Sundrive track reopens for 2014

Harrybelafonte

First track session for New Year is 1st of February.

Accreditation dates are listed here, along with Summer League etc dates:

http://www.trackcycling.ie/?page_id=452

All major events are listed here:

http://www.trackcycling.ie/?p=239

The first link has the answers to most of the queries that pop up re accreditation, but in case you don't get that far:

"Please note also that once again this year the accreditation will be a two-stage process. Basic skills and ability to participate in normal track training will be acquired on the scheduled dates below. But all riders will have to partake in at least one further normal training session where they will have to develop those skills and demonstrate their ability to perform them at speed safely before being allowed to race. We have also scheduled a Pre League ‘Introduction to Racing Day’ on 26th April for those who have completed the first two stages of their accreditation in advance of our Summer League

We would urge those who are interested in exploring this aspect of our sport to get involved early in the season. It takes time to develop the skills required and time even for the most able of road riders to do themselves justice on the track and indeed it takes time to be able to do all of this safely. The technical aspects of sprinting and standing starts take longer to master and this is something that most won’t appreciate until they measure themselves against those who have put in the time. We can teach you, but the earlier you come to us – the more you can learn!

We have an extensive fleet of track bikes for hire and very experienced coaches on hand to help you make the transition. All hire bikes are fitted with either Look Delta (old type) pedals or toe strap and gearing is restricted to 49×16. This gearing is fine for training and developing cadence, but anyone looking to progress in the sport would eventually have to think about getting their own bike. But, as I say, we have hire bikes to help you get up and running.

There are of course benefits to taking in all aspects of our sport and we like to encourage and welcome everyone. Track helps you improve your pedalling, pace judgement, explosive power, seated acceleration and tactical awareness. But most importantly it is technically challenging and fun! Naturally it is those who put in the most time on the track who will excel, especially with the sprint events.

If you want to find out more about events at Sundrive Velodrome please email: sundrive@trackcycling.ie"

buffalo

If I got the first part of my accreditation in 2013, can I go straight to part two in 2014, or do/should I repeat part one?

Harrybelafonte

buffalo wrote: »

If I got the first part of my accreditation in 2013, can I go straight to part two in 2014, or do/should I repeat part one?

I honestly don't know dude. You'd be better off mailing the address above tbh. Sorry I can't help.

Beasty

I'd send him to the back of the queue ....

The way it works as I understand it is you do the first part to cover off the technicalities and basic safety issues. The second is all about seeing you in action in a full training session, and on the face of it if you've done the first part reasonably recently I would hope they would let you straight through to the second. As Harry says though, drop them an e-mail to confirm (or otherwise)

BTW, when gaining accreditation in Manchester, there is a 12-month period in which to progress through stage 2 after getting past stage 1 (but there are 2 further stages after that to contend with ...)

spyderski

Will accreditation in Sundrive allow you to skip the accreditation process in Manchester say?

daragh_

spyderski wrote: »

Will accreditation in Sundrive allow you to skip the accreditation process in Manchester say?

Or vice versa? I'm going to Manchester in early Feb and I'm hoping to do an accreditation session there.

Beasty

spyderski wrote: »

Will accreditation in Sundrive allow you to skip the accreditation process in Manchester say?

Definitely not

daragh_ wrote: »

Or vice versa?

Probably not

daragh_, have you fully investigated the Manchester accreditation process? There is some scope for a short-cut, but usually you have to do a taster session which requires a number of others to be prepared to do some line lapping and riding at the very top of the track for a few laps. That allows you to take part in the 2nd stage which is geared entirely towards the accreditation process. That stage is the most difficult as in my experience the coaches rarely allow anyone through first time - they don't quite make up reasons for failing you, but will closely scrutinise anyone who has not done that session before and will tend to pick up on the slightest thing - I reckon maybe a quarter to a third will be allowed through that session, but many will be on their third or fourth attempt.

daragh_

Beasty wrote: »

daragh_, have you fully investigated the Manchester accreditation process? _snip

Nope, thanks for the tips Beasty. Didn't book it myself and on further investigation I see that I'll have to follow the 4 steps up to Induction.

doh

Guess I'll just enjoy the taster sessions as they are and see if I can find the time to do the Sundrive Accreditation sessions.

Beasty

Even if you got through the full process to obtain accreditation in Manchester you have to attend at least one full training session every year (and not make a cock-up as they'll send you back to go through part of the process again if they think you're not fully up to scratch)

Even at Sundrive if you obtained accreditation then did not turn up to any training/racing you risk losing it after a period

Harrybelafonte

Beasty wrote: »

Even at Sundrive if you obtained accreditation then did not turn up to any training/racing you risk losing it after a period

Rightly so too. Forget the basics and you become a liability basically.

daragh_

Makes perfect sense.

