Top ten reasons to race at the
track
1) the track is safer than the road
- free of obstacles, traffic and
racers don't have brakes so they
don't overreact like they are apt
to on the road.
2) racers develop that extra "gear" in
their legs - they also develop increased
leg speed
3) racers learn to relax to go faster
- mostly because they only have that
one gear
4) track racers have plenty of opportunities
to improve their bike handling because
everything at the track happens quickly
(well, except for pursuiting!) and
mostly in tight quarters
5) track racers have more opportunities
to develop their jumps and attacks,
mostly because if it didn't work
in the first event, you can try it
again in the next one
6) a track rider can get instant
feedback about their efforts or race
because every move can be seen from
a coach, friend or camera
7) trackies learn social skills,
because they are up on the track
and then they are down. The best
time to ask questions and learn is
immediately after a race.
8) the observant trackie learns when
racing and when not racing
9) track racing is much more taxing
than road riding because you are
working all of the race, with each
pedal stroke. The beauty of this
point is that track racing toughens
you up for your road events. Attacks
seem to happen in slow motion, efforts
that last 10 minutes far above your
lactate threshold don't pop you,
and when that final sprint comes
you have the leg speed and confidence
to finish it off.
10) track racers learn how to read
a race. They learn what an allowable
distance is for a breakaway, they
learn patience, and they often gamble
because they simply cannot go with
every move.