For medical reasons, my parents are moving to North Texas about 15 minutes from the Superdrome in Frisco. The only time I've even been to a track was the '76 olympics when I was 7. All I remember from that was carnage, blood and a bike flying into the stands -- my Huffy scared me for months after that.

I'm going to have some down time there helping my mom during my dad's chemo and was thinking about giving the Superdrome a try. All I know about the track is that Steve is a masters badass. It appears they have some beginners programs. I've got a single speed road bike I converted from a normal road bike, but have never ridden a fixie (since the Huffy, anyway).

I'm in generally good shape right now for an almost 40 recreational rider and have decent bike-handling skills. Should I take my road bike, SS or use one of their bikes? Should I take my pedals and shoes? What else do I need to know, bring, avoid? What is the most annoying thing experienced track riders notice newbies doing. I don't want to pose, I just don't want to be nuisance or besmirch the family name.

NSF,

I'm sorry, I just saw this. Here are your answers:

1) Use a regular track bike. Rent one if you have to - your road bike's bottom bracket is much lower than a regular track bike's, and that better height (on the track bike) gives you extra pedal clearance in the turns.

2) Bring your own pedals, shoes, helmet, etc. I'd even bring my own saddle, if you have a spare.

3) Bring plenty to drink. The "superdrome" can turn into a pit of heat despair if the sun is hot. I'd also bring a spare pair of shorts / jersey.

4) Most annoying thing a newb does is to start looking around when a rider behind them calls "STICK" or "STAY" or "RAIL" - all of which mean that you (the rider in front) are to be aware that certain things are happening behind you. The first two mean to ride a straight line - STICK or STAY where you are on the track. The other means that someone is accelerating at the rail (RAIL!) and you may need to move down-track slightly to make room. All three commands tell you what is happening and what needs to be done, so of course, the first thing a newb will do is look around despite just having been told. So don't. When you look around, you move around, which creates a dangerous situation for everyone.

The thing to remember about rules an etiquette are that they exist to do one thing: Make every one's on-track behavior predictable, and thus, safe.

Steve, have you ever ridden at Major Taylor? Now that I am only about an hour away I am thinking about going to one of the try it out nights they have this summer.

Yeah, several times. It's a good track for your "first time" (if it'll be your first time), and they have a really nice facility, well taken care of. If they organize the clinics as well as they did Master's Nationals two years ago, you'll have a good time.

I have read some of how they do their clinics and newby nights (they rent bikes for like $2) and it sounds good, so I thought I'd ask our resident superstar! I was going to do it the last two years but their website sucks and the then almost three hour drive each way kept me away.

Yep, I was guilty of this very thing last week and promptly (and deservedly) got chewed out for it. You may have a tendency to try and look around to keep an eye on what is happening around you. Don't. The person overtaking you has the responsibility to let you know he is coming by yelling stick or stay like Steve said. Do everyone a favor and just ride a straight line.

Do the velodromes tend to have a time set aside for newbys to come out and try riding on the track? I am picturing something like family skate time at the local ice rink. The serious skaters tend to avoid these times. I live about an hour from the Lehigh velodrome and would like to try out riding on the track -- but I wouldn't want to get in anybodies way!

Most do - and LVV has them listed on their website.

At one point, about ten years ago, the city of Phoenix was planning on building a velodrome. Alas it never happened. By the time I ever get near a velodrome (other than standing on a wooden one in France or watching stuff in SoCal) I will be too old to put this advice to any use.



That is unless they have categories for really old folks with hearing diminished from too many loud concerts

Thanks for the tips.

Frisco actually isnt open that much, but email the contacts on their website and they will set you straight about newbie clinics and time to ride.

It is an OK track actually and if you are living there you will really get a great chance to see how you like it. It is also a good idea to try to ride a fixie around just to adapt the knees and other parts of the bod to get used to the feel. Their is a discussion about Plano/Dallas on roadbikeforums.com fixed gear riders and such.

Good luck.