Wouldn't it be great if there was some sort of similar process for Road Racing

Chips Lovell

Beasty wrote: »

Even at Sundrive if you obtained accreditation then did not turn up to any training/racing you risk losing it after a period

Do you know the period? I was accredited ages ago and did a the league for a few seasons, but hadn't done it the past two years.

Beasty

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

Do you know the period? I was accredited ages ago and did a the league for a few seasons, but hadn't done it the past two years.

Many of us now have our formal pink "accredited" cards - they issued them towards the end of 2012 IIRC. The new website does not have all the info that used to be available on the old one (same for the CI website which had some useful track documents), so I'm not sure what the precise criteria are. I would suggest getting in touch with Hugh. I suspect some kind of "refresher" may be required, but perhaps it can be accommodated within a normal training session.

RockWerchter

Just to bump this, anyone who has even the slightest interest should get accredited. It's a great discipline and the atmosphere at the track league on the long summer nights is brilliant.

CramCycle

Heading for accreditation myself on the 1st of March. Are there normally large crowds or is it only a case of the newbies and those who couldn't make it out the year before?

What gearing is recommended for the session? Obviously brakes etc. have to be taken off but are there any obvious things that one might forget when turning up?

Harrybelafonte

CramCycle wrote: »

Heading for accreditation myself on the 1st of March. Are there normally large crowds or is it only a case of the newbies and those who couldn't make it out the year before?

What gearing is recommended for the session? Obviously brakes etc. have to be taken off but are there any obvious things that one might forget when turning up?

It's usually a pretty slow session first time. Gearing won't matter hugely. What you have?

Accreditation sessions can be quite big, but it really depends. Some of them were huge last year some not so much. It'll be accreditation people only I believe in those sessions. They start later than regular sessions.

eeeee

I am also going on the 1st of March, I will be renting a bike though.

Also I will be looking ridiculous. My cycling gear is rudimentary/odd at best :eek:

Harrybelafonte

Doesn't matter. Plenty show up in tracksuits.

eeeee

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Doesn't matter. Plenty show up in tracksuits.

I don't have a tracksuit. It's worse than that! :eek:

CramCycle

gadetra wrote: »

I don't have a tracksuit. It's worse than that! :eek:

The last time I done it a guy showed up in skinny jeans, you have nothign to worry about.

Harrybelafonte

If you're going in Feb or March, just make sure you're warm and will stay warm when not on the bike, there'll be a bit of standing around for instruction in between, but they will make an effort to keep you guys moving.

Caroline_ie

Hello!

5/6th July 2014 – Men & Women’s Olympic Omnium (0930)

Is that the National Omnium champs?

Harrybelafonte

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Hello!

5/6th July 2014 – Men & Women’s Olympic Omnium (0930)

Is that the National Omnium champs?

Think so. Usually is around that time of year?

CramCycle

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

It's usually a pretty slow session first time. Gearing won't matter hugely. What you have?.

Using 48x14 for commuting. I can go 52x14 as the longest and 48x18 as the shortest.

Harrybelafonte

48x14 is race gear at 92 inches, and I'm not sure what anyone else would suggest, but I'd go a bit smaller. Then again, it'll be slow enough, but you'll end up doing a fair distance. I'd go closer to 86-88 inches maybe. There used to be a recommended gear ration ont trackcycling.ie, but I can't find it now.

Beasty

I've raced with a 92, but for training on Sundrive I would suggest 88 (50 x 14) and if it's very windy possibly even lower

At Manchester they apply a limit of 84 or to their hire bikes and 88.2 for official training (and they don't have the wind to worry about)!

Harrybelafonte

Bear in mind you'll be in a bunch of newbies, some who've never ridden fixed gear before and there'll be lots of weird movement. Just bring an extra cog and change if you're not comfortabel.

Oooor contact the guys beforehand.

CramCycle

I have had a few questions regarding gearing etc and this is just info that might be of some use.

As a rule of thumb changing the back sprocket by one tooth makes a difference of approx 4 inches, while added a tooth to the front chainring increases your gearing by 2 inches.

It is usually advisable to have at least 2 front rings and a few back sprockets.

So say for example if you have a 48 & 49 front and a 14/15/16 for the back you would have a good choice of gears for most occasions.

