Track Cycling Technique Training
Although not really a training phase it is extremely important to dedicate time to perfecting the technical aspects of Track Cycling. Whilst obviously essential by this we do not mean Mechanics and Maintenance tasks, we are referring to your general riding style, event tactics, bike positioning and technique for aspects of Track Cycling like Standing Starts, 200m TTs, Team Sprint/Pursuit/Madison Changes.
Quite honestly the best way to learn technique is by watching endless videos of our sports finest riders demonstrating each aspect of Track Cycling to an Olympic or World Championship winning standard.
..........................................................................................................
Standing Starts
Anna Meares has a technically perfect standing start where she produces opening lap times that most men can't manage! Styles differ throughout professional riders so it's all about watching the various clips on YouTube etc and then practising. Obviously Chris Hoy in his Kilo days is a great example, just watch a video of him to replicate your positioning through the bends and where you sit down, when to move onto the tri bars etc if you are a Kilometre specialist.
Practise makes perfect, whilst a gate is obviously the best method, held starts are a solution as long as your holder has a steady grip!
TOP TIP: Get a recording of the start beeps to accompany your countdown and perfect your breathing whilst in the gate, in on 5, out on 4, in 3, out 2, in 1, ready to explode with an outward breath on Go (and Go on the G of Go, not the e of One else you'll be stuck in the Gate!)
..........................................................................................................
200m Time Trials
Watching the professional riders is great for finding out the correct lines for a 200m TT. However remember that there is a lot of seated acceleration prior to the standing jump and that even though a 250m track is a 250m track, they are all different in terms of geometry so slight line variations occur. Practise makes perfect.
TOP TIP: Practise riding slow/soft pedalling around the top of the track and using the geometry of the banking to save energy in the laps preceding your 200m TT and also to increase speed at the start of the straights.
..........................................................................................................
General Track Craft
Ride as many Velodromes as possible, they are all different even if on paper they are 250m, 400m or 333m etc, ride them slow, feel them, smell them, take in everything around you all the bumps, that section with a chip, the different feel riding over the paint, know every detail about every inch of your battleground.
If you ever get a chance to ride a Velodrome on a quiet day, practise riding with your head looking backwards not forwards. Obviously in a public sessions etc always make sure it is safe to do so! This is the only way you'll learn to ride from the front in a sprint whilst keeping your eyes on your opponent at all times. The trick is to use the lines behind as a reference and once you've practised this enough it becomes easy. At a minimum practise riding with your chin on your shoulder enough so your opponent thinks you are watching them all the time when your eyes are actually looking where you are going!
Quite honestly the best way to learn technique is by watching endless videos of our sports finest riders demonstrating each aspect of Track Cycling to an Olympic or World Championship winning standard.
..........................................................................................................
Standing Starts
Anna Meares has a technically perfect standing start where she produces opening lap times that most men can't manage! Styles differ throughout professional riders so it's all about watching the various clips on YouTube etc and then practising. Obviously Chris Hoy in his Kilo days is a great example, just watch a video of him to replicate your positioning through the bends and where you sit down, when to move onto the tri bars etc if you are a Kilometre specialist.
Practise makes perfect, whilst a gate is obviously the best method, held starts are a solution as long as your holder has a steady grip!
TOP TIP: Get a recording of the start beeps to accompany your countdown and perfect your breathing whilst in the gate, in on 5, out on 4, in 3, out 2, in 1, ready to explode with an outward breath on Go (and Go on the G of Go, not the e of One else you'll be stuck in the Gate!)
..........................................................................................................
200m Time Trials
Watching the professional riders is great for finding out the correct lines for a 200m TT. However remember that there is a lot of seated acceleration prior to the standing jump and that even though a 250m track is a 250m track, they are all different in terms of geometry so slight line variations occur. Practise makes perfect.
TOP TIP: Practise riding slow/soft pedalling around the top of the track and using the geometry of the banking to save energy in the laps preceding your 200m TT and also to increase speed at the start of the straights.
..........................................................................................................
General Track Craft
Ride as many Velodromes as possible, they are all different even if on paper they are 250m, 400m or 333m etc, ride them slow, feel them, smell them, take in everything around you all the bumps, that section with a chip, the different feel riding over the paint, know every detail about every inch of your battleground.
If you ever get a chance to ride a Velodrome on a quiet day, practise riding with your head looking backwards not forwards. Obviously in a public sessions etc always make sure it is safe to do so! This is the only way you'll learn to ride from the front in a sprint whilst keeping your eyes on your opponent at all times. The trick is to use the lines behind as a reference and once you've practised this enough it becomes easy. At a minimum practise riding with your chin on your shoulder enough so your opponent thinks you are watching them all the time when your eyes are actually looking where you are going!
