Taster at Manchester Velodrome

TBH I don't find that a problem. Being slow and all.

This is something I've always wanted to do. It sounds so much fun.

Come along: http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/manchester-velodrome-sat-18th-feb.93273/

We could do with upping the numbers.

Let me know on the thread and I'll bung your name down.

Matt,

I was on the SQT after the taster session! As I was waiting I heard a clatter on the far bend and saw a rider slide a bit! And your right he scratched the track a bit!

Glad you enjoyed it! Working through your slips can be fun...

I would recommend you book all your sessions in advance at this time of year, otherwise you will get a slip then have to wait over a month for your next session and you can easily loose the confidence on the track within a couple of weeks! I ride every Saturday or Sunday and can tell when I miss a week.

Once you are accredited getting on the track is easy for the SQTs hardly need to book but I found getting through the slips took forever because of most sessions being full months in advance.

Hope that helps and see you on the track

Scott

Thanks SBaxter

I am going to try and go on as many forum rides as possible as they are 2 hours long. If you had noticed me then we could have had a little chat. The riders after my group looked quite feirce and they all had thousand pound bikes!

Don't be fooled by the bikes! All the gear and no idea can be said for some

The forum rides will be great for getting used to the track! 2 hrs is a great workout as well, you can cover a fair few miles without the worry of wind or rain!

I am there most Sunday sqt's so if your there give me a shout, I am the tall skinny guy with big spikey hair normally wearing nalani gear.

Just trying to think who u are as I do alot of the sunday SQT's although I don't think I'd see much of your hair.

+1
Normally I wouldnt be looking for someones hair. But for you I will make an acception.

Great stuff. I can't wait for my taster session now on Thursday 16th Feb. Shame about the CC session on the 18th. Can't see me getting a pass out to enter Lancashire so soon after an enemy mission two days before

So, how's the session works if you don't mind me asking. What do they get you doing and is there any competition or TT towards the end or are you basically left to cycle round as fast / slow as many times as you like?

Paul,

Taster session set up is as you say you get given a bit of coaching at the beginning to get up onto the boards and then you are pretty much left to it to get used to the track..

Hope you enjoy!

Yes Paul,

The session are basically as Baxter said. You are told how to go on the different coloured lines and at what speed you should be doing. They normally yell at you when you need to move up a board. From then on they will keep an eye on everyone and ensure noone gets into any trouble or does anything they shouldnt (like undertake like me). It is entirely up to you.

After I had a little chat with the coach, he told me to try doing a few laps just using the outside of the track and going up to the very top. I was already doing this but only to pass people.

Just have a fun time and remember that it is a taster and you dont have to go for the accreditation straight away.

Matthew who was your coach on the day by the way

Oh god, now your asking!

It was the old guy with a little bit of hair. I believe he might have had a back problem as well. He wears glasses.

He was very helpful though and pointed me in the direction I should go to get my accreditation.

I did my first taster session last night.

A truely fantastic experience and have been buzzing ever since. I went with a group from work and we had the full session to ourselves. All of us are cyclists and i think we all tried to out do each other.

The first couple of laps when you go between the lowest two lines was a bit nerve racking and there was a couple of times i had to bail out and drop to the light blue section. But within a few laps that was sorted and by the end of the session i was perfectly comfortable riding above the adverts. A few times tried to ride right at the top but kept losing momentum going up the climb and had to drop back down to pick up speed.This was quite into the session so i was begining to get knackered by then.

Gonna book up again soon and this time try and get my blue slip.

Really, just cannot recommend this highly enough and i cannot wait to do it again.

We hopefully have a work trip going next month, or in May. Never ridden a fixie before so that will be interesting!

There will be a real mix when we go - a couple of regular cyclists, including one who does some amateur racing, some who don't cycle but do keep fit in other ways, and some who don't really do much! Will be interesting....

I'm confident enough about my general fitness levels, but interested to see how I adjust to not having a freewheel... or brakes...

TBH it isnt much different to a road bike, you just have to plan ahead so that you are not caught out (by an emergency stop) and remember to not freewheel.
You will get used to it over the 1 or 2 hours you have riding.

Damn it, Im gutted I missed the ride with you lot!
I'll be booking a taster then Im going to go on and do the accreditation. I cant wait!
Im trying to convince my friends to come along, Im a bit apprehensive about doing it my self. I get the feeling I'll either take to it very well or be completely crap.
If its the later, someone to share the embarrassment with would be ideal

I'll keep a sharper eye out for group rides on here next time.

Still having a problem finding a velodrome in NE... any clues?
Just found list on Wikipedia... none in NE apart from...

"Gypsies Green Velodrome in South Shields (semi-derelict)"

Last known picture but not clear if it's still there... talk of it being sold for a hotel site.

Just a reminder if anyone is up for a spin on the boards at Manchester:

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/manchester-track-june-july.99724/

I'll look up those dates Colly and reply on that thread.

Had another taster session tonight and came away a blue slip rider!! Chuffed to bits with that, and ready to book up for the taster improver session. Loved the riding in a line session on the blue line. Was a real buzz, and could have happily ridden like that for the full hour. We were 4 and there was 12 others on the track, and occasionally this led to some navigational problems but we held it together and did the business!