Next years new cycle sport

Here is the track:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=Prince+Regent+Lane&sll=54.162434,-3.647461&sspn=14.079907,36.210938&ie=UTF8&ll=51.515797,0.031347&spn=0.000456,0.001105&t=h&z=20&om=1

trac star

I predicted this would become huge about a year ago. It hasn't happened yet. Bugger.

They would all be perfect beaters.

with shorter cranks, fixed wheel and narrow bars, you've got a perfect polo bike right there..maybe shorter chainstays.

It's not exactly huge, but loke polo it has been continuous in the UK for years:

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/cys/cs_latest_news.asp

potential central london track would be the running track on the north of Regents park near the zoo, the straights are a bit long, but it's got a loose surface and tight bends....

don't forget speedway is all about a fast gate, then coasting those corners foot out.

fixed bikes are shit for cornering on the flat, that's what velodromes are for

feck, knew i should have bought that pair of spinergy's off hippy. now i know why glow is secretly stocking up on 650c wheels.... feck!!!

Haahaahahha:

does this sport involve a lot of crashing or is it just that they've taken a lot of photos? :)

^^^^ wondered what aidan had been doing on the weekends

I remember reading anth's report about cycle speedway in citycycling (he posts here now and then.. let's see if typing his nick makes him appear..)

Below is an excerpt, full article can be found here: http://www.citycycling.co.uk/issue11/issue11page6.html

*"It was a sunny Sunday afternoon and I was finally taking part in my first cycle speedway training session of the season with Edinburgh Falcons. Needless to say, I'm a total novice in this sport, the brakeless, singlespeed, compact bikes still something of a mystery to me.

The racing line was obvious throughout with everyone, including myself, avoiding the loose and rough outside line. With 8 team members there a quick 'four versus four' competition was drawn up. And this is where I should have taken my warning. In my second race I had snuck into 2nd place when I heard a coming together.

One rider, Paul Kelly, was clearly badly hurt and after settling him down on a park bench he was taken to hospital. The track was clearly taking no prisoners today and the racing was abandoned. Instead, with four of us out on bikes, we decided to do a few fast laps in line. A high speed follow-my-leader. The aim was to start slowly and crank things up to a couple of laps at full speed.

The signal went up for the start of these fast laps and I started to hammer on the pedals. Everyone in front of me was a better rider and, conscious that I wanted to stay on the tail coming out of the first bend, I got back on the gas sooner than I would normally. And it went all wrong. My inside pedal hit the ground and I performed a textbook highside dismount, propelled over the bike, arcing back down towards the track.

Here instinct took over and I shot a hand out to break my fall before tumbling over with my legs wrapped in the bike. And as soon as I'd stopped I knew something was wrong. My arm felt funny, clicking, with bits moving. I shook it, grimaced, and sat down lightheaded. All of this happened as Paul, later diagnosed with a broken collarbone, was being driven out of the park.

With water and a few minutes supine on the grass I had regained enough lucidity to know I wouldn't be able to drive myself anywhere so instead a call had to be made to my understanding and understandably annoyed girlfriend who whisked me to A&E."*

So yes, "coming togethers" do happen regularly then. Definitely the nicest way of saying "big fuck off crash" I've ever heard.

one of the teams ta the polo tournament were using cycle speedway bikes

did they have a coming together?

there are alway's lots of 'coming togethers' at polo - speedway bikes or not

Makes a crash sound like an inviting hug.

At the polo tournament the Kent crew were riding speedway bikes - lots fun to ride - watch that toe overlap though! One went on ebay a month or two ago for 70£

Looks like it would be real fun to try it!

I emailed Archie Wilkinson in Sep about the £99 frame

RE: Basic frame and fork specs

Hello Steve,

Frame is Cro-Mo steel with 110mm rear track end and 100mm front.

Straight bladed forks and 11 1/8” bottom bracket height with 26 x 1 3/8 wheels.

Standard single speed bottom bracket with approx. 110mm axle.

Frame size is 21” and frame and fork are both drilled for brakes. £99 frame and fork is only available in black colour at the moment.

Regards

Heck, if there isn't a dirt track anywhere we could try grass track racing instead... looks fun - used to be quite common in the old days, but died out a bit.

http://www.hertford.net/events/grass_track_racing.asp

i was trying to contact archie wilkinson on saturday no answer
looks like these bikes could double as polo bikes nicely unraked forks cheapish may purchase one of thir frame / fork combo's
check out their website
http://www.archie-wilkinson.co.uk

are those miche primato cranks at 35 squid each ?

set of wheels with sealed hubs £60

aye seems cheap don't it
lets just hope loads of us don't phone up and he increases his prices

SUPPLY / DEMAND CO-EFFICIENT

gold rush!

177.5mm cranks, might be a touch on the long side.