain tension, wheel nuts. If a “fixie” bike is used, that matches the measurements above, and has brazed ons or cast cable or gear stops, and must be padded with foam and taped over with insulating tape.
* Use Continental, Schwalbe, Tufo or Vittoria clinchers or tubulars (black tread only), 21 mm wide or better.

Recommended clinchers and tubulars

Conti

Tempo

22mm

Tufo

S3 Pro

22mm

Conti

Sonderklasse 165/175

22mm

Tufo

S3 Lite 135

21mm

Schwalbe

Durano T

22 and 25mm

Tufo

Elite 120

21mm

Schwalbe

Ultremo R1

22 and 25mm

Vittoria

Pista EVO CS

22mm

Vittoria

Pista EVO CL

22mm

* Tyres must be inflated to 8 bar (119psi), and the pressures, and tyre condition checked regularly. Do not use Michelin tyres or any dual compound tyres. Other tyres and tubulars may in future be recommended after analysis. Do not use tub tape to fix tubulars to sprint rims – use proprietary rim cement.
* Do not use brand new tyres on the track without first preparing them thus; rub the surface with alcohol or white vinegar or other degreaser before use. Ride the first three laps on the Cote d’Azure or bottom of track.
* No spare sprocket on double rear hub
* Bar ends must be fitted, and secure in handlebars.
* No quick release spindles. Wheel spindles should not extend beyond the track nuts, front and rear, and should be sawn off flush with the nut, and filed smooth.
* Recommended gears for novices, and all riders on taster sessions – 84” gear adults, 74” for 9 -12 year olds.
* The gearing on Velodrome hire bikes range from 72.6” (44 x 15) to 83.9” (50 x 16).
* Gearing for all endurance SQT’s, including Madison and Derny, shall be restricted to 88”. The only exception is the “A” SQT, where it is unlikely that there are any Velodrome bikes (84” gears) used on this session.

* Do not have any active devices such as bike computers or digital displays that can distract you whilst riding. As a computer is a “projection” it is not allowed.

(fancied doing it for years, but no facilities down here).

errr. Herne Hill, Saturday taster session something like £4.50 iirc. Coaches bikes for hire the lot.

No Little Sister; any of youse lot got a Little Sister whose pants I can get into? 🙂

She needs to be well fit though, like me.

You should definitely do it tho mate. Someone with your temperament will be brilliant

Explosive….

I might give HH a go actually. If I do take up track cycling, it won’t be on outdoor tracks though.

The equipment requirements seem very restrictive, and I’ve no doubt it’ll all cost a flippin fortune. 🙄

Garaging the bike would be ideal, but perhaps not possible. I like the idea of a trailer. Otherwise, I can bag a separated bike up and use the DLR.

Would SPDs be ok, or only roadie clipless or toeclips/straps?

Are bullhorn style bars allowed, as I don’t get on with drops too well.

I think I will probbly start with something s/h to begin with, get a feel of what I need out of the bike. What size for a 5’5″ bod with perfect proportions?

I think one of these will do the job just fine. Are smaller front wheels still allowed?

Remember Its not theft Fred. Its socialism. Redistribution of wealth and all that

No you’re right actually Binners. And it will mean one less Fixie ****t on the streets poncing about. And the bike will get used for it’s proper purpose. Can I give them a good kicking as well as nick their bike?

It needn’t cost a fortune:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/classic-track-2011-single-speed-road-bike-ec024679

49cm, but you’re short 🙂

When looking, bear in mind that some track bikes are being sold as fixie twunt machines, and some fixie twunt machines will actually do as track bikes but some won’t.

As for drops – it’s a bit different to a road bike. You’ve got no levers to reach, and you do all your riding on them so you can set the bike up so it’s comfortable. If you’re a stiff hamstringed MTBer perhaps a higher stem…

And I agree about HH – indoor track racing is definitely where it’s at. If I ever get to work close to Cardiff again I’m DEFINITELY racing at Newport.

