Go Fast, Turn Left!
The T of ERTC!
Track cycling is, in a lot of ways, cycling stripped down to its essentials: frame, bars, chain, one gear… and no brakes! All speed changes come from your cadence and there are no sudden stops. Track riding is done on a velodrome, where we ride laps counter-clockwise.
What are the benefits of riding track?
Great “road” conditions! A velodrome is by nature smooth and even, so no potholes, gravel, or construction can create obstacles. In Edmonton we currently ride at the Alberta Velodrome, which is indoors, which allows us to train regardless of weather!
Improvement in bike handling/pedaling. Do you ever find yourself tiring out from surging to close a gap in a paceline followed by coasting? Track cycling will help your awareness of the relationship between cadence and speed, and allow you to experiment with making small adjustments to efficiently modulate your position in a paceline.
Pedaling without coasting is a great workout for the legs and can help you identify weak spots in your pedal stroke. Think of the constant stimulus of riding on a trainer, but outside and in better company!
It’s an Olympic and Paralympic sport with a lot of history (and some Canadian medalists). Try your hand at the Sprint, Pursuit, or Omnium events and feel the rush!
What to expect at an ERTC Track Night?
Our track night is all-level, meaning we will have a mix of new track riders along with experienced riders. Groups take turn on the track, as track practices are structured around doing a drill or exercise then coming off the track to debrief and rest, then repeating. Often as part of warm-up, all rider levels will ride together in a paceline as part of the practice to work on group riding skills before doing individual or small group skill development.
Anyone capable of riding a road bike in any other ERTC event will have the basic skills they need to get going on the track. Even though a lot of people find they eventually go faster on the track than on the road, individual speed isn’t important to have fun or get a good workout here. The track is only 250 meters - if you get dropped, you will eventually join back with the group again!
As training gets more advanced, we shrink the distance between riders to improve comfort at riding elbow-to-elbow. As nobody can slam on their brakes, changes in group speed are more gradual, creating a more predictable environment to practice exchanges and attacks for riders who want to race.
Photo credit: Stefan Ritter
What do I need to ride track?
Riders must be fully accredited accredited (levels 1-4) through the Alberta Velodrome to participate in club sessions. This 5-6 hour program prepares you to safely ride on all parts of the track on a fixed-gear bike.
Surprise: you don’t need a bike! The Alberta Velodrome has a fleet of rental fixed-gear bicycles and participants on ERTC nights get to use these for free. Some riders choose to purchase and bring their own track bikes, but we suggest starting out with a rental first.
Cycling computers are not allowed to be mounted on the handlebars of your bike and must be stashed in a pocket. Since GPS signal is poor in the ‘drome, we recommend using “indoor ride” mode.
Running shoes are acceptable footwear for beginners, as the rental bikes have old school toe clips. If you want to bring your cycling shoes and pedals, please practice taking the pedals off the day before and bring the necessary tool so that putting them on the rental bike goes quickly.
The indoor velodrome is warm and dry! Bring a water bottle and stay hydrated.