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I understand that the higher the gear you opt for, (bigger ratio of teeth on crankset to rear sprocket) the faster you can potentially go for the same number of revolutions of the cranks, but that it gets harder to turn the gear, especially from slower starting speeds. Am I right in thinking though that it would also be more difficult to brake as you move to a higher gearing? I am talking about braking only using legs and the drivetrain since we are talking about track here.
My thinking is that like a car, the higher the gear you are in, the less 'engine braking' you get when you lift off the power since you now have a gearing where it is easier for the back wheel and your momentum to turn the cranks, as opposed to the opposite way round when you are driving though the cranks to turn the wheel and accelerate
In theory yes,
You don't brake on the track using your legs. iirc, it was the first thing we were told when I went there with a load of people from here many years ago.
Correct.
Most of the SQT sessions state a maximum gear of 88" (the purpose of the session not necessarily being who can push the biggest gear but more to do with a level playing field and teaching tactics with a degree of safety - it's easier for riders to control their speed).
When it comes to racing, it's a combination of how big a year a rider can get turning to get on top of the gear, how long they can push it for and the requirements to moderate their speed. Bunch races require that finesse far more than individual pursuiting for example.
Having ridden brakeless fixed for the last 10 years I can categorically say that yes, higher gearing makes a noticeable difference in ability to stop. It is harder to slow down gradually but also harder to skid stop.
I wouldn't even attempt to ride a track gearing on the road with no brakes.
(as well as not being able to get up any hills or go off road)
I've never heard of braking effect influencing gear choice; track gears are selected for moving forward!
The principles are the same as road cycling. A bigger gear allows you to go faster, but if the gear is too big, you won't have the necessary jump to attack or chase. So riders will typically gear lower for sprint or bunch events, and higher for endurance events like pursuit.
I used to ride with a few "quite good" track riders - their leg speed was immense, particularly for group races and events. Gear selection was quite important - for the ability to respond to changes in pace, for safety and for the differences in different tracks.
Simond - how do you brake then?!
Crazylegs - Kerley, thanks for confirming (and Kerley I have no intention of trying on the road, with brakes or without!)
KCR - it's not a question of it influencing gear choice, but an awareness of one of the possible consequences of any choice made
Thanks All! 🙂
but an awareness of one of the possible consequences of any choice made
The consequence is irrelevant on the track as you don't need to stop and it would have zero factor in the gearing you are choosing. If it did you would need to use a much lower gear that would be needed.
I run a 62" gear on road/gravel and it is great and makes stopping really easy but I would be left for dead on the track within half a lap running 62".
Simond – how do you brake then?!
You don't really. You control your speed by changing how hard you pedal / using the banking.
Am I right in thinking though that it would also be more difficult to brake as you move to a higher gearing?
In theory but you don't brake. You just ease off or preferably move outwards or upwards if you can. You're going that fast that close together that braking would cause an instant pileup. The only time you might brake is when you leave the track, but you end up doing at least two laps anyway which is 500m so you have plenty of stopping time. Watch it on the telly, they take ages to come to a stop.
In fact, if you do misjudge the slowdown after you've left the track and have to brake, you end up with terrible DOMS (sore legs) because your legs are being forced to extend against your muscle power which is a key cause of DOMS.
Having raced on the track a lot as a youth I can categorically say you do use your legs to brake - if you're controlling your speed by how hard you pedal that's using your legs!!!!
A lot of novices will try and stop pedalling or use their legs too much and this can be disastrous - I expect that's why coaches say don't use your legs just pedal slower, so novices don't muller themselves, but really it's the same thing.
The key is gentle deceleration rather than abrupt braking - that's why it's so important to race with people who know how to ride a fixed wheel and pedal smoothly.
You can use the banking but only if you're on the front/ The track's clear/empty, you're following someone else who's pulled up or competing in a match sprint, or you're giving up and that's the only way off the track (Welwyn is like this). It does slow you down obviously, but it's used more tactically (refusing to chase, short turning, giving up an attack) rather than out and out speed control.
If you watch a team pursuit they fly up and then down very quickly. They don't really slow down that much - you actually aim your front wheel for the last riders bottom bracket then you drop in about three centre metres off their back wheel.
When I was riding at a much higher level our coaches used to put us behind dernys on tiny gears to help our pedalling and leg speed. I actually found it hard to stop a lower gear at a very high cadence than a higher gear at a lower one!
Thanks all. Just to clarify something, when I said braking, I didn't mean coming to a stop. it would have been more accurate to say 'modulating' speed when riding in a bunch where the pace is varying. It could just be a few km/h for any number of reasons, but I was not talking about emergency stops!
It is still harder with a higher gear if you are putting any effort into slowing down. Not really something you do though as you slow down by just easing off the pedals and letting your feet be pushed around.
I actually found it hard to stop a lower gear at a very high cadence than a higher gear at a lower one!
There will be a cutoff point. When I cycle down some hills I am hitting 200rpm and yes that is not a cadence where I would want to try stopping too many times (but then I am only hitting 200rpm due to my lower gearing)