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2008 NM State Track Championships
(First release - March 30, 2008) All Photos by Heidi Snell Please let us know if you are planning to come by clicking this email link: I Plan To Race! Click here for the Race Flyer: NM State Track Championships Flyer (Updated March 30, 2008) · Where & When · What Do I Need? · Where Can I Stay? · What Events Will We Ride? · What Other Equipment Will I Need? · How Do I Get Track / Fixie Equipment? · Do I Need a USCF License? · Why is This So Much Fun?! · Give Me Some Links!
Date & Times: Saturday, June 28th USOC Velodrome, Colorado Springs, CO Track opens at 8am. Practice & Clinics until 9:45 AM. Racing begins at 10 AM. Sunday, June 29th is reserved as a rain date. UPDATE: The NM State Criterium is scheduled for Sunday June 29th in Albuquerque. Since we are starting 4 hours earlier this year you could probably get back Saturday night after racing and be ready to go to the Crit Sunday. If you decide to stay and ride Sunday, we’ll organize some NM rider events at the velodrome (maybe team TT practice?) The velodrome is open for public practice on Friday June 27th from 8am - 4pm. Mike Gilb, Howard Snell and Bob Coleman will be onsite on Friday to ride with you, help you with setup, show you the facility and cover track riding etiquette. What Do I Need? You will need to have a fixed gear bicycle with no brakes and no quick release skewers. Please make sure that you have bar-end plugs in your handlebar ends, and if you removed brakes from a bike, have all the handlebar lever brackets off. Also, remove any bottle cages, seat bags, etc. Clean & Simple! For pedals, I see everything from Speedplays (what I use) to old-school straps & cleats. UPDATE: Rental bikes are available at the track in sizes from 48cm to 62cm. If you are planning to rent a bike, plan to bring your own shoes and pedals. The gearing on these bikes will be around 90 inches (some have junior gearing), so they may not be ideal, but you will get some good experience. We will try to get the proper gearing on if you decide to rent. Plan on $5 to $10 for rental.
Where Can I Stay? Days Inn 2409 E. Pikes Peak Ave. 80909 (719) 471-0990 This is the absolute closest place to the velodrome, and they have a velodrome discount rate. I call it "The Bikers Flop House". Not the newest or cleanest, but very close and convenient. I've walked to the track from here. Ask for the Velodrome rate, which is around $59 a night. I booked my room here. Ask for a downstairs room, which all open onto the parking lot, so that you can easily move your gear into the room. They do have a small pool. Other hotels in the South Circle Drive area of Colorado Springs are also close and near restaurants and I-25. My unofficial breakfast hangout will be the Village Inn just west of I-25 on South Circle Drive. Camping is available, too. Garden of the Gods is a great scenic location just to the north of town. Be aware for any reservations in Colorado Springs that Summer is vacation time, and lots of places are booked. What Events Will We Ride? We will have a full range of championship events, beginning with timed TT rides, then moving to Match Sprints and Mass-Start events like the Points Race. I can just about guarantee the following: 200 meter Qualifying (for match sprints seeding) from a flying start at the top of the banking. Match Sprints (heats, semi-finals, best of three rides for finals) Points Race (Like a criterium, but you sprint for points on designated laps. Winner determined by point total) Short TT (500m / 750m / Kilo, depending on age group) Standing start, against the clock. Individual Pursuit (2km / 3km/ 4km, depending on age group) Standing start, against the clock. Team Pursuit Standing start event for 4-man or 4-women teams, covering 4000 meters or 3000 meters respectively. Time taken when third rider in team crosses the line. Team Sprint Standing start event for 3-man or 2-women teams, lasting 3 laps or 2 laps, respectively. Time taken when team’s first rider crosses the line. Typically you peel off a rider a lap, only one finishes per team. A real drag race style event. UPDATE: Based on last year’s experience with frantic equipment changes and delays, we are going to try and run all events with mass-start setups first, then take a break and switch the bikes over to TT configuration for the remaining events. What Other Equipment Will I Need? Typically at the track you will want to bring your rollers or wind-trainer for warming up while other events are in progress. Your toolbox, a folding chair, a canopy, sunscreen, etc. can be a good idea. The infield is paved, and there are actual restrooms (not porta-potties!) Also, since we will be outside at Colo. Springs altitude all day, bring warmup clothes, etc. to cover everything from 50 - 90 degrees. How Do I Get Track / Fixie Equipment? A good place to start would be to visit the shops that came out to the Veloport event at the Balloon Museum in January. They are, in no particular order: · High Desert Bicycles, Rio Rancho · Sportz Outdoor · Fat Tire Cycles · The Bike Coop · Cycle Cave · BikeWorx · Please let me know who I forgot, I'll put them in...... If you want to see what's available in track racing gear, a good site is Business Cycles If you want to see some articles on fixie setup, try Harris Cyclery Do I Need a USCF License? Yes, since the velodrome is operated by the US Olympic Committee, USCF is the sanctioning body for this event. I recommend that you get an annual license, which you can also use at the Record Challenge, Tour of the Gila, Iron Horse, Nationals, etc. You also have BUNCH of forms you need to fill out (it even includes what newspapers to contact about your great performance!) PRINT THESE OUT AND FILL THEM IN ON THE RIDE UP! It will save you 20-30 minutes, easy. Check these links for changes before race day. JUNIORS - Check these out for fine print, parents releases, etc. Forms To Fill Out: Forms: Please fill out and bring the following (also available at track): USOC Required Velodrome Form Links (See Necessary Forms Section).
Why is This So Much Fun?! Among the reasons: Everyone sees your race. You are not 20 miles down the road, you're right here. There's nothing like diving from the railing in the 200M (about 2 stories up) down to the pole line, then blasting around the banked turn with you knees hammering your chest and your eyeballs bouncing around in your head, trying to focus on the upcoming finish line. Where else can you look around in your pack and see the helmet of the rider on your left below you and see the bottom of the tires of the rider on your right above your head? Where else can you ride so hard you want to heave, but be only 100 steps from your cooler and lounge chair? And you get to race 4+ times in a day. You get to warm up in a long paceline, pulling up on the banking and dropping back in at the end of the pack, like in team pursuit. Give Me Some Links! Velodrome Address: 250 S Union Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80910-3138 Gear Chart My unofficial gear chart, with junior limits for 700C. See USCF rule book for official junior gearing info. FixedGearFever - Picking the Right Gear Good point here - Don't sweat this! 90-95 inches is the ticket.
Contact Info: Mike Gilb (505) 379-2232 cell (good on raceday, too).
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