Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

After reading the race reports of the apparent fun being had by members of my club on the track, I took the plunge and bought myself a fixie...just brought it home this afternoon in a box...unpacked it and put the very few pieces together and took the obligatory 'against the garage door' pic ...



Is an Apollo Record 2009 model...am a little disappointed though, the brakes were missing and the freewheel seems to be stuck!!!...

Will have my first fixed ride tomorrow afternoon at the club track training session...should be an experience. Note to self...don't stop pedalling, don't stop pedalling, don't stop pedalling...

Emma

CoffsGal wrote: Is an Apollo Record 2009 model...am a little disappointed though, the brakes were missing and the freewheel seems to be stuck!!!...

Do you think they'd fix it under warranty

Nice bike BTW....

CoffsGal wrote: Is an Apollo Record 2009 model...am a little disappointed though, the brakes were missing and the freewheel seems to be stuck!!!...

Don't need brakes, just stop pedalling and Mr Newton will do the rest.

Only kidding, good luck and let us know how you get on. Was thinking of converting my commuter bike to fixed but i'm a wuss!

Good luck Emma - I'm still scared of a fixie - even on the track!
let us know how you go.

Thannks fellas...I did ok on the training session on Tuesday...was able to start and stop without holding onto anything...didn't get propelled skywards...did quite a few laps with the pack, rolling through one lap each behind the pace motorbike...was worn out though after about 15 laps as the pace got high and I had to pull to the top of the track to recover...will head out late this afternoon for my first official race...will keep you posted.

Here is a pic I took at the training session on Tuesday...some of our riders are so huge they make the bikes look tiny...





Emma

Ok, the results of my first track race day...

1st in my first ever track race, the C grade 4 lap scratch...where I stopped pedalling as I crossed the line. Just force of habit even though I knew not to. I went in the air and the back wheel stepped out but I stayed on the bike. Fotunately I didn't repeat that mistake for the rest of the day.

2nd in the C grade 6 lap scratch after I let two riders get a break. I managed to chase them down but was baulked as I approached the line and couldn't find a way through.

3rd in the C Grade 4 lap handicap with me off scratch...that will teach me to go so hard in the early races!!!

3rd in the C Grade 6 lap handicap with me off scratch and one rider further back off -25metres.

In the Italian pursuit I was third wheel of 7 and our team won by 3/4 of a lap.

In the all grades 10 lap scratch I managed to stay with the pack for 7 laps but then I couldn't hold the wheel of the remaining A and B graders, and I learned how to vomit at speed...eeewww, lucky there was nobody close behind...I kept pushing though and finished about 3/4 lap behind the leaders, probably about 5th.

So I am pleased with the results for my first try at the track. It is quite fun after all, mainly I think due to the fact that the races are shortish compared to road and crit races, so even though it hurts, you do get a chance to recover between races... and you also get to have a number of races with a variety of formats.

Emma

Well done as ever Emma. Very impressive for a first hit out, they'll all be watching you now

CoffsGal wrote:... I stopped pedalling as I crossed the line. Just force of habit even though I knew not to. I went in the air and the back wheel stepped out but I stayed on the bike. Fotunately I didn't repeat that mistake for the rest of the day.

Ooh! Lucky. One of our juniors did this (probably at Coffs actually) and got bucked off and knocked out cold. I'd like to try track racing one day (one day )

Congratulations, on your trying, Emma.
A small point, I would be concerned when you say
"couldn't find a way through"...
I always came around the outside, you may be travelling wider,
and further, but you are travelling faster, and you know where
everyone else is... it worked for me, and it keeps you out of a lot
of trouble. Have a think about it, and train to go that way.
The shortcut is sometimes not the best cut.
Cheers,
BrentonO

Also, I agree with you on the look of those guys on those bikes,
in the photo's, they must be borrowed bikes, as no bike shop
would set them up like that, would they...? Laughing!

Thanks fellas...

@Brentono...as soon as I had found myself blocked in I realised I should have stayed on the outside...it would have been a close finish but I think I would have just made it over the line first...have already stored that lesson away for future reference...

The guys on the bikes in the pics are some of our faster track riders having fun on the juniors' bikes...our club has about 30 track bikes it lends to club members, including quite a few tiny bikes for the juniors....some kids just never grow up...

Emma

CoffsGal wrote: I learned how to vomit at speed...eeewww, lucky there was nobody close behind...

And I bet no-one tried to get too close behind afterwards either.....

Good to see it didn't hold you back from finishing the race... well done.

Lark2004 wrote:

CoffsGal wrote: I learned how to vomit at speed...eeewww, lucky there was nobody close behind...

And I bet no-one tried to get too close behind afterwards either.....

Good to see it didn't hold you back from finishing the race... well done.

Well I reckon if you don't vomit you're not really trying...

lol.... I hope I can be that tough if I give track a go....

