bike - Track bicycle
Photograph by Velo Steveon Flickr.
Frames for sprinting are as rigid as possible, bike while those for general racing as aerodynamic as possible. The governing bike body, the International Cycling Union (UCI), sets limits on design and dimensions as well as the shape and diameter of the tubes used to construct the frame. A track bike Bike-to-Work Day bicycle differs from one used on the road by having: Typical track frames use 120mm spacing for the rear hub. Without a good bike jump, the rider risks opponents accelerating away; without good sustained speed, he will be unable to keep up with a fast race.
Because they do not need to shift from sprocket to sprocket, track chains use a full bushing to allow little flex and to be stronger. Rigidity bike is more important than lightness.
Track cyclists practice fast pedalling (cadence) as a compromise. Long-distance attempts such as the hour record use high gear combinations such as 52x12 or 55x14. A 3/32-inch chain will not work on a 1/8-inch chainring or sprocket.
A lower gear allows quicker bike acceleration or jump. But a bigger gear makes sustained speed easier, important in pursuit, time trial and bunched races such as points or scratch events. Unlike road bicycles, the track bike is a fixed-gear bicycle and so has a single gear and neither freewheel nor brakes.
The dropouts or track ends face rearwards to facilitate chain tension adjustment with very tight clearances in front of the rear tire that would prevent wheel removal with forward facing dropouts. Frames can be made of steel, aluminium, carbon fiber, or titanium. Although an 1/8-inch chain will work on a 3/32-inch chainring or sprocket, it is not ideal.
Tubular tires are often used but are becoming more obsolete due to advances in Clincher tires negating the benefits of tubulars. A track frame is specific to its use. Carbon fiber is most common at the professional level. Track bicycles have only one gear so its size is important.
The chainring, sprocket and chain should all be the same width. All bicycles with derailleur gears use bushingless chains which flex, making gear changing possible. .
Ondřej Sosenka used 54x13 with 190mm cranks to set the 2005 record. There are two common widths of single speed and fixed gear bicycle chains: 1/8 inch and 3/32 inch.
