TIme to get a bit of a Poke on!!!

It's been on the cards for the past month and a bit. That's right! today was the first of two sessions I had booked at the Velodrome in Manchester. I have cycled in the velodrome before (middle of last year) so I was pretty much allowed to just ride as I liked as long as I wasn't dangerous and the coaches were happy.

Anyway as soon as it 4.30 today I was out the door from work as I knew I had to cycle the 2.6 miles to the velodrome from the city centre and really didn't want to be late.

I had a taster session booked from 5-6pm and really didn't want to waste my money by turning up late or trashing myself so hard to get there that I would be knackered and wouldn't enjoy it.

I had already figured out my route. A nice easy ride down the Ashton canal so traffic free, just the odd pedestrian to avoid (but they didn't mind as long as I didn't go past at break neck speed) and the odd few lumps and bumps on the canal path. I don't think they were quite thinking of road bikes when they built them in the 1800's or however long ago it was.

So after I got there I made my way to reception got booked in, picked up a pair of Lake shoes (these are a type of cycling shoes they use with the hire bikes) and headed into the velodrome. You could still feel the heat from the world championships at the weekend and it was indeed as if the place was still ringing from the roar of the crowds too. It is a world class venue and right on the doorstep! I can only imagine what it must have been like at the weekend for the Great British cycling team (and indeed all the cycling teams) to walk out into the riders D to the standing ovation they received, The roar of the crowd must have been deafening but at the same time such a rush too. If that doesn't make you want to ride to a world class record breaking level (and they did break records too) then what will I ask?

So now it was my turn, not so much to wow the crowds (there must have been about 5 or 6 spectators that had come to see one or two of the others taking part) but it made me smile and I was ready to just simply thrash myself for an hour.

Now you may be wondering why I am doing this and what makes track cycling different from the road cycling I have been doing.

The two main differences are its on a track (a bit obvious but hey!)

And these tracks have steeply banked corners

that essentially mean you are always going in a straight line, an oddity but it works! Takes a bit to get your head around but as soon as you have that figured out you are cooking on gas.

By the way that is not a picture of me but some random chap on the internet, it is Manchester Velodrome however. This does give you an idea of how steep the banking is but to see it and even better ride it is breathtaking.

The second part that is different is the bike

  

Essentially this is a bike built simply to do one thing only and that is go chuffing fast!!!

It has no brakes, no free wheel and no gears like a conventional road bike, Once you are on it you are clipped into the pedals and then it is go time. The rear wheel turns when the pedals turn so effectively all the speed control is done solely by using your legs. The tires are slick and only used on the track. I certainly wouldn't want to dirty the track with my dirty road bike.

As I prepared to ease myself into riding the track I noticed a few of the cyclist that had just finished on the previous session before hand. It was only part of the British Para cycling team. I was a bit annoyed to have missed seeing them put in some flying laps as I think to watch the pro's do it would have been really inspiring.

Now clipped in I pushed of the barrier and made my way around the blue apron just getting a feel for the bike before a glance over my right shoulder as I made my way down the straight up onto the blue band then onto the track at speed. I have no idea how fast I was going, it was probably snails pace in comparison to what the pro's had been doing but to me it felt fast.

With the air rushing past me, my ears ringing and my breathing controlled but I was breathing hard. I did a few warm up laps at a good pace then went for a few flying laps.

By this point the main group of the riders had started to join the track and they were pretty much all first timers. I took the upper blue stayers line to keep out of there way and started to really pump my legs.

Momentarily, I wondered what it must have been like at the weekend again,  but then got focused on the line, pushing harder,
breathing harder,
concentrate,

 it was at this point I realised had forgotten my gloves! Spanner!

