Burnaby Velodrome: The burnaby velodrome... ain't it purdy?

Although, I have ridden a fixed gear for years I have only ridden at the velodrome a few times, and I have never raced at it. Despite doing ever other type of bike racing imaginable.

Well that is all about to change. I have officially signed up for the First of the 4 learn to ride/race clinics that you need to take inorder to compete. And I have added the events to the November calendar and added a link to sign up to the individual events.

Now I am not certain, but I believe if you do not have a Cycling BC race license you have to pay for a oneday-licence which can add up. (Let me check in on that).

I was also talking to one of the track organizers while I was out at the Vanier Park CX race and he said that they were willing to work with fixie riders and may even have a fixie category so you do not have to buy a second bike for the track. That would obviously be helpful to many riders.

Note: For those who are unfamiliar the track is a laminated wood surface. Any dirt can be very hard on the track and as a result outside bikes are not let on the track. That said everyone at the velodrome wants to get more riders out to the track so this is why they are probably looking at comprimises. Also the track was hand built by many of the members who ride on it today, so there is a strong feeling of attachment to it for many. Let me just say this is a big comprimise. They want you out and on the track.

Why do I need to take a frickin' course?

I know many believe they know how to ride and find the "Learn to ride" clinics laughable. But there are certian things that must happen at the track in order to ride successfully. If you don't know them you could be in for a very nasty surprise.

For example if you slow down below 30 km/hr you will fall off the track. That may note sound all that hard, but when you learn how to pace line you will find that inoder to come off the front to head to the back after a pull you have to go high then swing to the back.

When this happens you often lose speed and if you are not careful you will basically fall off the the track and take out half the riders in your pace line. This is just one of the lessons they hope to prevent you from experiencing directly, by taking these courses.

There is a lot to track racing. A hard knocks, scars and if you are lucky some glory!