It's important to learn a bit about what's different about track racing. A Velodrome (VELL-o-drome), is an oval track used for bicycle track racing. Velodromes (or "tracks") are usually 333 1/3 meters around, although some are as long as 500 meters or more, or as short as 200m. The "Vandedrome", a "portable" track, is even shorter. Velodromes can be found indoors or outdoors, and can be made of wood, concrete, asphalt, or cement.

The turns are banked on velodromes, allowing for greater control and speed by the riders. Shorter tracks typically have steeper banking. Although it would seem that it would be impossible for anyone to ride on such steep banking, the centrifugal force of the rider going through the turn at speed "stick"s her wheels to the track in the turn. Just as in a roller coaster, the g-forces are noticable to riders, and are part of the "rush" of track racing!

Track bikes use a "fixed gear", a single cog driven by the chain that is driven by the cranks and the chainring. There is no freewheel (as on a regular bike) to allow coasting. You turn the crank, the chain turns the wheel. You will quickly learn not to stop pedaling!. The cogs can be removed and changed, depending upon racing conditions and situations.

Everyone is always pedaling. Riders slow down by slowing the pedaling motion, making them "heavier". Because none of the bikes have brakes, everyone slows down about the same by slowing down their pedaling.

Track bikes also differ from their road counterparts in some other ways. Track frames have slightly steeper angles, and the bottom bracket is a bit higher to prevent the pedals from striking the banked track. The handlebars are lower, and narrower. This makes a bike that is designed for responsiveness. There are also special track bikes for pursuit and kilo events - these often have a longer wheel base than general track bikes in order to get the rider into a more aerodynamic position. Although you see clipless pedals used in mass-start events, shoe straps are often used by the stronger sprinters and standing-start riders to prevent the tremendous forces generated by the rider from pulling their shoes out of the pedals!

Track tires are usually tubulars ("sew-ups") for their light weight and responsiveness. Wheels are held in with nuts and not quick releases, which are not allowed in mass-start track events.

You will probably see more aero wheels on the track than in road events, especially in the time-trial events. Aerodynamics plays a significant role in track racing. Front and back disks are not uncommon. Most mass-start track bikes don't use aero wheels, however.

Some Terminology

• Straights - two long sections that connect with curved ends, giving the track 4 turns. Riders always ride counterclockwise.
• Rail - the railing or boards at the top of the track. The boards are usually painted with sponsor advertising, spectators often "pound the boards" during races, cheering on the riders and creating additional excitement for the fans and riders!
• Infield - center of track; riders warm up here between race events.
• Apron - An apron around the bottom of the track "collects all the spills".
• Track markings or lines:
  • Measurement Line -or- Pole Line - The inner edge of the black line that runs around the entire track.
  • Blue band - Out of bounds
  • Sprinters Line - Red line running parallel to the measurement line. The lead rider must stay between the Sprinter's line and the Pole line.
  • Blue Line (or Stayers line or Relief line) - Line midway up the track; slow riders must stay above this line while faster riders keep to the lower part of the track.
  • Finish line - just before the 1st turn, a black line running parallel to the track
  • Pursuit line - line in the middle of the front and back straightaways; this line serves as start and finish for pursuit and kilo events
  • 200m Line - Usually at the end of turn 2; indicates 200m to end - usually used for sprint events.

• Ride Fast / Turn Left - general coaching direction given to riders.

Kinds of Track Race Events

• 200m Time Trial - Typically used to establish seeding for the Matched Sprints, riders take a flying start, diving down from the top of turn 2 to the 200m start line, and then go all out to the finish.
• Matched Sprints - Two to four riders race over a distance of 1000m, but against each other rather than against the clock. The winner of the race is the rider who crosses the finish line first, regardless of how long it takes. Match sprints work by eliminating pairs of riders through "heats". Only two riders compete in the finals, which consist of three races. The rider winning two of three final sprints wins the match.

  This is cycling's version of a game of cat and mouse, with riders "trackstanding", waiting for position so to make the other rider take the leadout against the wind.

• 500m Time Trial - Common track time trial distance for women and junior (15/16) men.
• Kilometer - From a standing start, a solo rider races against the clock. A test of speed and stamina in which each rider pushes himself to the utmost limits of his endurance.
• Individual Pursuit - Riders start on opposite sides of the track, chasing each other for a given distance (typically 3000m for juniors, 4000m for seniors, 5K pros), either until one rider catches the other, or until the first rider finishes (fastest rider wins).
• Team Pursuit - Similar to the Individual Pursuit, except with a team of 4 riders on each side. Very exciting to watch, and VERY fast, riders exchange position in a pace line by having the lead rider pull up in the turn and dive down to position themselves in the slipstream of the other three riders. Only three riders go the full distance (4000m for juniors); the time is taken when the 3rd place rider crosses the finish line.
• Olympic Sprint - Three sprinters start the race on each side of the track, similar to Team Pursuit, quickly initiating a paceline. Unlike Team Pursuit, there are no exchanges: the lead rider leads the first lap, then pulls off; the second rider then leads out the second lap. After the second rider pulls off, it's up to the third and final rider to go all out to the finish. Somewhat misnamed, it's just now becoming an olympic event.
• Keirin - Remember roller derby? In Keirin races, in all the riders on the track jockey for position behind a single motorbike, with riders jostling and jabbing each other with elbows to get into the best position behind the motorcycle. The motorbike pulls off the track just before the last lap when the riders sprint to the finish line.
• Madison - named for its place of origin, Madison Square Garden, teams of two or three riders compete, with the winners completing the most laps in an allotted 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. Riders exchange by literally throwing the second rider into the race.
• Scratch Race - Similar to a criterium only on the track. Riders start together, and the winner is the first rider across the line after a given number of laps. As in a crit, tactics and teamwork are vital, as teammates "work" competing riders or block for their teammates.
• Points race - A variant to the scratch race, riders sprint for points every 5 laps (or so). The winner is the rider that accumulates the greatest number of points, not necessarily the rider that crosses the finish line first.
• Miss and Out - A mass start race, the rider who crosses the line LAST on sprint laps is pulled from the race. This continues until there are only a few riders left to sprint to the end.
• Unknown Distance - A variant on the scratch race, except the number of laps is kept hidden from the field until the last lap. The excitement is that no one can safely "sit in" and wait until the end, because they don't know when it is!
• Omnium - Points are awarded to riders for their finish placement in various race events throughout a track meet. The greatest number of points is the omnium winner.

NEXT: The Infield - ready to race? check The Infield for sources for track bikes, track links, race results!