Track Etiquette

Clearly just because you've listened to the coaches you shouldn't assume everyone else has..

Well it's been said in many different ways on this thread, but put simply, NEVER assume, ALWAYS look.

yeah, it's noticeable that the last half lap is usually pretty safe as riders in the line get spread out, it's the lap before that things get sketchy (mike will remember the crash just past the bell).

I suspect however that when you have riders of differing ability / speed then the last dash is less safe.

Oh, and Mike, presume you want your space in the container this year?

I remember the crash I had just past the bell two years running :(

But please don't let this talk of crashing put anyone off. It is an unfortunate fact of racing that crashes do happen, otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Yes I will need my space this year. Sadly, I have a pretty serious back injury that has pretty much destroyed all my training and all racing plans since before the New Year. But I aim to come back fighting once I have sorted it out, but probably not until later in the season. I don't want to give away my slot only to find I need it again, if that's ok?

Mike - get over to the Rolla forum, Tom has started a thread to see who wants bike storage at HH this season and your name isn't on it.

Cheers Andy. I have not bee there recently as it's too depressing

awww c'mon mike - RPM's posts are not that bad…

I was going to email you Mike but havent got round to it. Youre on a list though already.

Well it's been said in many different ways on this thread, but put simply, NEVER assume, ALWAYS look.

It's so ingrained for me now I even look over my shoulder when on foot and overtaking another person on the pavement.

Ha! Do you point out hazards in the road to those following you too?

I do. With budgets being what they are, it's a habit we should all be developing. [/serious face]

Another thing from Saturday was in the final exercise when the coaches had gone back along the line telling people to ride single file that there were still riding two up.

3 laps to go I was blowing completely and pulled out up to get up to the rail after checking my shoulder and flicking my elbow, expecting once I was immediately clear of the single file and heading up the banking I wasn't going to be obstructing anyone, but the guys riding side by side must have been a couple of wheels back from me and clearly got a surprise from the amount of noise generated.

Clearly just because you've listened to the coaches you shouldn't assume everyone else has..

highlights the importance of swinging up properly, an element of track etiquette people of get wrong. Generally speaking, after looking obviously, always make sure you swing up right to the top of the banking. It's better for you because you get to the back quicker and have a better chance to get a good look at the other riders in the bunch + it's much safer because usually as you get further back down the bunch riders are 2 or 3 or more abreast (despite what the coaches have told them to do). Far too often people just move out slightly from the line like you might on the road or if you were doing rotation.

Great thread this!

Off to Manchester next week for my first taste of the velodrome, hopefully i won't be tasting it literally!
Does anybody have any advice that may help me to get accredited? What exactly do I have to do?
Should I be doing anything specific this week? Smashing it? Taking it easy?

Sorry for the slight derail.

Bumped into the video below on Youtube and though of this thread.

Rider #112

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0tMhlhnga0

Great thread this!

Off to Manchester next week for my first taste of the velodrome, hopefully i won't be tasting it literally!
Does anybody have any advice that may help me to get accredited? What exactly do I have to do?
Should I be doing anything specific this week? Smashing it? Taking it easy?

Sorry for the slight derail.

Well you won't get accreditation from a taster session, just:

• listen to the coach
  
• always look before you move anywhere
  
• don't stop pedaling
  
• don't "kick back" hard (especially in the banking)
  
• remember to keep pedal pressure up when riding in the banking
  
• don't ride too slowly in the banking
  
  

as for other things it's best to arrive in good shape so rest is likely to put you in that area rather than "smashing it" ! and turning up knackered.

advice for your first time

Interesting blog that, RPM. Posed to be going next thursday and it's my birthday wednesday, I may not be in tip top shape as I started celebrating yesterday..

Thanks for the advice.

Great thread this!

Off to Manchester next week for my first taste of the velodrome, hopefully i won't be tasting it literally!
Does anybody have any advice that may help me to get accredited? What exactly do I have to do?
Should I be doing anything specific this week? Smashing it? Taking it easy?

Sorry for the slight derail.

Are you just doing a taster session (5-6pm? - I'll be on SQT training session afterwards)? The taster is only an hour, maybe riding for just over half-an-hour if its your first time, so you don't have to specifically train for it. You need to progress through blue & pink slips to get accrediation at Manchester - first test is to smoothly ride on the stayers line for 20-minutes and be able to draft & swap with another rider, but you'll need to a handful of tasters under belt as well. Manchester do do one-day accrediation courses (usually over the summer?) but they aren't well publicised.

Bumped into the video below on Youtube and though of this thread.

Perfect example! The rider that started it, was that an illegal move as he pulled out of the sprinters lane?

Nope. It's the rider at the front that isn't allowed to come out of the red. The rider that caused the crash didn't check his shoulder and moved too fast for the other rider to avoid contact.

Great example of what can happen if you don't check before making a move in a bunch. The whole house came down by the looks of it!

Are you just doing a taster session (5-6pm? - I'll be on SQT training session afterwards)? The taster is only an hour, maybe riding for just over half-an-hour if its your first time, so you don't have to specifically train for it. You need to progress through blue & pink slips to get accrediation at Manchester - first test is to smoothly ride on the stayers line for 20-minutes and be able to draft & swap with another rider, but you'll need to a handful of tasters under belt as well. Manchester do do one-day accrediation courses (usually over the summer?) but they aren't well publicised.

Indeed, was thinking maybe the earlier session, 12-1? as I am taking the mrs along with the promise of some sort of shopping and would like to do the cycling before losing the will to live..

The one day courses sound interesting, may have to enquire..

Can you pay on the door or do you have to book?

Ta

Can you pay on the door or do you have to book?

Have you not booked yet? The taster sessions do fill up well in advance. Get to it - chop, chop! :)

Have you not booked yet? The taster sessions do fill up well in advance. Get to it - chop, chop! :)

What other sessions do you do there graham

Oops, hope that's not a schoolboy error on my part, was going to call tomorrow anyhoo, might just do it slightly earlier than I was planning ;)

What other sessions do you do there graham

Thursday night SQT "B" and the invite-only :) monthly I-Team sessions. Planning to make my first foray for a year into racing on Monday, and have put my name down for Derny School on Good Friday.

Yep agree..I was there in Melbourne that night track centre and the carnage was huge (and ive seen a few big uns)...
Guys dont get too hung up about this stuff, just be polite with the riders around you and check.
TBH most crashes you see are wheel touches from overlaps of rider over reacting to back pedalling or being switched (rider in front swinging up)...

Not forgetting that at full speed you are less likely to crash than at medium speed..

The more relaxed (by experience) you become the more effective you will be, so get on the track and make the mistakes in training and the racing will be great.

Last year at Halesowen league i rode as a "policeman" in the group giving feedback during and after the race..Gave them some good lead outs and kept it quite safe...worked well..
V.

Great example of what can happen if you don't check before making a move in a bunch. The whole house came down by the looks of it!