NicoleThere is no doubt I like to learn new things. And to do that we sometimes we have to get out of our comfort zones. I live less than two miles from the US Olympic Training Center Velodrome, so it makes sense to expand my riding knowledge, that I learn how to ride the track. Even though I don’t plan to be a track racer, as a coach, it’s a pretty good idea for me to at least be able to experience it. Living so close to a track, it’s always been on my list of “things I should learn” when it comes to cycling. (To be clear, I already had an understanding of track racing, I’d just never actually ridden on the track myself.)
In order to ride at the velodrome, you have to take a Learn the Velodrome class. A local bike shop (Ride Co Bike Shop) was sponsoring a reduced-cost class, I saw a facebook post about it, and I just went ahead and signed up. Let’s do this! RideCo does a lot of work with BMX riders, and BMX riders are sometimes recruited for track teams, as they can really turn the pedals over. So there were a good number of BMX kids in this class in addition to people like me, or people who already ride who wanted some additional instruction.
When I registered, I saw that a friend of mine, Marisa, had registered as well. It always helps to have someone you know in a new situation!
My First Lesson
They loaned us track bikes, all we had to bring was our pedals, shoes, and of course a helmet. I got my bike set up and eyeballed the seat height. I went to give it a test spin to make sure it was reasonable. Not only was this the first time for me on a track, it was my first time on a fixed gear bike. There are no brakes on these bikes and no coasting. I quickly realized I had no idea how to stop. I wasn’t going very fast. I was still in the center area, not on the track itself, and had to recruit the assistance of one of the guys there to give me a quick lesson. Fortunately it didn’t take too long for me to get the hang of how to slow the bike down by applying backwards pressure while still pedaling forwards. Phew!
The Training
The class split into groups and we learned the basic rules and etiquette of the track and the meaning of the different color lines on it. They eased us from riding around the inner area, to getting us on the track apron, and then to the track itself. We slowly made our way higher. Riding on a banked wall that steep was not anything I’ve ever done before, and I’ll admit a bit scary. But the more I went around, the more I was able to relax, the better feel I had for the bike, and the more comfortable I became. Geoffrey, the instructor of our group, had the right mix of encouragement and teasing to keep me going. Keep pedaling, look ahead, and have faith in the laws of physics.
For the last hour of the course we had mock scratch, points, and match sprint races. While I still wasn’t riding “fast,” by this time I was a little more comfortable riding a little faster each time. Marisa and I paired up for the match sprint, and we “raced.” While a little nervous to start being in a new environment, I had a really good time. We had a lot to learn, and still do. But we are both really glad we signed up for the class.
What are you going to do this next year that perhaps you’ve been putting off because of lack of confidence? Sign up for a class, or grab a good coach/instructor, because it’s usually not as scary as it seems once you’re there. Let me know in the comments below!
(All photos except the paceline courtesy Dan Dombeck.)
Nicole
