first time at Herne Hill Velodrome
On a cold and windy Saturday morning there I was amongst the other expectant newcomers to try a few laps round the track. After the initial signing of forms and being issued a bike and helmet it was time to get onto the track. I noticed that some of the newbies had brought their own track bikes with them, new and shiny just like the eager looks on their faces.
We all lined up along the side of the track holding tightly to the bar as our feet were strapped in. My toes started to go numb as they explained the procedures. And then we were off, one at a time in an anti-clockwise direction. All we had to do on this initial lap was to stay on the red line but I worried slightly as we got to the bend. But it was easier than I thought. You ride as though you are going straight and apply slightly greater pressure to the pedals.
The next task was to stick to the blue line which was about a third of the way from the centre. But that meant being a little higher on the bend due to the banking of the track, but applying the same technique as before it was plain sailing or riding I should say.
Next came the outer part of the track and it did feel a bit steep up there on the bends, but great fun at the same time. Got slightly hairy with the wind but not too difficult, even for a complete novice. This was the correct way to stop we were told, to go up onto the higher banking which would set us up for coming in and holding the rail again. Your feet never actually come out of the pedals.
We tried overtaking next, looking over the shoulder and judging the distance. The best place to overtake being the straights. And immediately followed by a ten lap race. My thighs certainly got a workout. But made the ride home pretty easy going.
Seeing all the riders and the abundance of fixed gear track bikes was a true delight and I’ll be back for more very soon.