Wales National Velodrome Track Taster

[Andywinds]

Hi all,

I'm booked in for a session in December, I think I'm mad, but hey! Can anyone who has been be able to offer some advice on what I should wear please? Its says to wear two layers, but I only usually wear a short sleeve Lycra top when cycling in the summer and then a warmer outer layer in the winter. Also, does this apply to shorts?
Apparently I can use my road shoes but would need to purchase look cleats. Is this the norm. I can use trainers if I want? But I don't mind buying the cleats as they are relatively cheap.
If there is anything else that might be useful please let me know.

 

[S-Express]

The hire bikes at Newport come with either toe cages, or Look Keo pedals, so you will either need trainers (for the toe cage option) or shoes with Keo cleats attached (for the Keo option).

Most people I see there on the tasters are just wearing regular cycle gear. It's never cold inside (quite the opposite), some riders wear long sleeves and/or arm/leg warmers, many don't. Bring a drink, although there is also a water fountain in the track centre.

 

[GGJ]

The reason for two layers is to cause less damage to your skin should you take a tumble, usually at least 1 layer is long sleeves. You won't be riding around the track for a full hour so a lot of standing around and the possibility of your body cooling down is another reason for two layers.

 

[Andywinds]

There is no way I can cycle around there for an hours anyway. Should the layers be made of thin Lycra? I do have a thin warm base layer I could take.

 

[GGJ]

If it's an indoor track then thin layers will be perfect

 

[Andywinds]

Lea Valley velodrome specified two layers on the upper body, but no one was checking so I took one layer off as I was miles too hot. In between sessions I put a gilet on to keep warm. I wore three-quarter legs, but loads of people were wearing shorts so clearly knees are less vulnerable than arms, or something. Anyway no one fell off.

They hire out shoes with the right cleats, are you sure the Welsh one doesn't do the same?

Ok thanks. When I asked on the phone they advised I could bring my own shoes but that they to be the look/KEO cleats. Or I could just wear trainers? I would rather wear proper shoes.

 

[Markymark]

As with TMN this is Lea Valley. Gloves and covered arms is all I was told - everyone wore shorts and nothing about double layers. Hired shoes and dug out my old helmet. In my hour we had non-stop free riding for at least 30 minutes.

 

[Andywinds]

Thanks for the information all.

 

[Andywinds]

Ask about hiring shoes. What you can't do is go anywhere near the wooden surface with SPDs.

The bikes pedals will not take SPD's.

 

[S-Express]

There's no shoe hire at Newport. Once you are clipped/strapped in, then for a taster session it doesn't really matter if you are on cages or Keos anyway. Clothing is fairly free and nobody checks whether you are wearing layers or not.

 

[Andywinds]

There's no shoe hire at Newport. Once you are clipped/strapped in, then for a taster session it doesn't really matter if you are on cages or Keos anyway. Clothing is fairly free and nobody checks whether you are wearing layers or not.

Great thanks, so really for a tester just using trainers will be fine then.

 

[S-Express]

Yeah, basically if you already have Keo cleats fitted to your shoes then great. But if you don't, no worries. All of your ridiing will start/finish from the inside rail anyway, so plenty of opportunity to tighten straps before moving off and loosening them once you stop.

Incidentally, what day/time is the session?

 

[User482]

Hi all,

I'm booked in for a session in December, I think I'm mad, but hey! Can anyone who has been be able to offer some advice on what I should wear please? Its says to wear two layers, but I only usually wear a short sleeve Lycra top when cycling in the summer and then a warmer outer layer in the winter. Also, does this apply to shorts?
Apparently I can use my road shoes but would need to purchase look cleats. Is this the norm. I can use trainers if I want? But I don't mind buying the cleats as they are relatively cheap.
If there is anything else that might be useful please let me know.

I've ridden there a couple of times: the pedal clips/ straps are actually adaptors clipped into the Look pedals, and are prone to undoing from the pedal if you really go for it, as they set the tension quite loose. If you have an old set of road shoes I'd buy some Look cleats and use those. If you do stick with clips/ straps, wear trainers and not cycling shoes, as you'll have more grip on the pedal. If memory serves they use ordinary flat pedals at Manchester (with clips & straps) and do insist on long sleeves.

We all wore ordinary short-sleeve cycling tops and shorts (see pic) , no-one seemed to mind. I did have a long-sleeved top with me just in case.

 

[jowwy]

What date in december??

 

[Andywinds]

Yeah, basically if you already have Keo cleats fitted to your shoes then great. But if you don't, no worries. All of your ridiing will start/finish from the inside rail anyway, so plenty of opportunity to tighten straps before moving off and loosening them once you stop.

Incidentally, what day/time is the session?

I'm booked in for the 12pm on the 21st December. Who knows I might bottle it before then! I'm looking forward to it but also anxious at the same time. Maybe I should bring a friend!