Track Gears and whats in my box...

As RPM made a point in 2 threads... it's important to remember when a trackie or track coach refers to a gear, they refer to it in "old money" as in 27 inch wheels. Never assume they mean working out the correct ratio for your 700c wheels...

:-)

As for what gear you should look at having access to for racing, here is a little list:

On a budget (Chain rings: 48, 49, 50 - Sprockets: 15):
48x15 - 86.4 (good warm-up/training gear for HH)
49x15 - 88.2 (good race gear for HH)
50x15 - 90 (good A group race gear for HH on wind free days)

Ideal set-up (Chain rings: 48, 49, 50, 51 - Sprockets: 14, 15, 16):
48x16 - 81 (good warm-up/training gear for Calshot)
49x16 - 82.7 (good race gear for Calshot)
50x16 - 84.4 (good warm-up gear for HH)
48x15 - 86.4 (good training gear for HH)
49x15 - 88.2 (good race gear for HH)
50x15 - 90 (good A group race gear for HH)
48x14 - 92.6 (good pursuit gear)

Other options:
51x16 - 86.1
52x16 - 87.8
51x15 - 91.8
52x15 - 93.6

So what I have in my track box:
Chainrings : 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52
Sprockets: 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Gear chart (unless you can remember all the combination)
2 x 1 1/8th Chains (different lengths for different combinations)
Chain breaker
Chain whip
Wheel spanner (15mm)
Chain lube
Chain ring bolts (never know when one might break or bounce off while changing a gear)
Allen Keys (5mm most important - 4 & 6 also useful)
Screwdrivers
Safty pins (for your number)
Bar end plugs (these can often go missing in transit)
Valve adaptor for disc wheel
Wetwipes
Plasters (for when you take the skin of you knuckles getting a stubborn chainrin bold lose)

Think that's it.

:-)

Nice one, have been trying to work out what combo would be good to have for HH. Went down on Sat for an induction (only got the mini one as track was a bit damp!) and thought the 48x16 would be a bit spinny when training proper.

...also.... i've got a fixed / fixed hub, can I have a sprocket on each side of my hub on the track or is this somehow dangerous and have to be removed from non-drive side??

Some officials will ask you to remove the extra sprocket as they believe the is a risk of a rider hitting it and puncturing. If a rider is that far up your arse they are probably gonna come down even if they don't puncture.

I know at Manchester that is listed as a "no-no" on the does and don'ts.

Thanks, yeah, thought that might be the case. Just have to carry the extra tools down instead, would've been nice to have a riding down gear and a racing gear.

can you wear anything when on the track or is there a dress code?

Lycra ftw

lol

at Herne Hill on Saturdays it's all about giving as many people a chance to try riding fixed on a track. There is not dress code as such but riding in clothing designed for the task at hand would be a good idea.

;-)

Lycra & wrestling mask.

most tracks usually have hire ones if you don't have your own.

can you wear anything when on the track or is there a dress code?

Last week someone tried to do the "induction" with their handbag over their shoulder, no joke!

There was at least 50 of us lined up the bank waiting for a go, maybe 10% wearing lyca.

one thing you'll find in training is that when you're at the front of a pursuit, off the back/front of the bunch or simply riding around above the blue, you'll feel the drag of your clothes something chronic at herne hill and the big outdoor tracks.

cycling clothing is strangely good for cycling

deffo for racing / training!

haha cool, well i dont own lycra nor plan to any time soon, but i really wanna ride on the track so i guess ill just wear shorts and t shirt

as a bit of advice... always wear a base layer below you jersey/lycra skinsuit, even when it's hot.

The reason is when you crash (it's gonna happen) the 2 fabrics rub against each other rather than your skin and you end up with less skin on the track and more still attached to your body.

Also make sure you have track mitts. The first thing you do when crashing is put your hands out... taking the skin of the palms of your hands is not fun...

Sorry to thread rape but at these tracks do they still use a Derny at all? Just looking for somewhere they use one for each rider instead of one for a pack like in Keirin races.

yep.
derny training herne hill thursday nights

yep.
derny training herne hill thursday nights

Thanks, I'll have to take a look I haven't raced there for about 30 years.

**Thursday

**

Derny Paced Training

(British Cycling members only due to insurance requirements)

07.05.09 - 20.08.09 

19:00 - 21:00 (or until dark)
Adults £7
U18 £3

(so not until May)

Good Friday track meeting will also have motor paced events. As far as I know the Big Bikes are not back this year so it'll be a Derny paced event.