Track Cycling Cheat Sheet

The key takeaways for beginners – riding without brakes, understanding the banking, and your first taster course in the velodrome.

Track bike basics

Item	Priority	Tip
Fixed gear	High	No freewheel, no brake – the rear wheel always turns with the pedals. Regulation, not style.
Gear ratio	High	Beginners start light at around 80 gear inches – heavier gears come once the technique sits.
Foot retention	Medium	Straps or clipless pedals keep your foot locked on even when braking with counter-pressure.
Borrow first	Low	Use a club bike for the first months – find the right size and gearing by riding, not buying.

What makes track cycling different

No brake, no freewheel: You brake with active counter-pressure on the pedals – there's no coasting like on an everyday bike.
A 42–45 degree banking: Steeper than any roof – with enough speed, centrifugal force holds you safely on the track.
A taster course first: Clubs offer courses: practise the flat track and brakeless riding first, the banking comes after.

The 3 golden technique rules

Factor 1: Braking is counter-pressure

Concept: There's no freewheel to let go of – your legs always keep turning. Tip: Steadily lower your cadence and build gentle resistance against the pedals until the bike almost coasts to a stop by itself.

Factor 2: The banking is physics, not courage

Concept: Too little speed is the real risk in the turn, not too much – centrifugal force and banking angle must balance out. Tip: Enter with enough target speed and work your way from the blue line towards the red sprinter's line step by step.

Factor 3: Pedal smoothly, always

Concept: Any break in your pedal stroke disturbs the fixed drivetrain noticeably – unlike on a freewheel bike. Tip: Constant, even pedalling without pause is the basis for starting, cornering and braking alike.

Reading the track lines

Line	Meaning
Black line	Defines the track's official length, usually 250 m.
Red line	The sprinter's/ideal line – the shortest fast line advanced riders work towards.
Blue line	The border to the flat inside zone – beginners orient themselves here first.
Banking	42–45° on a 250 m track, about 32° on a 333 m track – steeper than any roof.

Club, licence & safety

Training is the risk zone: 84% of all injuries happen in training, not competition – keep your focus until the very last lap.
Fall, don't brace: Shoulder, knee and collarbone are hit most often – falling technique protects better than bracing with your arms.
Licence through the club: The recreational licence runs through the BDR (Germany's cycling federation), costs about 15.90 euros and even lowers entry fees.
A calmer race debut: Mass-start disciplines like scratch races are a calmer debut than sprint or keirin.

Pro tip: The banking looks brutal from the ground – from the saddle it's pure physics. Ride the speed your taster course sets, not slower: too little momentum is the real risk here, not too much.