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A track bicycle is a type of fixed-gear bicycle specially designed for track cycling in a velodrome. Unlike road bicycles, used for road cycling, they lack multiple gears and brakes, having a single fixed gear ratio and no freewheeling mechanism. Tires are narrow, and as the track surface is very smooth there is no need for shock absorption, tires can be inflated to very high pressures well beyond those used in road cycling to minimise the rolling resistance caused by friction. Very lightweight tubular tires can be used as there is almost no risk of punctures. (For grass-track events, the tires would have 'knobs' intended to minimise the potential for skidding.) Image File history File linksMetadata Cyfac_track_bike. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Cyfac_track_bike. ...
A fixed gear bicycle A fixed-gear bicycle or fixed wheel bicycle, is any bicycle without a freewheel and usually only one gear ratio. ...
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially-built banked tracks or velodromes (but many events are held at older velodromes where the track banking is relatively shallow) using track bicycles. ...
Bicycle racing on a velodrome A velodrome is a sporting arena purpose-built for track cycling, i. ...
A road bicycle is a bicycle designed for use on roads, as opposed to rough terrain. ...
Road bicycle racing is a popular bicycle racing sport held on roads (following the geography of the area), using racing bicycles. ...
Spur gears found on a piece of farm equipment. ...
Linear-pull brake on rear wheel of a mountain bike Bicycle brake systems are used to slow down, or brake a bicycle. ...
A fixed gear bicycle A fixed-gear bicycle, also known as a fixie, is a single speed bicycle without a freewheel. ...
Freewheel mechanism In mechanical or automotive engineering, a freewheel or overrunning clutch is a device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft. ...
Friction is the force that opposes the relative motion or tendency toward such motion of two surfaces in contact. ...
Frame design
- See also: Bicycle frame
The design of track frames is usually very specific to its use. In general high rigidity is more important than low weight. Frames intended for sprinting are generally made as rigid as possible, while those made for general racing or longer events are made as aerodynamic as possible. Steel frame and carbon fiber fork of 2000 LeMond Zurich racing bicycle // A bicycle frame is the main component of a bicycle, onto which wheels and other components are fitted. ...
Steel frame and carbon fiber fork of 2000 LeMond Zurich racing bicycle // A bicycle frame is the main component of a bicycle, onto which wheels and other components are fitted. ...
Rules The sport's governing body, the International Cycling Union (UCI), sets specific limits on overall design and dimensions of the frame as well as the aerodynamic shape and diameter of the tubes used to construct the frame. The same rules apply to bicycles used for road racing and cyclo-cross events. Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is a professional cycling union that oversees cycling events in the international community. ...
A cyclo-cross racer carrying his bicycle up a steep slope after overcoming a barrier at the bottom (not shown). ...
Geometry
 Bicycle frame measurements The geometry of a track frame differs from that of a road frame, and many frames are designed for specific track events (an omnium frame refers to one that is designed for general track racing). The attributes common to most track frames that set them apart from road racing frames include: Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...
Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...
- higher bottom bracket for additional cornering clearance,
- steeper seat tube for a more forward and aerodynamic position,
- steeper head tube for more responsive steering,
- less fork rake for more stable steering at high speeds,
- very small clearance between the front wheel and the down tube, because toe overlap is not an issue on the velodrome.
Typical track bicycle frames also use 120 mm spacing for the rear hub, which is 10 mm narrower than most modern road bicycle frames that accept multiple gears. Another difference are horizontal backwards facing rear ends (track ends) for the hub instead of vertical dropouts to allow adjustment of chain tension. A square-taper cartridge bottom bracket. ...
bicycle fork A bicycle fork is the portion of a bicycle that holds the front wheel and allows one to steer. ...
A bicycle dropout is a slots in a frame or fork where the axle of the wheel is attached. ...
Material Frame materials are wide-ranging, including steel (the traditional material for track bikes), aluminium, carbon fibre, or titanium, with carbon fibre being the most common at the professional or elite level. The steel cable of a colliery winding tower. ...
