Taster at Manchester Velodrome

On the 22nd I am going to be going to the velodrome for my first go at track cycling. From there I will be working towards my accreditation.
I have a few questions to those of you who have done this course before.

Gear questions:
What does the Dolan Track bike look like?
What do the pedals/shoes look like?
How does the gearing work?
Can you use any helmet when you have taken the visor off it?

General questions:
Are you helped on/off the bike?
What skills are you required to learn?
Is it hard to get accredited?
Are the other 14 cyclists any good?

let me know how you get on.

A group of work colleagues are booked for mid February.

Can't wait!

Thanks Fossy, I understand that you go at quite a brisk pace (30mph) because anything below 18 and you will fall on the banking. This should be relatively easy indoors but do you suggest that I build up my fitness before hand? And get used to riding at they speed on the roads?
(I can ride at 18/20 on the roads easily without a headwind, but should I up my game and try for 25/30 on the flats?)
I have seen a vid on Youtube and the professionals easily get up to 40 (which I wont do).

And I will keep you updated Paul_L.

THIS!!

You can hire a speedo (£2! OMG).

Got the technique though. Hard into the corner, maintain speed, ease off out of the corner and on the flats.

You can hire a speedo???? Wouldn't have thought they would allow it as they don't want anything that could potentially fall off and/or distract a rider and cause a pile-up.

Great fun on the boards, you'll have a blast. As for accreditation... unsure but I *think* you need to get in an organised group so you can do the skills required. Unless they put you in that group then you won't be getting accredited on your first go (may be talking complete ar$e though... as has been known in the past!).

I think, but am not sure, that they fit a transponder (transmitter? transducer? transvestite? trans something or other anyway) to the bike and time you via their equipment.

Yes Colly, a transponder is what I read on the website. It would be good if we could use something like that on the roads to map our rides (a smaller and easier to use version of GPS).

Matthew, if you enjoy your track session keep your eyes open for sessions organised from here. I sorted a couple out last year and will probably be arranging one again soon.

Thanks Colly, I will keep an eye out.

Yes please Colly!

Check out You Tube, there's a guy on there bunny hopping up the banking, without any forward motion. You don't need to achieve those speeds to stay on the banking, I'll be amazed ( unless you're very fit and strong ) if anyone in the group achieves 30mph

What an amazing evening! Took me a little while to get used to the 'keep pedalling' thing, but really took to the track and the bike well.

The majority of the other cyclists were just pootling around or not of a very high fitness level, so I was soaring around the track overtaking everyone. I was even going up to the top of the banking!

This session hasnt gone towards my accreditation but the 2 hours sesh in February will.

In all I really enjoyed the track and apart from getting very hot, felt comfortable going up to the top and picking up speed with the knowledge of not having any brakes. Brill day!

Did you get a thrown out of the seat moment? scared the crap out of me the first time it happened to me.

Isn't it odd how just going round and round on a bike can be so much fun. See you in Feb.

Yes, the problem is when someone is in front of you though!

A guy did fall off near the end though, had to avoid the bike. He seemed okay but he ruined the track (scratches and marks). I believe he went into the back of someone. Good to see he was fine after.

A few times yes. I attempted to stand on the pedals and accellerate hard but I felt the front wheel slipping so remained in the seat. I dont think the track is designed for someone of my weight to accellerate hard.

I have got the technique of slowing down though, resist the pedalling a little.