THE TRACK BICYCLE

Track bicycles have no brakes and only one gear. The gear is “fixed” and so doesn’t allow the rider to “freewheel” or coast. Riders apply backward pressure to the pedals to slow the bike. The size or development of the gear may be changed according to the rider’s ability or the type of event. Since the track surface is very smooth, tires can weigh from 4-8 oz and can be inflated to very high pressures – often as high as 180 psi. This enhances a track bicycle’s speed well beyond a typical road bike.