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Bicycles used for track cycling are especially designed for the purpose. Unlike bicycles used for road riding, they lack multiple gears and brakes, and have lightweight bodies typically constructed from expensive materials with high strength-to-mass ratios like carbon fibre. Bodywork is designed to reduce aerodynamic drag?. Tyres and wheels are narrow, with the tyres generally inflated to pressures well beyond those used in road cycling in an effort to minimise the "rolling resistance" caused by friction. Handlebars also differ signficantly from standard road bicycles, with extensions (called triathlon bars, I think) designed to allow the rider to extend their arms in front of their body which leans forward almost to the horizontal so as to present the minimum frontal area and thus reducing drag. |
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Bicycles used for track cycling are especially designed for the purpose. Unlike bicycles used for road riding, they lack multiple gears and brakes, and have lightweight bodies typically constructed from expensive materials with high strength-to-mass ratios like carbon fibre. Bodywork is designed to reduce aerodynamic drag?. Tyres and wheels are narrow, with the tyres generally inflated to pressures well beyond those used in road cycling in an effort to minimise the "rolling resistance" caused by friction. Handlebars can differ signficantly from the familiar drop bars found on road bicycles. Often riders will use triathlon bars designed to allow the rider to extend their arms in front of their body which leans forward almost to the horizontal so as to present the minimum frontal area and thus reducing drag. These triathalon bars or aerobars are often bolted on to traditional drop bars or more aerodynamic bull horn bars. |
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Formats of track cycle races are also heavily influenced by aerodynamics. If one rider follows another, because the leading rider pushes air around themselves, any rider closely following has to push out less air than the lead rider and thus can travel at the same speed while expending less effort. This fact has led to a variety of racing styles that allow clever riders to exploit this tactical advantage, as well as formats that simply test strength, speed and endurance. |
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Formats of track cycle races are also heavily influenced by aerodynamics. If one rider closely follows or "drafts" another, because the leading rider pushes air around themselves, any rider closely following has to push out less air than the lead rider and thus can travel at the same speed while expending less effort. This fact has led to a variety of racing styles that allow clever riders or teams to exploit this tactical advantage, as well as formats that simply test strength, speed and endurance. |
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Track cycling is most popular in Europe, notably France and Germany, Japan, and Australia. It is part of the Summer Olympic Games, and there are world championships as well as circuits of professional events in many areas. |
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Track cycling is most popular in Europe, notably France and Germany where it is often used as off-season training by road racers. The sport also has significant followings in Japan and Australia. It is part of the Summer Olympic Games, and there are world championships as well as circuits of professional events in many areas. |
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