Track bikes are quite difficult to ride on concrete pavements. Under most local laws, you can’t ride a bike without a brake on the pavement, and you know track bikes have no brakes. Moreover, Track bikes also have several limitations. Therefore, you cannot ride a track bike on concrete pavements.
Companies design track bikes to ride at high speeds on specific tracks. Many of us want to ride them on the road or pavement because they are so beautiful to look at. But in reality, these are not suitable for riding on concrete pavements or roads.
In this article, I will discuss some common issues regarding track bikes. And, if you want to purchase a track bike, then this article is also helpful for you. So, please keep reading till the end to know more details.
What’s The Difference Between A Track Bike And A Street Bike?
There are some significant differences between track bikes and street bikes. The differences are mainly due to the structure and purpose of use of both bikes. Below I’ll present the differences through a chart.
| Aspects | Track Bike | Street Bike |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of Use | Companies usually makes track bikes for the purpose of racing on special types of tracks. These tracks are known as velodromes and they execute races of track bikes at different times. | People commonly use street bikes for regular commuting or getting around. |
| Frame | A shorter reach, top tube, and a shallow fork rack are the main features of the frame of the track bikes. These features provide riders more leeway when pedaling the bike at the corners of the velodrome. | A longer reach, top tube, and lower bottom bracket are the main features of a street bike that provides a more relaxed look to these bikes. |
| Gears | Track bikes come with a specific gear that has a chainring in the front and a cog in the back. These bikes usually have no freewheeling. | The street bike comes in a variety of gears that allow the rider to ride in a variety of road conditions. |
| Brakes | Track bikes usually have no brakes. | Street bikes have brakes on both the front and rear wheels for safe riding. These can usually be disc brakes, rim brakes, or a combination of both brakes. |
| Wheels | Instead of a rim-and-spoke design, track bikes typically use a stiff carbon fiber disc wheel. | Street bikes usually use spoke wheels, rarely alloy wheels. |
| Tires | The tires on track bikes are usually narrow which helps the bikes to achieve high speeds. However, these tires are light and prone to puncture. | Street bike tires tend to be wider and more durable than track bike tires. |
| Riding Position | More aggressive riding position | Comfortable riding position |
| Average Weight | 9.7 kg | 7.7 kg |
| Price | Track bikes can cost a lot more around $80,000 | You can buy a road bike for between $ 200 and 10,000 |
What Kind Of Bike Is The Best For Concrete Pavement?
A gravel bike is the best for concrete pavements. Because the wider and smooth tires of these bikes are especially suitable for pavement. Moreover, these bikes use drop handlebars to ensure comfortable hand position so that cyclists can also use them for long rides. In addition, these bikes have a wide range of gear shifting facilities that help you steep descents or climb. These lightweight bikes are great for a variety of terrain.
Then, Are Track Bikes Good For Concrete Pavement?
No, track bikes are not good for concrete pavement. Although track bikes can run at high speeds on certain tracks, there are some limitations that make it difficult to ride them on the pavement. Below I’ll explain the reasons.
👉 Tire Tread
Track bikes are designed to ride on velodrome tracks. That is why the tyres of the bikes are very narrow and stiff. But to ride on concrete pavement, the bike’s tires need to be wide and smooth. So the tires of the track bikes make them inconvenient to ride on the concrete pavement.
👉 Brakes
Your bike must have brakes to ride on concrete pavements. Because you’re not riding there alone, there are many more. If you can’t brake a bike at the right time, there is a possibility of an accident. But unfortunately, there is no traditional braking on the track bikes.
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👉 Comfort Seat
Concrete pavements are not as smooth as tracks at all. So, you need a comfortable seat to ride here. Track bikes allow the rider to sit in an aggressive position, but they are not comfortable.
👉 Weight
Naturally, you will want to ride relatively heavy bikes on concrete pavements, as they are well controlled. Thus the average weight of a gravel bike is around 13 kg while the average weight of track bikes is only 9 kg! And, the lightweight of track bicycles also makes them less suitable for biking or cycling on concrete pavements.
Is It Easier To Ride A Bicycle On A Concrete Road Than On An Uneven Road?
Yes, it is relatively easy to ride a bike on concrete roads compared to uneven roads except for track bikes. You have to work harder to ride a bike on rough roads. Moreover, it is difficult to control the bike on uneven roads. These problems make it difficult to ride most of the bikes on uneven roads.
Why Is It Easier To Ride A Bicycle On A Concrete Road Than On An Uneven Road?
Because you have to be stuck at every moment while riding a bike on uneven roads. This type of road has small holes or many high and low places where the wheels of the bike get tied and the speed of the bike decreases. Also, these types of roads are very shaky, making it very difficult to control the bike.
Concrete roads, on the other hand, are much smoother than that. So you don’t have to face so many obstacles. And, the speed of the bike does not get stuck and is relatively easy to control. For these reasons, it is easier to ride a bike on a concrete road than on an uneven road.
Conclusion
Riding a track bike can be an exciting experience, but it is really difficult to ride a track bike on concrete pavement. Because the frame, tire, riding position, and other features make them inconvenient to ride on concrete pavement. However, if you still want to ride them in that place, you may need some modifications to your track bike.
Although track bikes cost a little bit higher compare to others, they are not much lighter and more durable than a standard street bike. So, you definitely don’t want to ruin your expensive bike fast. That’s why it’s best to abandon your interest in biking a track bike on concrete pavement.
