Back to the track (bike build and track racing project)

👋 About ten years ago I was regularly racing track leagues, going to Herne Hill sessions and road riding (visiting cafes/regents and Richmond park laps) between those

About four years ago, I basically gave up cycling in favour of running and focusing on other parts of my life

I've now decided to get back into track cycling, giving league racing a proper go again in 2025 - and I thought, documenting my bike build, racing and fitness progess on LFGSS for the nostalgia would be fun

I'm based in SE London after a stint in West and then East which makes Herne Hill accessible again, with possible plans to move to Manchester in a few years, so hoping this project moves with me to the Manchester velodrome

Stage one : fitness and realising how much stuff I need

When I 'gave up cycling' after a decade of doing it a few years ago, I also sold EVERYTHING - speed play pedals, sworks shoes, maap/rapha clothing, Oakleys, kask helmets, wahoo etc etc

So starting again, I need to unfortunately invest quite heavily into some essential gear along with the bike itself - which is also why I'm starting this thread for the 2025 season in summer 2024 haha, it's going to be alot of saving and buying stuff slowly!

Initial plan is gym and running, to focus on working on cardio during the winter ahead of next year - rather than winter road cycling (because of a lack of bike and basic cycling gear haha) which will allow me to get fit while focusing on buying/saving bike parts for my track bike

Stage two : the bike

Current idea/order is

• set of training wheels (I used to have a set of ARAYA GOLD / DURA ACE wheels which I loved, so probably aim for that again)
  
• Cervelo T4 frame (always a dream of mine when I was racing, so thought, I'd try and fulfill that this time around - but they do seem pretty hard to come by these days)
  
  

Once I have those, I can start getting other bits slowly ahead of the track season -crankset, tools, clothing etc.

Trying to not jump into buying some bling carbon bits (maybe if/when I start getting better and can justify a 'need' for it haha)

First post will an update once I have a Frameset/wheels along with a general fitness update✌️

Don't know your size but there is a T4 for sale here;

https://link.marktplaats.nl/m2146895606?utm_source=android_social&utm_content=vip&utm_medium=android_social&utm_campaign=soci

This thread is already shaping up to be a favourite. Good luck and keep us posted!

Thankyou! I am looking for a 54cm, but I think a full bike will potentially be more expensive over a frameset, especially coming from mainland Europe with import duties post Brexit (🥹) and I have a pretty good idea about the spec I'd be looking to use - so I'm hoping a reasonably priced frame set will pop-up somewhere in the next couple of months I can build from the ground up

Thankyou! Hoping I can deliver ☺️

This sounds quite exciting. Looking forward to seeing how it goes

Thankyou! ☺️