track training - Madison

[kieran]

For dad's day I went to Herne Hill on Sunday morning for the 'serious' training session. A nice sized group. Great fun, We tried something called 'Hunter's variation' where we were divided up into small groups positioned around the track, then the front rider sprints off on the black, whilst everyone else stays put up at the railings, as he passes the next group their front rider drops down behind the guy and they continue to the next group where the first rider pulls up and lines up behind that group whilst their front rider drops down behind the second (now first) rider etc. All done at sprint speed, so important to get your speed up when dropping down. We also did some madison practice, starting off with just holding hands, eventually moving up to catching and flinging etc, having a go at both positions (the flinger anf flingee, or whatever they're called). Then we combined the two and did 'Hunter's variation' with madison slinging, where instead of dropping down behind the sprinter you dropped down and took a swing off them and they pulled up behind the group. A great time and nice to learn something new.

A bit scary doing the flinging but great feeling getting that burst of speed after being flung!


From wikipedia on the madison and 6 day racing:

Racing was at its hardest when the stands were full. Riders took it easy when they were empty and circled the track reading newspapers, talking, even writing letters as they pedalled with one foot, the other steering the handlebars. !!!!!

[quote="kieran"] starting off with just holding hands,

[kieran]

Jon, do you work for Viz??

[Jon H]

No, but I'm just surprised Mr didn't get there first.

Is the hand-slinging as scary to do as it is to watch? Whenever I watch a Madison I'm just amazed that there aren't crashes on every lap, what with people swooping up and down the track at different speeds and riding one-handed.

I've read that description of the Hunter's variation with hand-slings about three times and I still don't understand what was going on. Hope it was easier to do in practice than to try to explain.

[Andrew G]

Read it again then Jon , I think (if I've understood) for Hunter instead of doing 2up you got a hand sling as you dropped in from the person already on the black line instead of a tow up to the first group you passed, then you hand slung in the next bod before drifting up the banking on to the back of the next group.

I've confused myself now .

[quote="Jon Hemming"]No, but I'm just surprised Mr didn't get there first.

[kieran]

See Andrew understood. Hand slings, yea, scary at first, but luckily I paired up at first with one or two of the trainers so they knew what to do.

Andrew, I think they might be doing it again this Sunday.

[Jon H]

Aha, the penny's dropped. I get it now.