July 2017| 67
B
ut once you get over the fear (which you will do
very quickly you ll find that track cycling is an
extremely exhilarating sport that has multiple
benefits that can be transferred to any cycling
discipline, including improved fitness, advanced bike
handling skills and competitive performance.
Here are just a few of the many reasons why you should
consider giving track cycling a go….
1.) Scary is good! The scary bit is actually good for you.
Even Laura Kenny CBE has commented that, “riding
with a fixed-wheel bike with no brakes will improve
your bike-handling skills quickly .
2.) Pedal strokes will become smoother. When riding
road and mountain bike trials you can often find
yourself falling into bad habits. It might be that you
rely too heavily on the stronger muscle groups or find
yourself stomping down on the pedals, which will
lead to dead spots in your pedal strokes. ixed-gear
bikes require a more uid pedal stroke which will in
turn lead to the production of extra watts of power.
3.) Fitter and faster quicker. Track cycling allows you to
cycle at your fastest without stopping for obstructions
in the road or traffic lights. Training on the track
allows you to generate more speed and explosive
power which can then be transferred to the road or
trials. Additionally, track cycling requires cycling at a
higher cadence than on the road (around 110 to
rpm which will benefit you a lot when you return
to the road.
4.) Whatever the weather or time! Visiting your nearest
velodrome means that you do not have to worry
about bad weather, head winds or it being too dark.
Most velodromes will have a variety of sessions for
you to choose from, so whenever you are free you can
still fit in some track time. This also allows you to
monitor your progress more accurately.
5.) New community of friends. Every cycling discipline
has their own unique community of cyclists and by
getting into track cycling you’ll be surprised at the
amount of people you will meet on the way.
6.) Transferable Skills. No matter what level of track
cycling you get up to, you will always learn skills and
techniques that will cross over onto the road, BMX
and mountain bike trails.
Lana’s Top Tips for Beginners:
1. If you haven’t already, get some padded shorts.
They do not need to be expensive and you will really
appreciate them at the end of the session.
2. Don’t be nervous! I know it is easy to say but
remember that everyone in the session feels exactly
the same and are all at the same level.
3. Never be afraid to ask questions! If you’re not sure
on a particular exercise the coach is asking the
group to do, just ask them to go through it again.
Never enter the track unless you know exactly what
you’re doing.
4. Do not rush to buy a bike or equipment. We suggest
hiring our equipment throughout your accreditation,
this means all the riders are on the same gearing.
5. Just enjoy yourself!