Cyclesport Victoria

In comparison to road racing and mountain biking, track cycling is an incredibly specialised indoor event, with a number of disciplines that place as much emphasis on strategy and subtle technique as on physical fitness, power and stamina.

Races take place on an indoor and outdoor velodromes of anywhere between 250m to 400m in circumference.  DISC Velodrome is 250m.

Straights banked at 12-13 degrees and the corners banked at a steep 42 degree angle. Lanes are marked for riders to use in the sprint and endurance events, as well as for building up speed or slowing down.

The bikes used in track events are highly sophisticated machines designed specifically for indoor track racing. Upright bikes with conventional drop-down handlebars are used for the sprint events, while low-profile bikes with triathlon-style handlebars are used for the endurance events as they allow the riders to adopt a more aerodynamic posture.

Both bikes are designed and built using lightweight materials, such as carbon fibre and sophisticated metal alloys so that they are as light as possible to help the riders' speed and endurance. Solid wheels are often used to help the aerodynamics. They don't use gears or brakes, as speeds in the races are fairly constant and riders control their velocity through the pressure they put on the pedals.

Events include short-distance sprints, time trials and long-distance endurance races for both teams and individuals. Depending on the discipline, the result is judged by time, by victory over an opponent, or by completion of a distance.