650C vs 700c gearing

[OakLeaf]

I think maybe a cadence sensor might be a good idea, either that or just use a watch or computer with a seconds display, and count your cadence when you're in a safe, flat place and spinning at a cadence that you feel is "out of control." Everyone has a "powerband," a most efficient cadence range, that's different for everyone - but on the other hand, learning to pedal in circles rather than squares, is a neuromuscular skill that can improve with practice. It's one thing if you feel like you're out of control at 130 rpm ... a completely different thing if it's 70. Especially since you're feeling out of control in your big ring on the flats - and on a track bike, which are typically geared pretty tall - that suggests that you're pedaling inefficiently at a rather low cadence.

Make sure your bike is properly fit - that can make a huge difference - and it's certainly possible that even the 165 mm cranks are too long for you, which is a dilemma since it's very hard to find anything shorter. Me personally, I can't ride anything longer than 165 without causing both knee and Achilles tendon injury, besides it being much harder to spin, and I'm on a 50 cm frame (though that's a little bit large for me, and my tibia/femur ratio means I tend to need shorter cranks than most people with my overall inseam length).

Try looking up drills and form cues for pedaling efficiency. A couple of easy things to do are just simply visualizing pedaling in circles at a comfortable cadence, try to sense and eliminate any hitches or "angles" in your pedal stroke. Downhill intervals are a great drill - get to the top of the hill without working too hard, then coast down while pedaling in whatever gear allows you to just keep tension on the chain. A cadence sensor would also let you do cadence intervals on the flats - just spin up as high as you can without bouncing for one minute, then rest, then repeat.

Equipment issues are important, but don't overlook the neuromuscular issues.