-

48×16=81 inches (good warm up gear)
49×16=82.748×15=86.4 Race gear
49×15=88.2 Race gear (not windy)
48×14=92.6 Very fit & strong
49×14=94.5 Too high
-

A full chart below and based on that and what is on your bike already you may choose different array of sprockets & chainrings

If you also had a 50 front ring then with those back sprockets you would also have 84.4, 90 (useful) & 96.4

Taken from trackcycling.ie

Harrybelafonte

CramCycle wrote: »

Taken from trackcycling.ie

Thanks, sorry my Google Fu, let me down again.

randomstuff

Me and my brother are planning on coming down on the 15th. I ride a fixed Dolan Pre cursa, which I assume will be allowed on the track.

The issue is with my brothers bike, hes got a Surly Steamroller. Are there some rules to which the bikes frames must adhere to (no braze ons etc) ?

I know they can't have brakes and must be fixed. Other than that? Also what about brake levers? The surly has a front and rear brake, and he rides it with drops. Will he have to take off the brake levers or?

Also, bullhorns allowed or only drop bars?

Sorry for the barrage of questions, just want to be somewhat prepared.

Thanks,

Johny

Harrybelafonte

Best bet is to email the guys as suggested, but my experience is that brake levers HAVE to be gone. Bullhorns won't be allowed either I'm pretty sure, especially for a beginners event.

Beasty

I'm certain the rules are as set out by Harry - drop bars and no brakes are going to be required for all group activities on the track. Cleats or toe straps will be required to secure feet to pedals also. (Obviously TT bars will also be permitted when appropriate)

It only costs a fiver or so to hire a bike though

nak

Beasty wrote: »

I've raced with a 92, but for training on Sundrive I would suggest 88 (50 x 14) and if it's very windy possibly even lower

At Manchester they apply a limit of 84 or to their hire bikes and 88.2 for official training (and they don't have the wind to worry about)!

50 x 14 is a big gear - 96 no?

I use 49 x 15 (88) most of the time for training now.

CramCycle

Humiliation looms, reason the commute on my new bike seems so easy is not the 48x14 but in fact the 46x15, which also explains the spinning out as well.

Beasty

nak wrote: »

50 x 14 is a big gear - 96 no?

I use 49 x 15 (88) most of the time for training now.

Apologies - you're right!

Harrybelafonte

CramCycle wrote: »

Humiliation looms, reason the commute on my new bike seems so easy is not the 48x14 but in fact the 46x15, which also explains the spinning out as well.

Ah, and I was all impressed there for awhile. Through a 49 on and you'll be fine, as Nak says.

Eamonnator

Beasty wrote: »

I'm certain the rules are as set out by Harry - drop bars and no brakes are going to be required for all group activities on the track. Cleats or toe straps will be required to secure feet to pedals also. (Obviously TT bars will also be permitted when appropriate)

It only costs a fiver or so to hire a bike though

I thin, I read someplace, that Look Keo Easy pedals, are not acceptable.

Harrybelafonte

Eamonnator wrote: »

I thin, I read someplace, that Look Keo Easy pedals, are not acceptable.

Yes, you're right. Much too easy to unclip from them.

randomstuff

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Yes, you're right. Much too easy to unclip from them.

What about spd?

Harrybelafonte

randomstuff wrote: »

What about spd?

Fine afaik.

RockWerchter

I don't think spd pedals are allowed, spd-sl is but not the mountain bike ones.

Harrybelafonte

randomstuff wrote: »

What about spd?

Sorry as said above I'm very much in the wrong. I was only thinking of SLs. SPDs are a total no, even more so that Keo Easy.

CramCycle

From memory for the accreditation, if you rented a bike, they all had Look cleats but you could rent strap on toe clips for the event.

I found the toe clips were OK but that due to the flexibility in my runners that I had sore ankles afterwards.

nak

CramCycle wrote: »

From memory for the accreditation, if you rented a bike, they all had Look cleats but you could rent strap on toe clips for the event.

Look Delta - hire shoes are available.

CramCycle

Won't have my license posted out in time, will they accept my code and a print out of the e-mail confirming my license?

Harrybelafonte

Am pretty sure they will dude, but email them directly about it, just in case.

eeeee

Well that was the Most Fun Ever! I can't wait to go back. I was shíte, but most definitely hooked. The guys are fantastic and I learned a lot. Highly recommended by me!

Green&Red

How often is the training cancelled? Saurday is meant to be a very wet day, is it lightly to go ahead?

nak

Green&Red wrote: »

How often is the training cancelled? Saurday is meant to be a very wet day, is it lightly to go ahead?

Weather updates on Twitter and Facebook - listed as Sundrive Velodrome. If it's raining heavily, it will be cancelled.

Harrybelafonte

As Nak said keep eye on twitter and FB that morning. Even if rain stops they'll need to wait for the track to dry a bit. It can be dangerous and slippy if wet.

Green&Red

Cheers lads, just trying to plan Saturday