I slowed again on the straight (if you do it on the corners you can lose the centrifugal force that sticks you to the track banking and slide down the bank, this would be an embarrassing mistake one feels!) and made my way down to the blue apron then over to the inner fence where I could stop and hold on without falling off. I had a quick chat with one of the staff, a young lad that works at the cycling centre, rides the track regularly and is clearly very enthusiastic about it too. It certainly is always a pleasure to find someone that really enjoys there job even if it does involve having to work with total novices. He didn't come across as a Mr know-it-all and neither did the coach, however you did get the feeling that they had years of experience doing this sort of thing and they certainly knew there stuff.

So gloves on and feeling refreshed from just a 2 minute stop, I clipped in again and pushed off to join the traffic. You have to really have you wits about you when on the track, as you join you have to ensure you are not about to ride into someone else, as you climb up the track or descend down again you have to constantly glance over your shoulder to make sure you are not about to hammer into somebody. Sounds simple and for someone like me that commutes by bike daily and so is constantly having to look over my shoulder just in case the idiot in the car behind isn't giving me the room etc. For some of the guys I was sharing the track with however it was not something they were used too and so I just kept a safe distance at all times.

Once you get the idea that speed is your friend on the track then "Sticking" to the line is fairly simple. One or two of the other riders spent the hour long session working this out, but I could tell they were all enjoying themselves.

With a bit of clear air in front of me now I again pushed hard, Breathing deep to make sure I got as much oxygen into my body as possible I built up my speed. I was really pushing and pulling on each pedal stroke as hard as I could. My legs driving up and down like pistons, the air once again whistling past my ears. I have no idea how fast I am going but I do know I seem to be passing quite a few riders. Must keep my distance, must concentrate on the line. Breathing hard, legs pumping harder. I make as many "fast" (they did feel fast and I counted to 20 on one of them, in elephants of course. So over a 250 meter track, I work that out at 750 meters a minute, which is 45 km per hour or just a little over 27 Mph. The big boys do probably around 40-50 Mph so I have a long way to go, however I was loving it!)

Now I was starting to feel it and needed a drink.

I dropped down to the pale blue then onto the apron. I wandered into the riders D and then to my dismay, the water fountain was off!!! Fail. I hadn't brought a water bottle myself and there was non to be had around here!!! Bummer, I wasn't going to let this stop me enjoying a dam good ride though.

I had a chat with the coach about how to go for accreditation. This is what you have to do to get racing on the track.Firstly you have to get your Blue ticket, this demonstrates that you can ride safely on the track and in a group. Then to the improver for a pink ticket that will allow you to advance onto doing all sorts or fancy things and mega up the fitness too. After that it is Skills sessions and finally accreditation. This is something that all the competing riders go through and at about £10 a session it is very cheap too. People don't realise (me being one of those people) that this cycling malarkey is really easy to get into, great fitness and really good fun too.

Now on for some more fast laps. I know I had to cycle the 8 miles back home after this, but I was going to really pull the plugs out and go for it big time.

Again, harder, faster, breathing hard, really pumping my legs, my head starting to buzz as I felt myself getting dehydrated. "Breath deeper and push on it's only pain!!" screamed Sergeant Major Matt in the back of my head again. I could really feel my lungs burning and my legs felt like they were on fire at this point. I couldn't count to see how fast my laps were. I didn't really care. I was just enjoying really stretching myself and getting every ounce of energy I could out of my legs.

Finally and all too soon my time was up!!

With genuinely wobbly legs I made my way back to the riders D and sorted myself out. Putting back the hire bike I used I looked around to see I was surrounded by the smiling faces of the other riders too. Looks like I wasn't the only one to have really enjoyed the hour on the track.

I donned my commuter gear (Hi-vis everything). And headed for the reception again to hand in my shoes and feel the cold blast from the cool winter air outside.

Still a bit wobbly I set off on my ride home, my legs felt alien to me now and even though |I couldn't really feel them they did as they were told and applied power when asked. Something tells me they will punish me tomorrow!! May be a little bout of shut up legs may be required around then.

Still I enjoyed it and look forward to doing it again on Wednesday. This time I think I will bring water and see if I can really find my upper limit for how hard I can go.

I will be trying for my first ticket though.

Loving cycling still! :)