General Name, Symbol, Number aluminium, Al, 13 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 13, 3, p Appearance silvery Standard atomic weight 26. ...
Graphite-reinforced plastic or carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP or CRP), is a strong, light and very expensive composite material or fibre reinforced plastic. ...
General Name, Symbol, Number titanium, Ti, 22 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 4, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Standard atomic weight 47. ...
Because of the higher cost of the carbon fibre frames, steel is the most common material on track frames used by urban, road and non-track riders which are not ridden on a velodrome.
Starting in 2004 carbon fiber has become more popular for non-frame components such as Easton's carbon fiber track bar, which is claimed to be fully a pound lighter than a traditional steel track bar. Carbon fiber composite is a strong, light and very expensive material. ...
Gears Since track bicycles have a fixed gear, the choice of gear ratio is very important. At its basic level, a change in gearing is a trade-off of acceleration versus top-end speed. A lower ratio allows quicker acceleration, or 'jump.' This can be crucially important in races where getting a gap on an opponent can be the deciding factor in the race. On the other hand, a big gear makes it easier to sustain a higher top-end, which is paramount in pursuiting/time trialing, but also important in standard scratch/points races in which the pace will be high. A Scratch Race is a race in which all contestants start from scratch (on equal terms). ...
The points race is a mass start track cycling event involving large numbers of riders simultaneously on track. ...
Ideally, in a mass-start race, the cyclist will find a ratio that balances these two requirements. Without a good jump the rider risks opponents opening a gap when they jump to break away; without a good high end the rider will be unable to get around opponents when the pace stays high.
In order to achieve both top-end speed and jump, track cyclists develop very high leg speed and are well-trained to maintain a high cadence smoothly. This allows them to go faster with a smaller gear. Cadence in cycling is the number of revolutions of the cranks per minute. ...
Long distance record attempts, for example the hour record typically use very large gearing combinations such as 52x12 or 55x14. Ondřej Sosenka used a combination of 54x13 with 190 mm long crankarms to set the 2005 hour record. The hour record for bicycles is the record for the longest distance cycled in one hour on a bicycle. ...
Ondřej Sosenka (born on December 9, 1975) is a Czech professional cyclist, the rider of Italian team Acqua e Sapone - Caffé Mokambo. ...
Chain There are two common widths of single speed and fixed gear bicycle chains, 1/8 inch and 3/32 inch. Most track bicycles use the wider, heavier 1/8 inch chain (also used by BMX bicycles and old-fashioned roadsters). 1/8 is standard for track use and all chains marketed for track use are 1/8. However because 3/32 chainrings and chains are much more common, and perhaps 3/32 inch chains are slightly lighter, some track riders use a 3/32 inch chain, which is the same type used on 7 and 8 speed derailleur equipped road or mountain bikes. For the best results, the chainring, sprocket and chain should all be the same width. Although an 1/8 inch chain will work on a 3/32 chainring or sprocket, it is not ideal. A 3/32 inch chain will not work on a 1/8 chainring or sprocket. Most common track sprockets, e.g. Shimano Dura-Ace Track, are available in both widths. Because they do not need to shift from sprocket to sprocket, track chains still use a "full bushing" design which allows very little sideways flex but can be stronger. All bicycles with derailleur gears use "bushingless" chains which can flex substantially, making gear changing possible. Roller chain and sprocket A bicycle chain is a chain that transfers power from the pedals to the drive-wheel of a bicycle thus propelling it. ...
A BMX Race. ...
Mountain bicycle with Derailleur gears 9x multiple sprockets of a Derailleur gear Derailleur gears are a gear system commonly used on bicycles, consisting of a chain, multiple sprockets and a mechanism to move the chain from one sprocket to another. ...
Shimano, Inc. ...
Mountain bicycle with Derailleur gears 9x multiple sprockets of a Derailleur gear Derailleur gears are a gear system commonly used on bicycles, consisting of a chain, multiple sprockets and a mechanism to move the chain from one sprocket to another. ...
External links - Photos of Track bikes at velospace.org
- More photos of track bikes at veloroutes.org
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