Keirin
Videos
Keirin – literally "racing cycle" – is a form of motor-paced cycle racing in which track cyclists sprint for victory following a speed-controlled start behind a motorized or non-motorized pacer. It was developed in Japan around 1948 for gambling purposes and became an official event at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Keirin in Colwood, British Columbia, July 2006
The entrance and grandstand at the Iwaki-Taira Velodrome in Iwaki, Fukushima
Start of a race at Tachikawa Velodrome in Tokyo. Riders start from the blocks and pace up to speed behind the pacer, wearing purple and orange. A referee observes the start in the tower to the right.
During a race at Omiya Velodrome in Saitama, the nine racers form a line behind the pacer as they go around a corner.
Fixed-gear bicycle
Videos
A fixed-gear bicycle is a bicycle that has a drivetrain with no freewheel mechanism
such that the pedals always will spin together with the rear wheel. The freewheel was developed early in the history of bicycle design but the fixed-gear bicycle remained the standard track racing design. More recently the "fixie" has become a popular alternative among mainly urban cyclists, offering the advantage of simplicity compared with the standard multi-geared bicycle.
A fixed-gear bicycle
An 18-tooth sprocket that attaches to the rear hub of fixed-gear bike
Track sprockets are typically attached and removed from the hub by screwing them with a chain whip. This tool incorporates a lockring spanner for securing a reverse threaded lockring against the sprocket.
Cyclist riding a fixed gear bicycle without brakes