Riding your own bike at Herne Hill

It's doubtful that anyone would be checking every bike, but the assumption is that you've made sure your bike's in good working order, and fit for purpose. This is as much about the well-being of the 50+ other riders sharing the track with you as it is your own safety.

If you're 100% confident that nothing's going to give in race conditions, suicide away.

Spot on. I turned up to the start of my local track league with the bike I've been cobbling together for the last week. It's 110mm spaced at the back, and i'm using a hub designed for 120mm minus spacers. The axle however sticks out like scythes on a chariot, and I ended up using one of the club's bikes rather than my own.