Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome

[Smokin Joe]

The worse part was trying to slow the bloody track bike down just by pedalling slower - a couple of times I had to do another full lap as I was approaching the stopping area way too fast!

This is where a decent set of mitts come in useful. Press the padded area onto the front tyre (Keep your fingers from wrapping round the rim!) and you'll be surprised how much it slows you down. This is the reason mitts have the padded bit on the palm, although you don't see riders using it now.

 

[Sunny Portrush]

I think the instructor would have had a fit if he saw me do that!

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

This is where a decent set of mitts come in useful. Press the padded area onto the front tyre (Keep your fingers from wrapping round the rim!) and you'll be surprised how much it slows you down. This is the reason mitts have the padded bit on the palm

Really ?

 

[Markymark]

This is where a decent set of mitts come in useful. Press the padded area onto the front tyre (Keep your fingers from wrapping round the rim!) and you'll be surprised how much it slows you down. This is the reason mitts have the padded bit on the palm, although you don't see riders using it now.

Never seen that. I can go from full sprint to stop in a single lap if I try really hard or 2 laps easily. There's absolutely no problem with taking an extra lap to stop, nobody will care.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Really ?

Really.

Six day riders used to slow that way during the Madisons when the chase was going full gas and they wanted to cut the time waiting for their team mate to come round and throw them back in again. Not something you see today, but on winter clubruns back in the day when most of the club would be on fixed it was a way of showing off how cool you were.

As was pedaling with one foot and resting the other on the inside of the handle bar bend, again copying the pros who used to do it during the long neutralised periods in the sixes - often while reading a paper. I never saw anyone come off doing it either, though the older riders used to administer a stern warning if it went on too long. It is amazing the amount of control a fixed gear gives if you learn to use it.

 

[S-Express]

This is where a decent set of mitts come in useful. Press the padded area onto the front tyre (Keep your fingers from wrapping round the rim!) and you'll be surprised how much it slows you down. This is the reason mitts have the padded bit on the palm, although you don't see riders using it now.

Not doubting that it used to happen, but it is not the reason why mitts have padded palms. It certainly isn't a recognised coaching technique and anyone trying that today would get DQd and shown the door.