I know nothing about track bikes...

[vanillagorilla]

There is going to be a velodrome built near my house, and I was think about looking into a track bike. I know nothing about them. Isn't there different bikes for sprints and pursuits? Where can I go on the web to look at some? Any suggestions?

 

[SaftyCyclist]

Which country are you in? If you're a road rider it's probably going to be endurance events you'll be riding rather than sprints, a lot of folks just switch bars & move the saddle a bit for pursuiting, you can get away with having one bike which will cover all track disciplnes.

 

[tifosa]

While you may be able to use a road bike on your local track, a dedicated track bike has no freewheel, no brakes, no gears. Good times!

 

[vanillagorilla]

Which country are you in? If you're a road rider it's probably going to be endurance events you'll be riding rather than sprints, a lot of folks just switch bars & move the saddle a bit for pursuiting, you can get away with having one bike which will cover all track disciplnes.

I'm in the US. Yeah I'm a roadie. Are you talking about adding bars and moving the saddle to my road bike, or doing that to a track bike? Most of the bike sites I'm used to going to for road bikes don't have track bikes, except felt.

 

[SaftyCyclist]

If it's a new track I'd doubt they'll allow a converted road bike, it'll have to be a specific track bike with a high bottom bracket, if it's a 250m wooden track they'll not let you on unless you have a specific track bike. The track bike you choose can then be altered for different types of event, sprint, endurance, pursuit etc. Some longer (400m) outdoor tracks don't have the same requirement for BB height due to the shallower banking. But you'll not be allowed on any with a road bike, I've heard some huge tracks have road bike sessions but fixed gear & no brakes doesn't mix with gears and brakes, that'll end in tears.

 

[SaftyCyclist]

I'm in the US. Yeah I'm a roadie. Are you talking about adding bars and moving the saddle to my road bike, or doing that to a track bike? Most of the bike sites I'm used to going to for road bikes don't have track bikes, except felt.

http://www.ridley-bikes.com/pd/gb/en-gb/6/94/fitness-track/Oval

http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/urban-fixed-gear/super-pista-frameset/

Trek, Cervelo, Cinelli, Giant etc all do complete bikes or frame only. I have a Ridley and don't need 165mm cranks, can get round a 250m track fine on 170mm cranks.

 

[vanillagorilla]

It is a 250m track, looks wooden from what I can tell. Check it out.
http://www.riverwalkcarolinas.com/cycling-outdoor-centers/veldrome/
Another question, do you use the same shoes/pedals that are on a road bike or something else? It seems like when I was watching the world championships they strapped in there shoes. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[eurotrash]

It is a 250m track, looks wooden from what I can tell. Check it out.
http://www.riverwalkcarolinas.com/cycling-outdoor-centers/veldrome/
Another question, do you use the same shoes/pedals that are on a road bike or something else? It seems like when I was watching the world championships they strapped in there shoes. Thanks for all the replies.

I doubt it'd be wood unless it is indoors.

Yes, use the same shoes and pedals as you do on the road. If you want to be cool- don't wear socks. If you grow 36" quads, switch to clips and two pairs of straps.

ET

 

[SlantParallelogram]

I don't know of any outdoor Velodromes that are wood (in the United States at least). All the Velodromes around me are paved.

As far as track bikes go, I would wait until the track is finally done to get one.

Ever since hipster kids started riding fixed-gear "replica" track bikes, all the bike companies have started selling cheap versions of them, usually built with 4130 cro-moly tubing. You can get one of those for under $500 bucks.

If you want a get a "real" track bike designed for racing, then plan on spending at least $500 bucks. Although there are some nice bikes for around $700 dollars. These bikes are built with better quality cro-moly tubing, aluminum, or carbon. I am sure there are still some people building titanium track bike frames for a ton of money as well.

 

[SaftyCyclist]

Looks good.

4. Other points about the velodrome
a. The proposed design is 250m, concrete, 43 degrees of banking in the corners
b. Concrete infield, lockers, concessions, lights, stadium seating

http://www.carolinavelodrome.org/1073.html

It's concrete, 250m & banking at 43 degrees, so I expect it's a similar geometry to something like Manchester Velodrome, you'll need a high bottom bracket therefore. Should be perfectly capable of running good events on, wish there were more of these kinds of facilities getting built, luckily local to me we're getting a new indoor 250m wooden velodrome, the Chris Hoy Velodrome built for the 2014 Commonwealt Glames in Glasgow, Scotland, can't wait. We've been suffering on an outdoor wooden 250m track in Edinburgh for years now, if you know what Scotland's climate is like, this isn't the best solution, so an indoor track is going to be heaviliy used.

As eurostrash says, you'll be fine on your road pedals unless you turn into a track sprint monster. Enjoy.

 

[SaftyCyclist]

Outdoor wooden track photos. Meadowbank Velodrome, Edinburgh, Scotland.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50037328@N04/sets/72157624215895292/

 

[TheNJDevil]

yes...there is an outdoor wooden track in the US. http://www.nscsports.org/sports/cycling/index.htm

Blaine, MN. (just north of Minneapolis). Also, check out the blog for Women Development on the cyclingnews site as I believe Missy visited recently.

What I wouldn't give for a velodrome to be built nearer to me.

 

[twothirds]

Lots of good track info to be had here:
http://www.fixedgearfever.com

 

[SlantParallelogram]

I forgot to add that all the Velodromes in my area (all 2 of them ) also have a "road bike night" on one night of the week. That way you can try out racing on the track with your regular road bike before you go out and spend the money on a track bike. I have heard some of the local shops around the track will rent you a track bike, except I am not sure of the cost or the quality of the bike they rent you.

 

[Marva32]

I forgot to add that all the Velodromes in my area (all 2 of them ) also have a "road bike night" on one night of the week. That way you can try out racing on the track with your regular road bike before you go out and spend the money on a track bike. I have heard some of the local shops around the track will rent you a track bike, except I am not sure of the cost or the quality of the bike they rent you.

Northbrook also has a number of track bikes available to rent by the day. Older Schwinn Pelotons that have not seen a lot of use. I've also heard a number of other tracks have bikes to rent as well