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Six Day Racing
Mon, January 18, 2010 The above video is a brief look at a Six Day Bicycle Race held in Tilburg, in The Netherlads.
Six Day racing started in America in the late 1800s and originally riders rode continually for six days on a tiny indoor track. The reason it was six days was to avoid riding on a Sunday and offending the religious element.
In 1898 the states of New York and Illinois, alarmed for the health and well being of the competitors, ruled that no cyclist could ride more than 12 hours a day.
The promoters, not willing to open the event half a day, realized if they made it a relay race with teams of two riders, each would only be riding the required 12 hours. Speeds rose, distances grew, crowds increased, money poured in.
This type of relay race became known as a Madison, after Madison Square Garden in New York where these races were held. In France it is known as the "American race" (course à l'américaine) and in Italian and Spanish as Americana.
Six Day races are no longer held in America unfortunately, but they are in Europe during the winter months when it is the off season for professional riders. I went to quite a few held at London’s Wembly Stadium in the 1950s through the 1970s.
A small ten laps to the mile wooden track is constructed in an indoor stadium. Racing is no longer continuous, but is a series of different events with the same riders competing, and held every evening for six days.
The last event of each evening will most likely be a one hour Madison. Because the track is only a tenth of a mile around, it is possible for a rider to break away from the pack, and by riding flat out for several laps will catch the tail end of the pack, thereby gaining a lap.
The number of laps ridden are added up for the complete six days, and a clear winner comes out. Both riders of a team are on the track at the same time. One is racing; the other is circling slowly high on the banked track, conserving his energy.
At any time the riders choose they may change off by touching the other rider. This usually takes the form of a hand sling. The rider in the race, as he approaches his team mate, grabs his hand. This has the effect of slowing him down. He then slings the fresh rider into the race.
Other races throughout the evening might be:
A Scratch Race: All the riders start in a pack and race over a predetermined number of laps. This is not a relay, but team members may block a chasing group, if the other team member is in a break. Or one team member may lead to other out in the finishing sprint.
The Devil Take the Hindmost: A race where the last rider over the finish line each lap is eliminated until you only have two riders left who sprint it out for the finish.
A One Lap Time Trial: This is shown in the video where one rider gives his team mate a flying start for timed lap.
Derney Paced: A Derney is a specialist built motorcycle for pacing at these type of events. The Derney has pedals so its driver can accelerate smoothly by pedaling. It is a highly tactical event, the rider with the inside track has less distance to travel than someone overtaking on the banking. The Derney driver has time his attack precisely; if he accelerates too fast he will drop his rider.
More on Six Day Racing and its history on Wikipedia.
Reader Comments (4)
Six Day Races are terrific. I have been several times to the one in Berlin, which has impressive attendance, being sold out months in advance. Several other races (Dortmund, Munich) have faded away or are threatened with cancellation, unfortunately. At one point Six Day races were one of the most popular spectator sports in the USA, with stars making far more money than pro baseball players, for example. I would highly recommend Peter Nye's excellent book on Six Day Races during the Jazz Age:
http://www.amazon.com/Six-Day-Bicycle-Races-Americas-Jazz-age/dp/189249549X/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263826954&sr=8-6
That's explain why Terry still have us practice pushing or swinging your arm for another rider.
Dave ,
You bring back memories of legends past. I was fortunate enough to have learned a thing or two and to just be around Fred "Cappy" Capichioni in the late 80's and early 90's. Colorado may not have been the center of the universe as far as cycling was concerned but it was very close. Perhaps a bit of history on Cappy in a future artlicle? Tnx.
Thanks for this post. I reckon a fair number of readers have now been exposed to a really interesting form of cycle racing. My daughter and I have visited the Amsterdam Six Day annually since it was brought back some years ago. Although it isn't as big a production (or party) as some of the other Six Days, like Ghent or Berlin, the racing is always good. (A highlight was having Theo Bos' amazingly muscular butt a foot or so in front of us when he visited his girlfriend in the stands!). I've often wondered how to bring the Six Day back to US shores, where I think there could be some success. Unfortunately there are probably few US track racers with the skills to compete. Maybe if Armstrong raced Six Days, like many of the great road racers of the past (see Eddy Merckx) it could catch on. Thanks again for the post.