“Track bikes have a fixed rear cog that doesn´t freewheel, and they don´t have brakes. You will need a track bike if you are planning to compete, but many velodromes allow riders to use conventional road bikes. The tracks of a velodrome are oval, consisting of two 180 degree bends connected by two straight passages. They are usually composed of wood, concrete or asphalt. They are steeply baked at angles ranging from 18 degrees to as much as 50 degrees. Tracks may vary in lenght; the shorter the track, the steeper the banking. The pitch of the track allows riders to remain perpendicular to the surface while travelling at speed. The banking compensates for the way bicycles naturally lean into a turn, keeping them from being forced outward.”
—Mastering Cycling, john Howard.
