Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Pics? Or is that in track pic thread already?

First DGV training session. I need new tyres. Crap that was scary... Lost traction 3 times. Not the most inspiring moment... But I rolled around with the bunch, took a turn and dropped off the back to rest, then another couple turns and called it a night. 50/14 is a touch too big for me! Those banks are too steep when you are already tired!

Xplora wrote:First DGV training session. I need new tyres. Crap that was scary... Lost traction 3 times. ..... 50/14 is a touch too big for me!

For DGV you cant use tyres with 2 different compounds. Get some Veloflex masters ($58 at wiggle) or Continental GP supersonic ($51 at wiggle)
50-14 is a race gear, use 48-14 for training.
cheers

I'm using veloflex records on both my training wheels (clinchers) and race wheels (singles)

I'm also running 50*14 and thinking of lowering the gearing. With all my spin classes I can easily do higher cadences so I'm not seeing an advantage for me. I've purchased a 48 but I'm leaning towards a 46. Gearing is a personal thing

mikesbytes wrote:.... Gearing is a personal thing

True but if you are in a State scratch race or points race on the Boards and everyone else is on 96 or 98, your preferred 90 inch gear is not going to cut it
Outdoor tracks give you a bit more flexibility but in an Open I'd still say 93 is about as small as you can go if you want to have a chance of getting in the money.
I see the Illawarra Track Open has been confirmed for October 15. Get training and I'll see you there !

Good idea DD, I might be able to make Illawarra, I won't be fresh but that doesn't matter. After that my availability is pretty much cactus until next year.

Illawarra would give me chance to test out the 48 I've got, as I work at the same times that track training is on.

The cadences don't look that high to me. 50kph is a comfortable 125rpm and 145rpm in a sprint

48-14 is pretty similar to what i believe is the ideal gear for illawarra carnival ... 52- 15. The track has been "repaired" with $60,000 worth of concrete but it is exactly the same as it was. Bumpy. Dont think anyone will be doing 140 cadence on it.

I think the last time I rode on it was January 2015, when I did a couple of laps on the road bike, I was showing the track to another rider. It looked the same as when when I last raced on it, which was 2014. Has the resurfacing happened since then?

Theyve removed the slabs in turn 4 which had moved due to tree roots. Then repoured those 3 slabs. However the slab with the bump in it is still there right next to the new section. And the new slabs while they look good do not feel great to ride on. I thi k its actually worse than before to ride on.

What felt weird about Unanderra was that when you sprinted you went past level with the banking. Something you would get use to, if you trained there, after all it doesn't feel weird to lean on a flat track (Hurstville, Lidcome, Gosford)

One of the wildest experiences I have had on a track bike was running wide/high at speed through T4 at Unanderra. Bike on a heavy lean and hitting that uneven track was an experience to say the least. I quickly learned passing through T4 wasn't the best option!

Was doing my usual derny pacing session today so I took some photos of the new work at Unanderra. The 3 new slabs at Turn 4 look pretty but are actually not that flat to ride on, you get an up and down motion as you go across them. The infamous bump (dip) is right next to my derny, a slab and a half before the new work. The club coach and I were assured that the bump would be fixed / the troublesome slab replaced, but well here is our $60,000 worth of work.
Its worse to ride on now than it was before it was 'fixed'.

That is really new

Where in the photo is the bump?

mikesbytes wrote:That is really new

Where in the photo is the bump?

Its right next to the scooter. Its actually a dip in the middle of the slab.