Gear Size for Newport Track

Hey Everyone,

I'm off to Newport this Saturday for the first time in a few years.

Does anyone have recommendations for gear sizes? My standard gear at Herne Hill is a 48-14, but that may be a bit large for Newport. I have 15 and 16T sprockets and a 49T chainring which I'll bring along, but wondered if anyone had recommendations. I think the last time I rode there I was on a 48-15.

Thanks!

W.A.S.T.E.!

Sorry. Entirely unrelated to your post; your avatar got me excited.

Still awaiting, unfortunately. Tristero's so quiet, though, we might not know when it arrives.

Love that book, should give it a re-read.

48x14 is big for HH? I run 47x14 most of the time at HH. 49x15 if I want to spin a bit.

You can generally run about 2gi bigger indoor compared to HH (second hand knowledge). I found 47x14 still worked nicely for general training.

Are you sure about that Guy?

Depends on the training, for endurance stuff in bunches with intermediate riders you'll find pushing a big gear quite fatiguing on the boards, try 86"-88" or so. For more quality training or sprints then you'll already know what gears to take ;) Or ask the coach prior to the session if you don;t know the other riders or the schedule.

I have not ridden Newport for a while but 48x15 was what I used last time and that seemed ok, that banking is quite steep to grind up slowly in a gear that is to big

Cool, thanks for the recommendations. I'll probably put on the 15T and bring along some spare sprockets in case it feels small.

Are you sure about that Guy?

Depends on the training, for endurance stuff in bunches with intermediate riders you'll find pushing a big gear quite fatiguing on the boards, try 86"-88" or so. For more quality training or sprints then you'll already know what gears to take ;) Or ask the coach prior to the session if you don;t know the other riders or the schedule.

I like 47x14 at HH I like 47x14 at newport. I guess I just like 47x14, but it felt lighter at Newport compared to HH.
Last time I tried 48x14 at newport and it felt kind of like 47x14 at HH. That was all I based it on. 49x15 feels fine for me on newport too. So I guess the short answer is, Ignore me.

Love that book, should give it a re-read.

If you want a mind-fuck, check out V, his first. Still can't quite get over it.

anything between 85 - 90 would be safe at Newport for general training session, or whatever it works for more specific stuff...
I would do warm up on 82/84, and change to 90/92.