Pink Kona
06-27-2005, 01:05 PM
This year has been filled with many firsts - road races, crits, time trials, and track racing. On Friday night I was able to participate in my first ever track race and had a blast. I'm lucky enough to live in an area where we have a velodrome and there's enough women involved that we can actually race one another. It's gaining popularity - but nothing in comparison to other countries in the world.
Anyhow - we did a 10 lap scratch race and I was positioned near the rail during the attack. I didn't leave myself an escape route so when the final sprint came I was only able to get 4th. Luckily you have multiple races in one night - so if one of them doesn't go as planned you have more races you can focus on. The next race was a 10 lap snowball. I had a break away with Taylor, this 15 year old experienced track racer - and we nabbed the first 5 laps of points. Then I was overcome by two other riders and managed to get some points- placing 3rd. The last race was a 4x4 points race - with a couple of premes intermixed. I went for the premes instead of the points and ended up placing 4th in overall omnium points. It was a great experience and I'm already looking forward to this Friday's event.
If you have a velodrome near you - I highly recommend going. The community is fantastic and atmosphere is great. Everyone is so supportive and even the spectators are encouraging!
Anyhow - we did a 10 lap scratch race and I was positioned near the rail during the attack. I didn't leave myself an escape route so when the final sprint came I was only able to get 4th. Luckily you have multiple races in one night - so if one of them doesn't go as planned you have more races you can focus on. The next race was a 10 lap snowball. I had a break away with Taylor, this 15 year old experienced track racer - and we nabbed the first 5 laps of points. Then I was overcome by two other riders and managed to get some points- placing 3rd. The last race was a 4x4 points race - with a couple of premes intermixed. I went for the premes instead of the points and ended up placing 4th in overall omnium points. It was a great experience and I'm already looking forward to this Friday's event.
If you have a velodrome near you - I highly recommend going. The community is fantastic and atmosphere is great. Everyone is so supportive and even the spectators are encouraging!