Cycling in Sydney Australia

A Simple Race

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/08/03/sports/olympics/olymp...

An analysis of tactics for sprint races. Pretty awesome video and explanations.

Tags: fixie, sprint, velodrome

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Permalink Reply by timothy.clifford on August 9, 2012 at 1:33pm

Can I borrow your bike to practise these tactics at Tempe one evening? Pretty please?

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Permalink Reply by PeterT on August 9, 2012 at 4:48pm

I've read the tactics and it doesn't indicate you need a nice shiny carbon one.... not that I'm saying you shouldn't get one! But if you don't, there are larger loan bikes at the Tempe velodrome ... I'm sure someone can help you out there.

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Permalink Reply by timothy.clifford on August 9, 2012 at 4:50pm

But I wanted to try a nice shiny carbon one.

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Permalink Reply by PeterT on August 9, 2012 at 5:40pm

Actually, I've looked at it and realised I don't know the full rules.

From what I understood, at the start, the lead rider (lower rider) must ride at at least walking pace for 1/2 a lap. ie no track stands allowed. - I had thought I heard that the lead rider could not be over taken before this time, but apparently that is incorrect.

Once this half lap is over, the manoeuvring can begin, and the idea (from what I gather) is either:

1/ catch the other rider off guard and leave them far behind you so they can't catch up.

2/ force other rider(s) to start the sprint so you can draft them and come around at the end.

Also track stands are now apparently limited to 30sec and 2 at the most (per rider?) , before you are disqualified.

Race is the last 200m, (and timed) if you claim the sprinters lane, no one can push their way in unless they are 1 bike length ahead, likewise you cannot leave it ( I think unless you are more than 1 bike length ahead, but why would you want to? )

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Permalink Reply by timothy.clifford on August 9, 2012 at 8:20pm

I thought track stands had been outlawed as well. At least from what I heard from watching the worlds in Melbourne this year.

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Permalink Reply by PeterT on August 9, 2012 at 10:40pm

Pretty mystical / word of mouth sport, this track cycling eh?

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Permalink Reply by baa baa on August 10, 2012 at 10:13am

What I don't understand is why when you are at top speed racing towards the line in the keirin, the leading pack must first bow to the line before they cross it?