Mayhem at the velodrome

After having ridden fixed gear bikes in traffic for quite some time, we thought that we would try out the real thing---track racing on a velodrome. Portland has a velodrome outside the alpenrose dairy, and we went to the weekly track development class last night. What sets the Alpenrose velodrome apart from most other velodromes is that it is STEEP. And we are talking terrifyingly steep. Before you get used to it, you are sure you are going to drop off the sides in the curves. And indeed you can, if you are not going at the minimum speed for traction (12 mph). So was it fun? Yes, and we will absolutely be back.