31/05/08
Track, baby, Track!!!!

So, i know that i "seem" to bag out roadies an awful lot, but I have recently discovered Track riding. My sister in-law has recently taken up Track riding and I've been going along a few times to see her race on a Tues night down at Darebin International Sports Center (DISC). It looked like a bit of fun and she'd keep egging me on to give it a go. I wasn't sure, riding on skinny tyres and all, but i finally worked up the courage to give it a whirl.

I have a new found cycling discipline which I thoroughly enjoy. Track riding.

I turned up to the Sunday track training session. 8am on a Sunday morning!! Jeebus, i hate getting up early on my days off. However, i'm enjoying riding track, so it's all ok.

Track is a totally new experience for me. Skinny tyres (usually pumped to 130psi), short top tube, drop bars, no brakes, fixed gear (which is generally a high gear) and riding in a bunch. I'm use to the whole single speed thing, but the fixed gear is always in the back of my mind. So, my first session was a pretty daunting one. I was riding on a hire bike, from DISC, so if i was to stack, i'd wreck theirs and not mine. I felt like such a nuffy. I havn't felt so retarded on a bike for a very long time. For the whole 3 hour sesson I was 'brown trousering' myself!! And seeing other riders crash, isn't the best motivation. Riding in a bunch is a totally new experience for me also. I'm use to having a bit of space between me and the next rider, but with Track, the closer you are, the better. Currently my 'riding on the wheel' of someone is about 2 bike lengths away!!

Anyway, I got through the first sesson and now I've got a new found respect for the skill and courage of Track riders.

So, i've been going to Track for a few months now and I'm slowly getting my confidence up. I've committed myself to it and bought a spiffy new Trek T1 track bike, some different sized rings and i've pulled my visor off my helmet. No, I haven't shaved my legs, I need all the bulk I can get!!! My good mate Angus T, the other half of the Ginger Ninjas, has recently taken up Track too, so we both feel like nuffies together!! So, what is it about Track that i like?? Well, I think it's the speed. The feeling that you get of going flat out round a corner and feeling the G's pushing you into the boards. It's also a sweet workout. I don't work anywhere near as hard on the MTB, as i do on the Track. The sessons only go for 3hrs, but you work hard during those 3hrs. Harder workout than riding my MTB, it would seem.

The vibe is also different to what i was expecting. In the back of my mind I was expecting to see the same 'snobbery' or 'stuck-up' attitude, which you can sometimes get with pure road riders, but i was pleasently suprised by the friendly and relaxed vibe i got there. Everyone was so helpful and willing to give encouragement and tips to the beginners. Even the really good riders were super kind and talkative. There's none of the "My bike is better than yours, so i won't talk to you" attitude.

So now i've just got to find enough hours in the week to ride all my bikes!! I've missed Track these last few weeks, because I've had other riding to do. Between working, GP social rides, MTB racing and leasure rides, it's hard to fit Track in, but i'm sure i'll be able to do it.

Some happy folk with their priffy new, and not so new, bikes that have come through the shop lately:

Gilles with his spiffy new YETTI 575 08'. Oh Yeah!!!!

Sarah and Jules picked up their 2 'new' townies. There's no stoppin them now!!!

 

Later
D