Track Cycling Regular Season Begins!!

Below is an update by our good friend Hyun on how his beginning of regular season is going.

After getting throttled in the regular category three races for four weeks, it was a big relief to be racing with  ‘kids’ my own age rather than a fraction of my age.  The last few weeks were so fast, there was definitely a part of me that was getting  a bit discouraged,  Being able to analyze nightly data from racing was helpful because it indicated that my fitness was about where it typically is this time of year, and I’m moving along ok.  It’s just this year, the racing in the cat 3’s has been super competitive.

The night lights at Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome park in Redmond Washington.

Being able to compete in the Master B’s field was kind of a big relief.  It was still fast and competitive but not throttled past my redline from the gun. 

The big event for me that night was the keirin, more specifically the JB Keirin which is defined as:

‘The JB Keirin is our take on the traditional Keirin – a 4 lap race with 6-8 riders starting from a standing start/rolling start out of the warm up circle. The riders draft behind a motorpacer for the first 2.5 laps with the motorcycle gradually accelerating up to 50 kph before it departs from the track. Riders draw for position prior to the race and must fall into order once the race starts. After the back straight pursuit line, riders can reposition themselves. Once the motor pulls off, with 1.5 laps to go, it is an all-out sprint for the finish line. Riders cannot fully pass the motor before it exits the track.’ (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_dnoX12FcY1wkAGH0c2zr5dAQ80jeyrthHjdB5ZNxrg/edit)

Keirin racing originated in Japan and translates as “combat” from Japanese.  In the past keirin racing was super aggressive with lots of pushing and shoving at the start as riders jockeyed for position. In Japan, people were able to bet on keirin racing.  There was so much money riding on the races, professional keirin racers were secluded in dormitories to prevent them from being influenced by betting.  

Position 1 right behind the motor was much more desirable when the motor pulled off later in the race.  Consequently, the more aggressive riding to get the draft of the motor.  With the development of the new rule, the motor pulling off with 1.5 laps (600 meters) changed the game. 

Riders following an E-bike serving as the “motor” setting the pace prior to the actual start of the race.

Typically, there are qualifying heats before the final round to determine the winner.  That night three from each heat would qualify for the final.  You didn’t necessarily have to win your qualifier but be in the top three.

In my qualifying round, I drew rider four of five.  I knew the rider behind the motor was pretty speedy and felt reasonably confident about the other three riders.  Just before the motor pulled off, the rider in number two position withdrew opening a gap to rider 1.  I recall thinking, Oh crap!  What now.  Rider 32 could have very well have sat up and been like I’m not bridging you up past that gap and giving you a free ride.  You do it yourself!  Luckily, he did bridge that gap which made life a lot easier for me because I was able to punch it went head to head with rider 1 to qualify. 

Going into the finals I drew position 1 which I was not thrilled about.  Being at the front for the last two and half laps can be stressful because you’re in the wind and everybody’s gunning for you.  I had won from the front before but it was always a lot of work.  Drawing position one, you get three and a half laps to sit on and get your head screwed on right for the sprint.  Once the motor pulled off with 600 meters to go, I didn’t soft pedal but just kept the pace high enough so nobody attacked early.   With about 200 meters to go I jumped hard to accelerate gradually.  Rider 1, whom I went head to head with earlier, started coming up going into turn four.  That’s when I feel like it becomes a but more of a mental game and you try not too panic but just keep going as fast as YOU can.  As I was on the black line and he was coming around the bank there was a little bit of uphill for him that slowed him down,  I was able to pull it off for the win with a bike throw at the end.   For perspective, my computer said that power output was around 1100 watts and speed maxed around 39 miles per hour.  The keirin win got me enough points for third in the omnium that night. 

Hyun with his first podium finish of the season!
The big takeaway from the last few weeks was just keep plugging away, and use your data to provide a reference to guide you on whether to train harder or ease up.  It was also a good reference to see that I hadn’t necessarily slowed down as I’ve aged either, and to be persistent.  Eventually things start to shape up.
We at the Mountain Exp love that Hyun is sharing his knowledge of track racing with our wider community. Congratulations on your first of what we believe will many podium finishes this season! Please keep sharing!