What is Track Racing?

Track racing is a type of bicycle racing that is popular around the world. At it’s peak in the 1930’s track racing drew crowd of 30,000 people, often filling such stadiums as Madison Square Garden and the Chicago Stadium. Track Racing is about pure power, aerodynamics and speed – professional racers can top speeds of over 45 miles per hour. Track racing is an Olympic sport, with 10 events for men and women at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

What is a velodrome?

The oval shaped tracks used for bicycle track racing are called velodromes. They can be indoors or outdoors and can be made of wood, concrete, asphalt or cement.

The turns on a velodrome are “banked,” or constructed at an angle. The banking on some of the shorter tracks can reach incredibly steep angles that it would seem impossible for anyone to ride a bike on them without sliding down. The centrifugal force generated by the riders’ speed, however, usually keeps them firmly glued to the tracks surface no matter how steep the banking may be. Racers use the banking to their advantage as is allows them to accelerate or decelerate for tactical maneuvers in races.

There are two velodromes near Chicago: the Ed Rudolph Velodrome in Northbrook, Illinois (20 miles from downtown), and the Washington Park Velodrome in Kenosha, Wisconsin (60 miles from downtown). Within a half-day drive, you could reach other tracks in St. Louis, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Detroit. Perhaps for this reason, the Chicago area has produced a number of internationally renowned track cyclists.

What is a track bike?

The bicycle ridden on the track is different from one ridden on the road and is one of the simplest and most beautifully designed machines in the world. A bicycle that has been stripped to it’s basic components, it has none of the complicated gearing or braking systems found on a road or mountain bike.

Track bikes have only one gear and no freewheel. Simply put, this means that every time the wheels go around, the pedals must go around as well since the bike has no freewheel to allow coasting.

A track bike also has no hand brakes for stopping and no derailleur for shifting gears. On a track bike, the rider controls the bike’s speed directly through the pedals, and through the pedals alone. To slow down or stop, the rider must slow down the motion of his/her legs and put slight ‘backward’ pressure on the pedals; to accelerate, the rider must pedal faster.

How do I get involved in racing?

The Yojimbo’s Track Cats accepts youth in the City of Chicago between the ages of 10-18 years of age. For the 2009 season, there will be 30-40 spots available on the team to juniors who are interested in learning more about track racing and who will make the commitment to attend practices and races.

Email: RACING@YOJIMBOSTRACKCATS.ORG

What kinds of races will I do?

One reason this sport is so exciting is because are many different types of races - from very short sprints to longer races that will test your endurance. Some races can be all about speed, while others require tactics and strategy.

Points Race

A Points Race is a rolling start race in which riders sprint for points. Certain laps are designated by the organizer as "Points Laps"; usually every five laps. In each sprint, the first four riders are awarded points as follows: 5 points, 3 points, 2 points, 1 point.

Scratch Race/ Final

A Scratch Race is one in which all riders start from the same place at the same time. The race is run over a specified number of laps and the riders be classified according to the order in which they cross the line on the final lap.

Miss-and-Out / Devil Take the Hindmost

A Miss-and-Out (also called "devil taWke the hindmost") is a mass start event in which the last rider over the line on each lap is eliminated form the race. The race goes until there are three riders left in which they will take a neutral lap and then race to the line for the win.

Individual Pursuit

An Individual Pursuit is a race between two competitors who start at equal intervals around the track, and is run until one competitor catches the other or until a certain distance is covered. Men's pursuit: 4000 meters, Masters 3000m, Women's 3000m and Junior's 2000m.

Fixed Gear Fever

www.fixedgearfever.com
National track racing news source

Team Pursuit

Same as the Individual Pursuit but with four competitors per team.

Olympic Sprint

Olympic Sprint is a race run over three laps by two teams of three riders. Each rider leads for one lap and then pulls off. Best time wins.

Madison

A Madison is a Points Race between teams of two riders who relay each other for a specified distance.

Kilo

The Kilo is an individual time trial that is contested over one Kilometer. Best time wins.

Unknown Distance

The Unknown Distance Race is a mass start race in which the racers do not know how many laps the race will be. The official will ring the bell signaling the last lap and the first rider across the line on the next lap is the winner.

Tempo Race

A Tempo Race rewards points to the top two riders of each lap. The first rider gets two points and the second gets one point. This race is usually around ten laps. The rider with the most points at the end of the race wins

Chariot Race

The Chariot Race starts with about six racers being held by a holder on the start line. When the official fires the start gun, the riders sprint for just one lap and place according to their finishing position. There are usually a few heats for this event, with the top 1 or 2 finishers going to a final round.

Danish / Win-and-Out / Reverse Devil

The Danish, also known as a "Win-and-Out," is a rolling mass start race in which the leader after the first lap places first, the leader after the second lap gets second, and so on up to six places.

Point-a-lap

The first rider across the line on every lap gets a point.  The rider with the most points at the end of the race wins.

Snowball

A little like a point-a-lap, the first rider across the line on every lap gets one point for each lap completed.  So, on the first lap, one point is awarded, on the second, two, and so forth.

What equipment do I need?

To race at the velodrome, you need to have a track bike and a helmet. If you do not have your own bicycle, the Yojimbo’s Track Cats will provide one that you may use at races and practices at no charge. This bike will be custom fitted for you and our expert mechanic will maintain the bike for your use throughout the season. We also provide team uniforms. In short, we try to provide all of the necessary equipment so that more kids can experience the sport.

How much does it cost to join?

There is no charge to join the team.

How much does it cost to race?

Race fees typically cost $10-15. In an effort to ease the financial burden on those who need assistance, The Yojimbo’s  Track Cats can offer scholarships to team members that make the commitment to race and attend practices.

When is the racing season?

The racing season runs from May through September with opportunities to race at Northbrook Velodrome on Thursday and Friday nights as well as Kenosha Velodrome on Tuesday nights.   Program participants will also have the opportunity to race in State Championship races and other special events occurring on select weekends during the summer racing season.   A more specific calendar of events will be posted as the Northbrook Velodrome and the Kenosha Velodrome finalize their race calendars for the 2009 season.

When do the Yojimbo's Track Cats practice?

Yojimbo’s Track Cats practice two times a week outside of regular racing opportunities.  Practices are held on Sunday mornings in Chicago and also on Wednesdays at the Northbrook Velodrome.