Track Clinic

July 5th, 2009 - Today was a day to bring it back a bit after our quick ramp up on the mileage over the last 5 weeks. The Anaheim ride was over 80 miles and the most miles some of the participants have ever put on their bike.

We started today at the San Diego Velodrome located not too far from the San Diego Zoo.

When we talked about this at the Ride Leaders meeting several months ago I was curious as to why this would make a good clinic. I've been to the track but have never ridden a track bike. I have a lot of friends who track race, as they call it, and or ride single speed bikes. What's the big deal?

Let me see if I can tell you a few things first about the track bike. It's really the simplest of bikes in that it has one gear, no breaks and no coasting. That means when the back wheel rolls the pedals move so your legs move with them. How do you stop...with your legs but it's a slower process.

The track itself is kind of oval shaped and banked on the ends. The total course would fit just about inside a football field.

As everyone showed up, including the xx1090 Radio Contestants, (by the way, be sure to vote for your favorite contestant) you could feel a bit of tension as we all questioned what this would be about. However, Lisa Jennings did a fantastic job of presenting what we would experience and how to do it. Lisa is coach and X mountain bike racer.

Everyone received a loaner bike. We then has some instruction from Lisa and a demonstration from Christan Steele, one of the radio contestants. Then in groups of two we started riding around. To our surprised no one crashed or fell over.

After some more warm up and getting used to the banks of the track we then each did a short sprint. Everyone was into it and cheered as we individually raced the clock. It was harder then it looked and my quads where burning.

We thought it was over but Lisa let us know that we now each would do a full lap sprint. OK, no problem. But again, my legs and lungs where burning after that.

I walked away with a whole new appreciate for track riders and the idea stuck in my head that track is a new sport that I need to tackle...once I'm finished with the QMDC.

Everyone else had the same opinion by the end. It was a fantastic day.

One sad note to a degree, Chris Glossner, another one of our radio contestants, will rode his last ride with us today. Tomorrow he heads to the hospital for back surgery which will keep off the road bike for at least 4 or 5 months. He found out about it a few days after excepting a spot as a contestant. To top it off...he has been trying to get into this contest for 3 years. I'm sadden to see him go, wish him luck with the surgery, and look forward to the day when we can ride side by side again.