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These pages provide information on the coming Summer Track Season for new or potential junior members.
Please also see our Membership pages.
Track Racing is an exciting exhilarating sport that Australia has consistently performed well in at an international level.
For the juniors (and their parents) track racing has a number of benefits over "road racing":
Traditionally during the summer season track cycling is predominant as most tracks are outdoors and are unridable when wet.
These pages refer primarily to our Clubs summer track season offering.
Road racing is traditionally the winter season in Australia although this is beginning to change.
During summer road racing is available in the form of criteriums: reasonably short races (20 - 30 minutes for juniors) around a short circuit (600m to 1.2km).
The Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club stage criteriums on Sunday mornings 9:00 AM at Glenvale Crescent, Mulgrave and draw competitors from clubs throughout the South East region.
Those Blackburn members (including juniors) wanting some road racing during summer are encouraged to attend.
At the criteriums the junior grade is typically run "under control" with a senior rider in the field providing instruction and keeping the pace even. With a few laps to go, the control is lifted and the race is on to the finish.
The first of the criteriums for the 2004/2005 season is on Sunday, 3rd Oct.
Club racing is held throughout the summer season on each Saturday at 2:00PM (finishing usually by 4:30PM).
The first club race meet is on the 23rd Oct 2004.
At times there are special events on Sundays, public holdidays or evenings. A detailed calendar will be available from this site.
Generally our track race meets cater for both seniors and juniors.
Most often riders compete against others in the same grade (based on strength and skill) - with grades ranging from A Grade (our best senior riders) to F Grade (our newest youngest juniors).
Entries are taken on the day and must be in by 1:45PM. The entry fee cost is being revised however it has been proposed that the higher (senior) grades - A, B, and C pay $10, whilst the lower (junior) grades - D, E, and F are free. Previously - the entry fee for juniors for the entire afternoons racing has been $5.00.
Before a riders competes they must have demonstrated an adequate level of skill for safety reasons. We encourage all new members who want to race on the track to go through the Novice/Skills Training Sessions where the basics can be learnt.
Generally, every rider who enters a race meet will get 3 or 4 races during the afternoon.
This training session provides for riders wanting to have a go and get started and for skills development. It is a prerequistite for riders inexperienced track riders to attend before they start to race. Please see the information under Novice/Skills Training Session.
The Track Training Schedule details the appropriate training times for juniors.
For insurance purposes all those that wish to compete in our races and group training must have a current Cycling Australia licence. Such a licence is obtained as part of Club Membership.
Club Membership and registration information (when it becomes available for 2005) can be found at under our Membership page.
Track bikes must be used on the velodrome and the club has a good range of bikes that club members may borrow free of charge.
A Track Bike is basically like a road racing bike but much simpler. It has a single gear and a fixed wheel (ie no freewheel) - while you are riding the bike you must keep pedalling. A track bike doesn't have any caliper brakes but the fixed wheel enables control over the speed of the bike. This enables much better and finer speed control which allows riders to ride in close proximity to others knowing that nobody is going to stop in a hurry!
The use of club bikes by non-members participating in a 'Come and Try' day or the Novice/Skills Training Session is free (or, if there is a session charge, incorporated into the session fee).
The wearing of a good fitting Australian Standards compliant helmet whilst riding is mandatory.
Although there is a great range of special cycle clothing, the only real requirement at club level is that there is no loose clothing (trouser cuffs or shoe laces) that might get caught in the chain. Cycling gloves to protect the hands in the case of a fall is recommended.
Great Club Clothing is available for purchase (and is encouraged!). Shade hat (for when off the bike) and sunscreen would be prudent - and of course knowing Melbourne - WARM clothing also!
For juniors, the group coaching is free and is combined with the Novice/Skills Training Sessions.
The club has a number of coaches that provide professional individual coaching to those that want fitness testing, training programs, and personal coaching.
What do you refer to by "juniors"
What type of races are held on the track?
Is there racing every Saturday?
To be completed. If you have a question - please email me and I will answer you and update this section!
Juniors typically refers to those in the U13, U15 and U17 ranks. Although there are also U19 and U23 divisions, they more often than not race in the Elite category (cycling's term for open division).
The age of a rider is taken as their age on the 31st Dec of the year of registration. i.e. for the coming 2005 year, that is the age of the rider on the 31/12/2005.
Riding on the velodrome is not allowed when the surface is wet and races/training will most likely be cancelled in wet weather.
Track cycling events are very varied. They range from Scratch Races, Handicaps, Point Races, Sprints, Eliminations, Time Trials and teams events. The basics of each race are covered in the Novice/Skills Training Session. Track races are of relatively short distance (from 200m to 3km).
The club has a policy that ALL riders that compete our races must first have displayed an adequate level of skill. The Novice/Skills Training Sessions are primarily focused at allowing new members to get comfortable on a track bike at their own pace, and provide guidance to assist them to reach a level of competency considered necessary to compete in races.
Club racing (at least for juniors) is available every Saturday throughout the season with the exception of Christmas and New Year's Day (and the days between).
No. Although there are a number of team events, cycling is predominantly an individual sport. It is up to you as to how much training you do and how often you attend training sessions and races. However we do encourage regular participation and there are season aggregate awards for participation and consistent performance.