SKCC’s Grace Phang spent her Australia Day at the track experiencing her first Madison with Blackburn Cycling Club who hosted this event at their outdoor velodrome. What is the Madison ? It’s similar to a relay, two to three riders in a team, only one rider is racing at any one time. The rider racing is “relieved” by a touch or a handsling to his team mate. The objective is to complete as many laps as possible in the time allowed (ideally, more than the other teams in the event). 

Here’s Grace’s story……
 
When my coach Simon Quick first suggested I pair up with Blackburn’s Chloe Baggs in the Madison earlier this month, I was absolutely stoked. I’ve always been inspired by the Manx Missile – and it was at the 2008 World Championships where Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins became world Madison Champions. I was certainly eager – well, till I rocked up for my first training session the Monday before the event! It was my first time on an outdoor track, and though the bankings weren’t as steep as the velodrome at DISC, it was a longer track and somewhat tougher riding on the concrete. And when it came to the Madison slings – in a bunch of 7 riders x 2 – boy, was it scary! – I had to focus on the riders in front and their team-mates being slung in, find my own partner to sling in, keep my bike from wobbling with one hand on the bar whilst slinging my partner in – a total hand-eye-legs co-ordination extravaganza.  A dozen or so practice slings in – I finally got the gist – still somewhat nervous – and race day has now arrived. 

Read more here………