Week three of the four week class finds the students beginning to put into practice some of the elements they learned in weeks one and two, and adding some new tricks as well.
The class begins, as all races will once the students are certified, with an organized pace-line warm up. The students run through a 15-lap warm up with the riders working on full-lap pulls. That means that the person at the head of the line leads the group for one full lap before peeling off and joining the group at the back. Once the riders have finished their warm-up, they pull to the infield where Brian explains the next portion of the evening: working on jumps.
To take a jump is a term meaning to have a quick burst of acceleration prior to beginning a sprint or launching an attack in a race. There are three main types that the students work on with Brian; a short jump in the saddle, a short jump out of the saddle, and a long jump to finish the exercise.
After the jump exercise, the group begins work on the 200 meter sprint; a sprint that will take the rider just about halfway around the track. In this case, the rider starts his or her sprint on the back stretch, attacks turns three and four and then powers through the finish line.
The 200m sprint is used primarily for dividing up the riders on sprint race days and is done as such: first off, the riders all begin a slow pace line around the blue line of the track. This line is the upper of the three major lines. Brain rides at the front and directs the riders as to when they should begin their run-up to the sprint. Typically the rider first in line will begin his or her sprint by taking a full lap on his or her own. After that lap is done, he or she will power through turn one, fly down the banking of turn two and begin his or her sprint on the back stretch. While that rider is completing the sprint, the next rider in line will begin his or her lead-up lap.
The night ends with some racing that utilizes the training that Brian has taken the class through. The class is divided up into two or three people for Match Sprints. A Match Sprint is typically a short race that requires the riders use some great racing tactics. The racers begin on the boards and when they roll off, the race has started. So, if you are in front, you have to constantly watch your back for attacks from the riders behind. If you are behind, you want to make sure you don't give too much away at the start so you can sprint to the finish for the win. All told, it is a very exciting race.
And that will conclude your week three of training. The final class will involve a lot more racing and will put together all the skills that you have learned to this point. Look for the final article soon! Otherwise, email me with any questions or head over the The Ultimate Penultimate to see my own trails and tribulations on the track. Also, the photo for this article was taken by Grant Surratt. Check out the rest of the photos here.
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