Late Bloomer

Last year was my first in organized racing, and the first time I had ever ridden a fixed gear (at least a true fixie, as I've had many a rear derailleur mishap). But, it didn't take long for me to come down with "fixed gear fever."

Having lived in close proximity to two velodromes, the Ed Rudolph Velodrome in Northbrook, IL and the Washington Park Velodrome in Kenosha, WI, and with three Chicagoland area bike shops offering free fixed gear rentals, it was hard not to get hooked. I considered myself truly blessed.

But since I moved to Michigan, I now consider myself just plain spoiled.

Just northeast of Ann Arbor is the Velodrome at Bloomer Park in Rochester Hills, MI. The 1/8th of a mile wooden track was designed by Dale Hughes, who also designed the Olympic velodrome for the Atlanta Games (among others).

The banking is 18 degrees in the straights and 44 degrees in the corners. At a little over 28mph in the corners, you are perfectly perpendicular to the ground; anything over that you actually begin to tilt inward past perpendicular.

Considering that I learned on a track where the banking is only 18 degrees in the corners, my interests, as well as my nerves, were immediately piqued.

I spent all weekend out on the track getting comfortable and relearning most of the skills I developed last year. I essentially felt like a track newbie. The regulars who run the track, however, were more than happy to take me through the paces and provide me with any instruction I needed. I even got a helping hand from one of my former xXx-Athletico racing teammates, Dave, who is originally from the area and comes back often to race.

Atlhough I have yet to "cut my racing teeth" at Bloomer Park, with the Madison being this velodrome's bread-and-butter, any reason to get this "late bloomer" out on the track suits me just fine (just don't ask me to do another cone drill).