Archive for the ‘Bicycle Equipments’ Category
If you are a roadie looking for the coolest challenge that bicycling can offer, then why not consider building a race bike around a trackframe net of other components that are otherwise needed in standard road or mountain bikes. Track bikes are built for racing in a velodrome, which is an oval with banked turns to allow the bikes to safely negotiate curves at high speed. These bikes roll on narrow high-pressure tires that reduce rolling resistance. Unlike ordinary road or racing bikes that depend on lightweight and aerodynamic frames to enhance speed and maneuverability, stress loads on a track bike require stiffer and stronger frames. Similarly, forks on a track bike are designed to have more lateral strength to better handle down force and side loading stresses.
Because of the heavy-duty construction of a trackframe, a track bike is generally more durable than standard bikes that you might find cruising on the road.
Tight Geometry and Steep Angles
Mainly because of the venue where track bikes are used, the geometry of a trackframe differs slightly from that used on a road bike. A track bike has a higher bottom bracket so that the pedals do not graze the steeply banked turns on a velodrome. Its higher seat tube enables the biker to assume a more powerful and aerodynamic position. For a more responsive steering, the trackframe is fitted with a steeper head tube and has a lesser fork rake.
If you are a roadie who finds the steep and tight geometry fun and challenging and are considering to build up a bike on a budget, a no frills steel trackframe can stand tons of miles in all sorts of situation and still look great. However, if you are a professional racer looking for the competitive edge on the track, the more expensive titanium or high-end carbon fiber trackframe is for you.
No Brakes and Gears
Aside from its tight geometry and steep angles, a pure trackframe lacks some features found in standard bike frames. For one, it has no cable guides for derailleurs and brakes. A true track bike has only one gear, which may either be a bigger gear to facilitate sustained speed or a lower gear that allows for faster acceleration.
The smooth and consistently flat topography of a velodrome eliminates the need for gear combinations needed for uphill pedaling. Track bikes, which are essentially single or fixed gear contraptions, or “fixies,” as they are sometimes called, serve their purpose by allowing track cyclists practice cadence, or fast pedaling. A track bike is without a freehub that permits the wheels of a standard bike to rotate on its axle even when the rider stops pedaling.
This means that when a track bike is coasting on a free roll, the pedals also rotate along with the wheels. Understandably, the absence of barriers, intersections and other obstructions on the oval do not also warrant the need for a brake system on the track bike. Speeding along on the oval in a tight bunch of other cyclists astride a track bike with no brakes is both an unnerving and an exhilarating experience.