Friday Nights at the Velodrome

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!

Congrats! It sounds like you are having a great time. We have a velodrome here and we love going to the races. I'm too chicken to try it myself...I rather like having brakes on my bike!! I love the roar of the track as the bikes go by.

Steph

You should try it Steph - it's a blast. All it takes is one afternoon of getting used to the fixed gear and you'll be hooked. Hopefully I will get to come race at your local velodrome in the future!

Were you in Frisco, TX by any chance? We have one out there... so... maybe?

Yea... no brakes? NO WAY! I need brakes. Not to mention I FEAR hitting ground, because someone has wrecked in front of me. If I am going to wreck me and my bike... it will be because I was an idiot! HA!

But, sounds like you had tons of fun... and that rocks! Maybe I will go watch at our Velodrome sometime! But no riding for me!

Look at it this way - no one else has brakes either which actually makes it safer than road riding. Plus you don't have to deal with motorist or other moving objects. :) Riding a fixed gear is really easy - you will be instantly reminded that you can't stop pedaling! Or you will only stop pedaling once. You should try it - it's a lot of fun!