Old track bike / new rider advice

My fixed runaround bike is a late 70s-ish track bike that's pretty close to being 'track legal' from what I can tell from the Newport velodrome site.

I've done a couple of taster sessions on their Dolans, really enjoyed myself, and I'm wondering if it's worth having a pop with my own bike.

Just wondered how much of a faff it would be. It would be purely for sentimental reasons as I'm sure their bikes are stiffer, faster etc
Also I'm not sure what to expect in terms of handling on the track, considering I'm a track novice - will I suddenly be experiencing confidence-shattering changes in feel?

pretty close to being 'track legal'

Kind of binary here, either it is or it isn't. Where do you think you're falling short?

I've just taken my Bob Jackson to LVV for the first time. Previously I've used the Condor hire bikes. So it was steel instead of Alu, slacker geo, more rake, track drops instead of compact road bars... Obviously felt totally different but because it was MY bike I was more comfortable and could throw it round the banking better.

As for the faff, it's mostly making the bike spotless. Cleaning all around the lugs, immaculate drive train and tyres - they obviously don't want people leaving crap on their track.

You'll also need to be sure the BB is at adequate height. Older track bikes tend to have been built with lower BB shells to be ridden on shallow tracks not steep modern banking.

What I mean by 'almost' is I'd need to chop and file the rear axles, change pedals, take off the front brake and then swap out the chainring.

Good point re. Cleaning. I keep it pretty well maintained and clean so not a problem.

What about insurance? Is that something I'd need to consider?

Ah ok. I presume they would have a min BB height - I'll try and find out. What's the easiest way to check mine, out of interest? Bit of string between drop outs then measure vertically from that?

Edit: unlazied myself and asked the internet about BB heights. Mine is about 11.5" from the floor which meets newports 11" minimum. They say 165mm cranks though, and I've got 170mm. Would that make a huge difference to the minimum necessary BB height?

Mine is about 11.5" from the floor which meets newports 11" minimum. They say 165mm cranks though, and I've got 170mm. Would that make a huge difference to the minimum necessary BB height?

Bb height is centre of the bb axle to the ground - 165mm cranks for the lower bb limit of 11 inches. You're >12mm clear of that so I'd expect you can add that to your crank length.

Update for those who care: I did the last track session on a hire bike and spent the whole time wishing i'd manned up and brought mine.

I've got another in december and i've spoken to Newport Velodrome and have convinced myself to take the old girl then. I seem to remember the hire bikes being 16x50. My bike is currently 16x44 and has 130 bcd cranks, slightly limiting my track chainring choice, so I'm putting a 14t sprocket on it instead to achieve roughly the same GI. Can't see any immediate drawbacks to that - am I missing something?

I don'tthink it wouldbe the end of the world if you were undergeared for one session. I would suggest you ready your bike as previously suggested, try it on thetrack and if you like it then go about spending money on changing the gearing.

I wanted to have the same gearing as I’ve been using on the sessions I’ve done. Which I think is about 82gi. As I can just change the sprocket for about a tenner, I thought I may as well do that. I’m not sure what difference the crank length would make though - think they’re 165 on hire bikes and mine are 170.

Of course they may just take one look at my ratty old thing and tell me to hire a bike instead :-)

1 Attachment

That's a lovely looking bike. You really need to check in advance whether they'll allow those 170's though...I really like your bike

Thanks! It’s a Belgian Superia (ishiwata 022 tubing). Probably late 70s. The paints not as good as it looks in photos :-)

As it’s not going to cost much to sort they gearing, I’ll probably just take it along and if they don’t let me use it I can just hire a bike instead.

Best of luck! I really hope you get an opportunity to take the old girl around the track. Report back if you do, it will be useful for others to know there's a bit of flexibility in the regs.

Cranks will (probably) be fine.

Those pedals won't.

Pedals are what I use on it normally. I’ve got some spd-sl pedals that will go in it for track duties (also means I can use my better shoes).

Think I need to remember tweak saddle height and bar angle a little too. It’s set up for a relatively comfy position as it’s my commuter bike, but I think I’ll want it a bit more aggressive and more suited to riding in the drops.