With an enhanced firmness for flat-out sprints and the superior aerodynamics for pursuit events in the velodrome arena, Track bikes simply collide science and cycling together with previously unheard of results. Our range of Track bikes delivers performance whatever the discipline or your performance level.

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So what exactly is a track bike?

Track bicycles or track bikes are bicycles optimized velodrome racing events or sometimes outside tracks. Dissimilar from road bicycles, the track bike is a fixed-gear bicycle with a single gear without freewheel functionality or any brakes. Tires are slender and inflated to great pressures to reduce resistance when rolling. Tubular tires where often used but are becoming more outdated due to developments in clincher tires negating the benefits of tubular tires. Such track bikes and track frames are offered by large brands such as Cervelo, Giant, specialized and Moda Forte

Features of a track bike

Frame: The bike is far lighter than your average road bike. Some of the lightest Track bikes coming in at about 7kg which you can pretty much lift that with a finger.

If you look closely, you'll also notice they're very narrow and slick.This is to ensure a strong aerodynamic feature making the bike slice through the air with little resistance while on the track.

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Chain: Usually there two standard widths of single speed and fixed, these include 1/8 inch and 3/32 inch. The sprocket, chain-ring & chain should all be the same width. Although a 1/8-inch chain will work on a 3/32-inch chain-ring and/or sprocket, but his is not idyllic. A 3/32-inch chain doesn’t work on a 1/8-inch sprocket or chain-ring.

Since the chain does not need to transfer from sprocket to sprocket, track bike chains employ a complete bushing to allow reduced flexibility and strength.

All normal bicycles with a gear set use bushing-less chains which allow flex, this makes gear changing possible.

What is a "Velodrome"? 

A Velodrome is a stadium or arena for track cycling often used for race events. Most modern velodromes include steeply banked elliptical track circuits which consist of two 180-degree rounded bends linked by two straights. The straights transition to the circular turn through a steady easement curve.

Track Design and Track Bikes

As mentioned before bikes for velodromes do not have brakes employing a single fixed rear gear that doesn’t allow freewheeling. This assists maximizing your speed, reduces mass and avoids sharp braking while still allowing the rider to reduce speed by pushing back against the pedal momentum.

Recent velodromes are created and built by specialised designers. The most well-known architects are probably Schuermann based in Germany, and have built more than 125 tracks worldwide to date. Many Schuermann's outdoor tracks are completed in wood trusswork with an exterior of strips from the unusual rain-forest wood Afzelia. Internal velodrome tracks are built with less a costly pine face. Recently designers have been moving away from conventional materials, 1996 Atlanta Olympics saw the beginning of synthetic surfaces mounted on stiff steel frames.

The track itself is measured down a stripe 20 cm up from the base. Olympic benchmark velodromes may only measure between 400 m and 250 m, the extent must be such that a whole or half number of laps gives a range of 1 kilometre. Some range from 133m to 500m, though 250m is the most common and the length required in large events. Velodromes such as the Calshot Spit found in Hampshire is only 142m as it was constructed inside an old aircraft hangar. It has a specially steep banking area.

Numerous aged tracks were erected around athletics tracks or other flat foundations, any banking was found to be shallow compared to today’s standards shallow. Another common pattern was a smaller track would produce a steeper banking. For example 250m track banks approximately 45° while a 333m track banks approximately 32°.

Featured Track Bikes

Cervelo T1 Frameset 2011	Cervelo T3 Frameset 2011	Moda  Forte Track Bike 2010
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