Challenging Speed and Passion - Interview with Lin Yi-jun, Founder of the Racing Club

Taiwan has long been a hub for the cycling boom, but have you ever explored the country's venues? Cycling What is it? This niche but passionate sport has its unique charm. Today, we have the honor to invite
TRACK FEVER  Bike Club The founder of the company is also an avid fan of the field cycling sport, former national athlete Lin Yi-jun, let him shares with us this exciting world of passion.

It looks similar, but it's very different.

First of all, let's follow Coach Lin to explore the secrets between field bikes and road bikes. At first glance, they may look similar, but in reality, they have fundamentally different personalities and uses.

Field bikes are one of the purest and most exciting cycling disciplines. They have no brakes or derailleurs, and are like wild horses, depending on the skill of the rider and the sheer strength of his or her legs. In contrast, road bikes are often equipped with a variety of brakes and derailleurs, making the race more about strategy and endurance. Moreover, the track cycling race emphasizes the power of the moment. Riders need to sprint as hard as they can in just a few laps, always looking for a chance to overtake their rivals. This extreme athleticism makes track cycling a true battle of the legs and showcases the riders' exceptional skills and courage.

Get an insight into the excitement and bloodshed of competition

Field Bike Race The international venue specifications are 250 Compared to road racing, the most significant difference between circuit racing and road racing is that the venue is in the shape of a bowl-shaped circuit, which is like racing along the edge of the bowl, greatly increasing the spectacle and excitement of the race. 27 All players will be on the field at the same time.

For those who are new to the field of cycling, the rules may be a bit complicated, but don't worry, Coach Lin has explained briefly to us the several forms of field cycling competitions: The "Late Elimination Race", in which the last competitor in each lap is eliminated from the race, makes the race extremely tight, as the short distance explosive race makes the ranking unpredictable, and the competitors have to maintain a high level of concentration at all times, and the high tension of the race makes it even more interesting for the spectators. In the "Leader Scoring Race", competitors are required to make a sprint every five laps within a specific mileage, and the top four finishers in each sprint will be awarded points. 5 The first place gets 4 points. The second place gets 3 points. 3 The third place gets 2 points. 2 The fourth place gets 1 point. 1 The player with the highest score at the end of the game wins. Unlike the purely explosive competition format, this type of competition tests not only physical fitness and skills, but also the player's ability to deploy the best attacking strategy in the competition. This is the key to victory in this type of tournament. "Keirin" is the most specialized form of arena car racing, and just like the famous horse race betting, wheel racing originated from Japanese gaming activities and is still one of the most popular gaming sports in Japan today. This type of race is led by a motorcycle 4 for 4 rounds. 4 During the guidance, the riders must develop their insight, observe their state, the opponent's movement, external factors, etc, and make the strategy of jamming and physical deployment in advance, and at the end of the locomotive guidance, the riders will be able to make a good decision on their own. 4 The rider who was at his best during the lap and was the fastest to the finish line won the race.

Training Environment and Challenges of Taiwan's Field Vehicles

However, if you look at the current situation with the track bike in Taiwan, the fields cycling training environment is not so friendly. Coach Lin admits that it's not easy for many aspiring cyclists to get into field cycling, and two notable examples are that not only are none of Taiwan's field cycling training areas indoor, but the specifications of the venues aren't up to international standards. 250 metric feet in a circle, but rather 333 A circle of one meter. In addition to the inability of athletes to train to international standards, which makes training difficult when it rains, and even makes it impossible for athletes from overseas to race in the rain, delaying the schedule and the rhythm of the athletes, Taiwan's lack of adequate on-course cycling facilities and resources makes it challenging for those who want to participate in the sport.

(Source: ELTA Sports Youtube)

2023 At the end of the Hangzhou Asian Games, the Chinese Taipei men's team finished with a total of 2,000 points. 0.111 The Bronze Medal was given away by one second, but with an indoor venue of international standards, the athletes would have been able to overcome this deficit. 0.111 Seconds apart, there are brighter scores.

TRACK FEVERThe efforts and passion of Track Fever

Under this situation, TRACK FEVER  The team is starting to make a name for itself. They not only provide a platform for cycling enthusiasts to come together, but also work to improve the training environment in Taiwan's fields.

"I am an athlete myself. When I saw that Taiwan's field cycling program was relatively small but full of potential, and especially after seeing a schoolmate, Mei-Yu Hsiao, win a gold medal at the Asian Games, I decided to promote field cycling."

TRACK FEVER  said founder Lin.

"I started a venue club, which has attracted a few people through social media and even some people who are into fixed gear cycling. The sport is attracting more and more people, and we've developed a lot of great vegetarian riders over the past thirteen years, some of whom have gone on to win national championships or compete in international field events. We want to provide more opportunities for venue cycling and get more people involved. And most importantly, at the moment our training programs are completely free of charge, we welcome anyone who is interested to participate, no need to have expensive equipment or specialized skills, just a passionate young heart".

TRACK FEVER
With our efforts to promote the sport, we look forward to seeing more people participate in the world of rink cycling in the future and experience the charm of the sport together.

Stirring up the blood, sharing the charms of the venue's bikes

Despite its relative minority status, field cycling is undeniably an energetic, thoughtful and passionate sport. Its appeal lies in its diversity and competitiveness, which makes it a worthwhile endeavor for both riders and enthusiasts, and Coach Lin and the Track Fever are committed to making this passionate field accessible to a wider audience.

Although there are various challenges that may be faced by field bicycles in Taiwan, there are
TRACK FEVER  The existence of such a team brings new hopes and opportunities to the sport. Let's look forward to more exciting field cycling races and achievements in the future and experience the charm of this passionate sport.