Track

Great Britain does very well with Track Cycling at the Olympic Games.

It is fast, furious and requires significant skill and judgment. Most track riders are racers, some do it for training and exciting leisure, but it is arguably the cycling discipline that is pure racing.

Track racing is ideal for youth riders, its exciting and accessible. The picture below is a CSP Velodrome session.

CSP Velodrome Session

Tracks: 

Track racing takes place on short specially built tracks consisting of two tight, banked corners joined by two short straights.

Tracks vary in length – outdoor tracks usually being longer and with shallower bankings – but Olympic and World Championship Track racing is generally held on indoor 250m wooden tracks, such as at Manchester Velodrome.

Many outdoor tracks are concrete or tarmac surfaced such as Scunthorpe, York and Knowsley.


Bikes: 

Track bikes are relatively simple. Bikes have a fixed wheel (forcing you to pedal continuously) with the rider controlling speed through pressure applied to the pedals. There are no brakes.

Bikes with conventional dropped handlebars, traditional spoked or carbon spoked wheels are used for bunch races and sprint events.

Low-profile bikes, with extended “triathalon” style bars, allow the rider to adopt a more aerodynamic position are used for Pursuit races and Time Trials. Wheels are often three or four-spoked carbon or carbon disc. Handling and manoeuvrability are sacrificed for aerodynamic efficiency.


Races: 

Track events can be split into two main types Sprint events, which last for a few minutes or laps, and endurance events which can be up to 40km in length.


CSP and Local Riders: 

Steven Burke is our local Olympic Gold medal winner.

A number of recent and past CSP riders have competed in the track leagues at Manchester Velodrome, and some have participated in National level youth, Junior and Senior events.

There are a number of local cyclists and CSP members who regularly ride the Manchester Velodrome track in the track leagues.