Track Bikes

Track Bikes

When it comes to quality track bikes, BikeExchange has gathered both independent retailers and private sellers to offer you a wide variety of choices. Look no further than our collection of track bikes, spanning all kinds of brands, sizing, and pricing. Find your perfect track bike with speedy shipping to boot.

Track bikes are used for, you guessed it, track cycling that typically happens around a purpose-built velodrome track. These are mostly indoor tracks, and the bikes need to be specially designed to ride on the tracks at high speed.

The history of track cycling stems back to the late 1800s when it took off in Britain. The velodrome featured two straight sides and two slightly banked turns, making the oval shape we know so well today. When it was added to the list of Olympic events, the profile of track bikes and track cycling increased and is now a passion of many cyclists around the world.

The appeal of track bikes comes from the thrilling speeds and the healthy competition the sport affords both amateur and professional cyclists. The two styles of cycling when it comes to track bikes are endurance and sprint. Endurance tests the length and distance a rider can go while a sprint tests the speeds cyclists can clock.

Whatever your interest in track cycling, we have top track bikes for you to select from. From a budget track bicycle to a high-end track bike—we’ve got some of the best track bikes.

What is a track bike?

Similar to a track bike fixed gear bikes have a single gear and minimal braking. It’s not unusual to see a track cyclist riding a fixie bike off track.

A track bike, however, is purposely designed for racing and usually made of aluminum or carbon, whereas fixies are designed for road riding. Typically the head tube and seat sit at around a 74-degree angle, with bottom brackets placed higher up to avoid scraping the track surface. Tires are characteristically narrow and usually inflated to the highest volume, and everything from the frame to the wheels is built to be as stiff as possible to optimize racing needs. Track bikes are not known for being comfortable but rather for speed and are lightweight, taking advantage of lightweight aerodynamic design.

Track bikes typically don’t have any brakes, which makes them unsafe for riding outdoors, so we caution anyone thinking they can take this ride off track. The reason they don’t have brakes is to reduce incidents of hard braking that could injure not just the primary cyclist but anyone else lapping around the velodrome. Because of the high speeds these cyclists clock, sudden braking can result in severe injuries.

If you’re more into zipping around urban streets, we recommend you look at whether fixie bikes might be a better choice.

What size track bike do I need?

Track bike manufacturers cite a host of measurements and angles when it comes to the sizing of track bikes, so it can be difficult to size a bike without doing your homework first. We’ll cover some of the basics, but we encourage you to do your own research too.

When it comes to measuring track bike specs, you’ll usually hear cyclists citing top tube measurements or seat tube measurements given in centimeters. These are the top things you should consider when gauging your fit:

• The vertical position of the bike’s seat, which is called the saddle height
• The horizontal position of the seat, which is known as the saddle setback
• The vertical position of the top-center head tube, which is known as the frame stack
• The horizontal position of the top-center of the head tube, which is referred to as the frame reach

Other things to weigh up are the seat stays, chainstays, and forks. When it comes to track bike sizing, we suggest getting comfortable with geometry and also checking out different track cycling brands before making your final decision.

How to clean a track bike?

Cleaning track bikes is fairly simple, though we suggest you regularly maintain and service your bike and invest in the right components, apparel, and accessories. When you’re zipping around at such fast speeds, the last thing you want is an accident that’s the result of poor cleaning and maintenance.

Basic cleaning tips are as follows: - Apply degreaser with an old brush to your bike chain while still on the frame. - Use hot soapy water to cut through any grease once the degreaser has had time to work. - Use a soft sponge to clean down your frame and other parts of the bike, reapplying degreaser as necessary and using a finer brush to get into the nooks and crannies. - Remove your wheels and clean tires, spokes, and calipers thoroughly. - Rinse with clean water, ensuring all degreaser is rinsed off completely.

For more information and to shop a great range of track bikes, head online to BikeExchange. If track bikes aren’t your jam, check out our other classic bike models and styles including our mountain bike darlings Diamondback bikes, Marin bikes, Fuji bikes, and Kona bikes. We also have a quality selection of BMX bikes and cruiser bikes, and if you need to replace your wheels, check out our rims for sale.