Emma,
Also, by keeping outside, keeps you high from falls, and allows you
to avoid them, and possibly go on to win, as it happens.
And remember when your travelling high, your are faster, and when you
come off the bend, you get the advantage on the straight, you probably
know that, but some others may not.
Thanks for clearing that up about the bikes, they sure look out of place.
Keep training hard, use lower gears, even behind the pacer, and get your
pedalling rate up, which will give you the speed, later.
Just a few small points, good luck
Cheers,
BrentonO

Wow, sounds you had a blast Emma, woulldnt mind giving a shot myself. Does anyone know if there is an outdoor velodrome in Perth like the one in the picture or is the speedome our only option?

Think the Speedomes it, mate, though I could be wrong,
and we will both find out (be told), in short-time.
Cheers
BrentonO

Yep Speed dome in Midland.

Comedown tuesday nights - They look after the beginners and you can loan a Bike for 5 bucks

Chris

Emma,
Didn't get to mention it, but that's a pretty nice looking ride
you have there, what does one of those set you back?
But it must be hard to ride with no pedals, eh! "Don't stop pedalling"
Cheers,
BrentonO

brentono wrote:Emma,
Didn't get to mention it, but that's a pretty nice looking ride
you have there, what does one of those set you back?
But it must be hard to ride with no pedals, eh! "Don't stop pedalling"
Cheers,
BrentonO

My Apollo Record is a 2009 model so they are on a runout special...I think the 2010 models retail for about $1800, and the 2009 about $1400 now...I work part time at the LBS so I did a bit better than that...am also meant to be getting an Apollo team kit as part of the deal...bib nix, jersey, socks and helmet...hmmm, must chase that up tomorrow.

Since I took the pic at the top of the page, I have removed the steerer tube spacers and dropped the stem down to its lowest point...really helped during the very strong winds last Saturday. The yellow tape is so I can tell my bike from an identical one that another staff member bought on the same day.



Probably need to get a one or two tooth bigger rear sprocket too. Has 48-15 at the moment and in the longer races I struggle a little to keep the cadence up.

And have new pedals now so I don't have to keep swapping my road pedals back and forth...I bought the new black Shimano Ultegra 6700 which match the black cranks nicely.

Emma,
Thanks for the reply, and it's interesting.
Bike looks better, now you have some pedals (and easier to ride)
and "matching" at that... you girls, but I'm with you on that. Blacks nice.

dropped the stem down to its lowest point

Careful, not to restrict your breathing too much..?
Good luck, go get 'em.
Cheers
BrentonO

brentono wrote:Emma,
Thanks for the reply, and it's interesting.
Bike looks better, now you have some pedals (and easier to ride)
and "matching" at that... you girls, but I'm with you on that. Blacks nice.

dropped the stem down to its lowest point

Careful, not to restrict your breathing too much..?
Good luck, go get 'em.
Cheers
BrentonO

Not personally trying to single you out here, so don't take this the wrong way, but I think the "low" and "restricted breathing" bull is about as true as hill climbing for building 'strength'.

Ant,
I stand corrected, you must know.
Thanks,
BrentonO

More success at the track this afternoon, assisted by the new gear ratio in very humid conditions. Racing was delayed about an hour due to a wild rain and electrical stom, and then a wet track that needed to dry out.

After using a 15T for the last two weeks, this week I started with a 17T in the first race (B grade 4 lap scratch). I was spinning too fast without putting the power down...came 4th out of 6.

While the other grades were on, I replaced the 17T with a 16T, and in the next race, another 4 lap scratch, I came 1st...still spinning quite fast but was able to keep the pressure on the pedals.

Next race was a B grade elimination (6 laps) which I also won.

In the combined A and B 10 lap final race I couldn't match it with the fast riders after the first 5 laps and did a solo effort to finish a couple of laps down...

The new gearing is an improvement and allows me to maintain a good cadence and power combination.

Emma

A thousand pardons if I have missed the explanation... but those bikes are super small. I'm not familiar with track cycling. Why are they so small?

Supe wrote:A thousand pardons if I have missed the explanation... but those bikes are super small. I'm not familiar with track cycling. Why are they so small?

The bikes are actually large 62cm size, but we have been giving some of our riders huge doses of growth hormone and they are now really huge, making the bikes look too small...we have had trouble getting bikes big enough for them...

Ok ok...just kidding...here is a quote from a post up the page a bit...

CoffsGal wrote:The guys on the bikes in the pics are some of our faster track riders having fun on the juniors' bikes...our club has about 30 track bikes it lends to club members, including quite a few tiny bikes for the juniors....some kids just never grow up...

CoffsGal wrote:The guys on the bikes in the pics are some of our faster track riders having fun on the juniors' bikes...our club has about 30 track bikes it lends to club members, including quite a few tiny bikes for the juniors....some kids just never grow up...

I was also just wondering too why trackies from the north coast have a different fit preference.