The Sport

In the wake of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal, a two-time Olympic track cyclist says she never regretted her decision not to dope because she can look back at her entire cycling career and know that everything she accomplished was clean, and be proud.

Keeping a training journal can help an athlete understand not only what they did to perform at their best but their worst.

Track cycling is a fun, fast, and exciting sport, both to watch and in which to compete. Like other sports, it helps, of course, to know what you are watching. So, whether you and your child are just going to a track to see what track cycling is all about, or your child has decided to test the waters by entering some races, here's a guide on the dizzying array of races you might encounter at a track cycling oval.

A cycling track is called a velodrome. There are 25 velodromes scattered around the United States; some in pristine condition and others run-down and neglected. Not all velodromes are the same. All are oval and have some degree of banking, but the size, surface and ambiance varies drastically. Some are extremely short and compact with very steep banking; others are long, cigar shaped, shallow tracks with huge grassy infields; some velodromes are indoors, some outdoors, some wood, others concrete. Describing them sounds a bit like the start to a Dr. Seuss book.

For most beginners, riding up on the banking of a velodrome is an intimidating prospect. It's hard to imagine the bike won't slide right down it. Add to that, the fact that track bikes have no brakes and some people start thinking twice about giving it a try.You can relax! Despite the way it looks and sounds, riding a track is relatively easy and a lot of fun. Like anything else, it just takes some getting used to. Here are five things to remember that will make your child more comfortable and help him enjoy the experience.

Parents and coaches who help athletes develop a pre-competition routine will see enormous dividends.   Tweaked to fit a child’s specific needs, it can be valuable not only for sports (such as cross-country and track), but for tests at school, or virtually any activity.