Cycle Speedway Season

Training for the canning town cycle speedway season kicked off last Sunday. There is training or racing every Sunday from now, throughout the season from about 12pm and training every Wednesday from 7.45pm.

check the canning town site for more info:

http://www.freewebs.com/eastlondoncyclespeedway/index.htm

I popped down last weekend and they are well keen for folk to come along and have a go. It's a bit like kirn racing without breaks, you have to just go for it... well good.

i've always been a little curious about speedway - might try & come along - could just about fit it in before east drinks, any east people interested?

can you ride the track fixed? or does it have to be freewheel.. looks awesome!

the bikes have a few rules which have to be complied with (free wheels, plastic pedals, width of bars, no quick release, and a few others) but I think they have a couple of club bikes for use. The size is of limited importance as you are hanging off the thing most of the time anyway.

bummer - i'd come along, but can't tonight - maybe sunday or next week. Is anyone going?

Flock me!

I'll challenge anyone to suggest a more energy intensive cycle sport. I thought my lungs were going to pop out of my nose after a few sprints.....

I also stand corrected, they didn't seem to have spare bikes when I was there, so I borrowed one for a few laps. after a few goes I've now went and ordered one from Archie Wilkinson....£200 brand new, fully set up.... I don't think you could ask for a better deal than that for a bike!

Hmm, I was interested, but not having any hire bikes is offputting. Even if I was keen enough to stump up the £200 for a bike, I wouldn't want to ride the contraption to and from the track (no car).

Are there any tracks that have hire bike? I though there was one in Hackney somewhere?

Hmm, I was interested, but not having any hire bikes is offputting. Even if I was keen enough to stump up the £200 for a bike, I wouldn't want to ride the contraption to and from the track (no car).

Are there any tracks that have hire bike? I though there was one in Hackney somewhere?

No, not any more. You may be thinking of the recent Hackney Gazette feature (it's somewhere on the forum in scanned form) about post-war cycle speedway tracks. The one in Canning Town isn't far, though. I think right now there's no plan to have a speedway track in the Olympic Legacy Velopark. Hm. Might be interesting. I can remember it being mentioned in the first plans for the Velopark five or six years ago.

I've got a speedway bike if someone wants to borrow it to have a go? - its going towards the rollapaluza grass polo bike collection in herne hill eventually, but if it helps you decide whether speedway is for you? You'll need a new set of bars though.

Collection from HH, with a deposit if I don't know you!

the greenway takes you right there from Vitoria park... so no road riding.

There is always someone looking to take a break that'll let you have a go on the bikes, although you can just set a track bike up with 26" wheels. It's not ideal, but it'll let you have a ride.

The main rules that you have to obey are:

Plastic pedals
rear facing bars
no quick release
no breaks
helmet

Cheers for the info guys. I'm pretty keen to give it a go.

Snowy, the offer sounds good but it'll be a hassle riding the thing over there, attaching brake/s and on whatever gear they run, (what is it, high 50s?).

@eke, are you a certified speedway regular now? I might be busy this Sunday, but I'd fancy it next, if you're going and can "plug me in" as it were...
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yeup, started going on a regular basis now. I need to correct myself as they do indeed have club bikes that folk can have a go on.

The equipment is pretty basic, and you can set a track frame up with it pretty quickly, you just need some narrow nobblies on 26" wheels as the big hurdle to things.
Come on down of a Sunday at 12 to have a watch and see if you fancy a go....

Racing this Sunday March 22nd from 3.00pm.

http://www.freewebs.com/eastlondoncyclespeedway/index.htm

A mate of mine races speedway down in Bournemouth. Meant to be pretty good at it.

i was just thinking it looks like hella fun. so i thought i'd check it out (and bump this thread).

Hey I need a 26.7 seat post to get this old beast going, can anyone help with that, £offers its a strange sized frame, cant wait to get hacking on it though, you may like to check this out too:
http://www.poolecsc.com/id12.html
being a numpty, didnt realise they dont make 26.7, must be 26.6.on it.....

http://www.poolecsc.com/id12.html

My mates on there Chris Shylock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fuDHr56IdM

looks fun

looks fun as long as you are first into the first corner

otherwise you end up with a facefull of dirt

looks like a lot of fun, only £200 for a new basic bike too, I might give this a bash

archie wilkinson frames ftw ! check out previous threads on archie wilkinson some good stuff there

been at speedway again this morning, ace fun, loads of stacks and a heart pump like no other!
@Diable. I chatted to Chris today, have met him before but just put 2=2 together, nice bloke, didnt get to ride with him cos he turned up late today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzY4oIBBc2U

I've got some speedway bits (tyres, bars, maybe forks and rear hub) that'll be available for next to nowt if the winner of my speedway to fixie conversion wot's on ebay doesn't want them...

I am so getting one done!!! Can't wait.
Just found out about the East London CSC

Looks so much fun... : D