Being relatively new to cycling, the wheelsucker is always interested in trying some new aspect; perhaps he is still hoping to find some cycling discipline he is really good at.
When he found the "Guys on Track!! An Introductory Track Clinic for Men!!" on bikereg, he checked with his coach (who thought it was a great idea), and signed up.
The track is in Trexlertown (known as T-town) PA, about three hours drive from Annapolis. While organizers were providing track bikes, riders could bring their own, so the wheelsucker took handlebars and brakes of his Cannondale capo fixie and mounted narrow Easton Track bars he had picked up and some American Classic track 420 wheels. It turns out the track has some older track bikes and some brand new Fujis that look really nice.
For a group of riders with little or no track experience, the equipment riders showed up with was impressive. It ranged from a nice budget www.bikesdirect.com bike to high end carbon track bikes with deep dish track tubulars. Riders themselves ranged from those who clearly had a little track experience and strong road racers, to those who had never raced a bike and had never ridden a fixed gear.
The clinic was led by track legend Marty Nothstein (executive director of the track), supported by two very experienced locals who had been riding at T-town since it opened (and who helped train Marty), and a younger Zimbabwean track Olympian. They divided the approximately 30 riders into two groups, with those with some track or some fixie experience in one, and those without any track and limited or no fixie experience in the other. A four hour clinic resulted in a little over 1:30 time on the bike, on the track.
After some basic points about track riding and them an introduction to the track drill on the track (this was essentially a warmup), we moved on to "island hopping" (jumping on the whistle and bridging up to a group half a lap ahead), a 5 lap race, a "last out" race, and a "first out" race. The wheelsucker picked up some 3rds and 4ths in his group, but the races were all short and emphasized sprinting, not the wheelsucker's long suit so far.
But apart from being fun, the wheelsucker thinks riding the track would give him more leg speed, make him a better sprinter, and better at jumping, bridging, and more comfortable in a crowded peleton; his coach agrees.
The wheelsucker was running a 48x15, which is about 86 gear inches; this was fine for the drills, but too low for racing. His fixie also has 172.5mm cranks, and the track guys were strongly encouraging him to go to 167mm if he wanted to continue.
The wheelsucker could see himself going up for some Saturday racing if there are no MABRA 50+ races that weekend. If one goes up Friday after work, one can watch the pros race Friday night, first. And perhaps the best part is that the clinic is enough to upgrade from a 5 to a 4 on the track! The wheelsucker has already requested the upgrade, and his next e-mail will be to inquire about 167mm track cranks.
Several more "introduction to the track" sessions are planned. The wheelsucker highly recommends these for those interested in trying the track.
Areas covered during the five hours were:
o Track etiquitte (how to get on the track and conduct oneself so as to not endanger oneself or others, and not be yelled at)
o The importance of communication while riding, and some key words (stick and stay, rail)
o Riding the track (don't overlap in a paceline, but overlap to the right/up if you do)
o How to get you, your bike and everything you will need to the infield. What you will need.
o How to warmup, and how to recover between efforts
o The sprinter's line and what not to do in the final 200 meters.
o And much much more ...
