Clothing

What to wear?  A question often clouds the mind of the fashion conscious cyclist. Don’t worry, specialist clothing isn’t required to ride on the track, but some basic threads will improve your track riding experience greatly:

• Helmets must be worn whenever using any cycling facility at Herne Hill Velodrome
• We strongly recommend wearing gloves or track mitts.  Gloves are compulsory for all under 16 riders. Wearing gloves, preferably padded cycling gloves, will make your hands a lot less prone to numbness and soreness. and protect them in the event of a crash
• Shoes:  All our hire bikes have toe-clips and straps. So normal trainers are fine, you don’t need cycling specific shoes.  If you wish to use your own cycling shoes and pedals then bring them with you.
• Ensure that shoe laces, and trouser bottoms are tucked well out the way of your chain. If either get entangled with your chain, at best you’ll rip them, at worst you’ll come off the bike. It is best to tuck laces into your shoes, and either roll trouser legs up, or tuck them into your socks.
• Likewise, any baggy and flapping clothing (hoods, skirts, scarfs, coats etc) poses a risk of getting caught on something.
• Baggy and flapping clothing also makes a significant negative effect on your aero-dynamics, and will noticeably slow you down. Close fitting, or cycling specific clothing, is ideal.
• Wearing two layers of clothing, especially on your top half will make you a lot less likely to receive cuts and grazes in the event of a crash.
• Padded cycling shorts will greatly improve comfort in sensitive body areas!