Nice one Mol. That would probbly be just right as a ‘starter’ bike really, woon’t it? Bloody good price too. As I said, I’m not really looking to buy just yet, probbly won’t need owt until I can actually use the velodrome tbh, but it’s useful to get an idea of what’s what. A quick look on LFGSS’ classifieds shows there’s a lot of decent s/h kit about, plus Brick Lane Bikes sell s/h stuff too, so I’d probbly be able to get started for not a great deal of money initially. I can foresee that tyres will be the thing what cost a disproportionate amount!

I might use HH as a taster, get a feel for riding fixed. Plus, there might be folk there who can advise on clubs, equipment, etc. There do seem to be an awful lot of regulations, mostly for safety I spose, but they might create problems in terms of what kind of bike I can actually use.

So you never know, Mol; one day I might be kicking your arse in races.. 😉

Oh yeah one very important thing; are normal spectacles allowed, cos I won’t be able to ride without them. Don’t tell me there’s some stupid rule about them too? Like you can only ride using £500 prescription Oakleys or something… 🙄

It doesn’t have to be masively expensive if you can take a bit of time to look at various road / tt forums classifieds, H/H may also throw up a source of second hand kit. Mrs K just got a mint s/h dolan track frame with headset and sugino track chainset for £170 (from time trialing forum) everything else we need (stem, bars etc) is either in the spares pile or in the case of pedals and wheels can be taken off other bikes. The way the fixed market is you may not lose much cash if you get rid of it.

It doesn’t have to be masively expensive if you can take a bit of time to look at various road / tt forum (not sure if lfgss is that cheap a source) classifieds, H/H may also throw up a source of second hand kit. Mrs K just got a mint s/h dolan track frame with headset and sugino track chainset for £170 (from time trialing forum) everything else we need (stem, bars etc) is either in the spares pile or in the case of pedals and wheels can be taken off other bikes. The way the fixed market is you may not lose much cash if you get rid of it.

As said above- 2nd hand Fuji is perfect for newbies. My fuji visited the track 3 times and commuted for 2yrs.

Even if track isn’t for you London is relatively ‘flat’ enough for a tracvkbike commuter- just feels soooooo much better than a geared bike for commuting- immediate power and smooth cadance. Plus its cheap enough that if you don’t like it- sell and get all your money back.

Do it. 🙂

+1 for what molgrips says.

Most of the fixie fashionista bikes sold aren’t suitable for use on the track – generally wrong geometry. See the bit about the rules for track riding.

Get a proper track specific bike like a Dolan or Fuji. Best place to find such bikes for sale is, unsurprisingly, a track so get yourself down to Herne Hill one Saturday morning and have a look around. As well as the riding there’s usually a couple of For Sale signs around the place. Try one of the hire bikes there, then see how brave you are at the top of the banking…

Bullhorn bars aren’t allowed – too much risk of them catching and snagging on someone/something else. Tri bars are only allowed for pursuiting, not for general bunch riding. You’re not allowed to have brake levers still mounted either so even if you do use a fixie, you’d need to change the bars as well as unbolting the front brake.

All tracks hire out bikes, use theirs for the first few sessions then decide whether or not you like it. Proper good track stuff is unbelievably expensive, it’s not uncommon for a racing track bike to be worth >£5000 when fitted with disc or deep section wheels.

No, you won’t have to jump through hoops etc, you’ll just have to obey a reasonable set of rules put in place for your own safety.

So you never know, Mol; one day I might be kicking your arse in races..

Lol. Not gonna happen. You skinny gits can kick my fat arse on the hills but track time is payback time.

Oh and it’s true, the rules are there for safety reasons. Track crashes can be really bad, and people tend to get tangled up in each others bikes a lot.

Best advice between now and when the track opens for the public would be get used to riding fixed. It’s embarassing at a track when you try and rest and your pedals kick you up in the air and you fall off.