Track cycling

Track cycling is bicycle racing on a banked oval velodrome, usually on specialized fixed-gear bicycles without brakes. Its events range from short sprints to endurance races.

Velodrome: A banked oval arena built for bicycle racing, with a steeply inclined track surface. Its banking lets riders maintain speed through tight turns while racing.
Olympic track cycling: The track cycling events contested at the Summer Olympic Games. Olympic disciplines bring the sport's sprint and endurance formats to its largest international stage.
James Starley: A British inventor and bicycle manufacturer often called the father of the bicycle industry. His late-nineteenth-century bicycle designs developed during the rise of organized track racing.
Road bicycle racing: Bicycle racing conducted on paved public roads or closed road circuits. Unlike track races, road events use open routes and bicycles equipped for changing terrain.
Fixed-gear bicycle: A bicycle whose rear cog is fixed to the wheel, so the pedals turn whenever the wheel turns. Track riders cannot coast, and their bicycles typically lack brakes.
Team sprint: A short track race in which teams of riders take successive laps before the final rider finishes. It tests coordinated acceleration and precise changes of pace.
Penny-farthing: An early bicycle with a very large front wheel and a much smaller rear wheel. Its popularity helped establish bicycle racing before modern safety bicycles took over.
Mountain biking: Cycling over rough off-road terrain using bicycles designed for trails and obstacles. Its uneven surfaces and technical descents contrast with the smooth, banked velodrome.
Track cycling sprint: A short head-to-head track race in which riders use positioning and bursts of speed to reach the finish first. Sprint tactics turn drafting and timing into decisive advantages.
Points race: An endurance track race in which riders score points at intermediate sprints and by lapping the field. It rewards both tactical sprinting and the ability to gain a lap.

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