Special Thanks / Photos by Kenji Muto & Kazuki.y & _yama_saan & Kenji Nishio
Hello, nice to meet you! I’m Kameoka, one of the part-time staff here.
This time, I’d like to share my experience participating in the “Tokai Tracklocross” event held recently at Sengoku Park in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture.
First, a quick introduction. I’m a 22-year-old senior in college, and I moved to Nagoya in 2021 for university. I’ve been working part-time at Circles since 2022, primarily as a mechanic. I’m particularly passionate about track bikes and own several MASH and Keirin frames.
By the way, I have a deep connection to cyclocross. The “Nobeyama Cyclocross” is held annually in my hometown of Nobeyama, Nagano Prefecture, and I actually participated in the junior division back when Circles used to host a booth and race there. Although last year marked its final run, I was able to participate, and I still remember the heat and the joy of that event vividly.
So, as someone with over a decade of cyclocross experience (lol), let me tell you all about the “Tracklocross” race I took on!
What is Tracklocross?
“Tracklocross” is a race where you ride off-road using a fixed-gear track bike. It’s a unique discipline that differs from other bicycle races because you’re riding a track bike with no shifters and no brakes.
The beauty of this sport is how relaxed the rules are. For this race, only these four regulations were set:
- Remove brake levers and arches
- Must be a fixed gear
- Must wear a helmet
- Must use pedal straps, clipless pedals, or toe clips
With such simple rules, the barrier to entry is extremely low. In fact, there are no regulations on wheel size, so some tough competitors were riding crazy setups like a 20-inch rear disc wheel with a front baton wheel and block tires.
Also, because there are no brakes or shifters, there’s less risk of mechanical trouble, meaning it really comes down to testing your own technique and physical fitness.
Gear and Equipment Choice
In tracklocross, your choice of gear ratio and tires is key. Then again, there isn’t much else to choose from… Personally, I feel that a gear ratio of around 2.0 to 2.3 allows for a good ride.
This time, I went with a lighter gear ratio of 49T-22T (2.227). For tires, I chose 30c, prioritizing the look over performance. Both the gear ratio and tires performed better than expected, and were more than enough for this course.
Attire is also free; some people ride in cycling jerseys, while others, like me, participate in casual hoodies. There are even riders who show up in jeans, which is part of the appeal of tracklocross—it has a casual atmosphere that sets it apart from other bike races. Seeing someone riding fast in casual gear is just incredibly cool!
Riding to the Venue
This time, I rode to the venue from Nagoya with a friend. Since the venue is at the same location as the “Hashinoshita Festival,” we asked Monja-san for the “Bike to Hashinoshita” route and followed it. The weather was great, and we enjoyed a leisurely 20km ride that took about an hour and a half, taking in the scenery. We stopped at a supermarket along the way to grab some food, thoroughly enjoying the journey.
My Jack The Bike Rack was a huge help!!
Pre-race Warm-up
When we arrived at the venue, the DJ was already playing music to pump everyone up. Feeling the energy even before the race, I went through my preparations with excitement. I took off my brakes and went for a practice run. Since it had been a while since my last tracklocross, it was pretty tough at first—to the point where I seriously thought about heading home! However, the course featured sharp corners, chicanes, and elevation changes, making it fun both to ride and to watch. The track surface was relatively flat, dry, and in good condition, so I felt safe riding it.
The Race
The qualifying round consisted of four laps of a 1200m course. The 60 participants were split into two groups, with the top 10 from each advancing to the finals. I was in the second group. Seeing how fast the riders were in the previous group made me a bit nervous, but I aimed to just keep my pace and finish.
The race start was Le Mans style: riders wait away from their bikes and have to run to grab them at the signal. This start was even more chaotic than I expected, with bikes piled up everywhere, making it a mad scramble to find my own. In the worst-case scenario, your bike could even get hidden outside the course, so there’s a fair amount of luck involved.
From the start, everyone was sprinting at full power! I got off to a slow start, but calmly looked for a chance to catch up. The top riders were bunny-hopping the chicanes, which was impossible for me, so I just lifted my bike over them. By the middle of the race, I was running so hard I lost track of where I was in the standings, but in the end, I didn’t make it to the finals.
Consolation Race, Finals, and Post-race Fun
After the qualifiers, a consolation race was held. Ideally, all the riders who didn't advance to the finals should run, but only about half showed up. I was among them, but it seemed most of the riders had already burned through their energy in the qualifiers… (lol)
The consolation race covered three laps of the same course as the qualifiers. My start was decent, but as expected, my stamina ran out and I kept losing positions. Midway through, the rider in front of me crashed! I couldn't dodge them and rammed right into them.
I’m exposing my shameful form here, but my cleat wouldn't unclip, leaving me completely stuck and panicking. I'm so sorry, Yukki… I finished the consolation race near the back of the pack. I didn’t get any results, but I had a blast, so it’s all good.
The finals were 5 laps of 1700m. Once the race started, you could tell the top riders were on a different level. The race progressed as I was overwhelmed by the sharpness of the leaders' cornering and acceleration. There was even some drama on the final lap! The leader, SADA-san, miscounted the laps and finished early, leading to a surprising turn of events for the riders behind him. The results: tracklocross world champion Hiroho-san took the win, followed by young hopeful Shun-san in second, and SADA-san in third. It was a nail-biting race where anyone in the lead group could have won!
After the race, there was an awards ceremony with some unique prizes. Categories included Youngest/Oldest, Style Award, Thinnest Tires Award, Girls' Award, and Last Place Award. Even if you don’t get results in the race, there’s a chance for anyone to win a prize.
I won the “Nagoya Next Generation Award”! I’m not sure what the criteria were, but I’ll do my best to keep energizing the fixed-gear scene in Nagoya!
Circles staff member Monja-san won the “Heaviest Gear Ratio Award.” By the way, his gear ratio during the race was around 2.7. Serious leg strength…
Wrapping up with Camping and a Campfire
After the race, we enjoyed camping with our friends. We gathered under a tarp, sat around the campfire, and relaxed. We shared a hot pot to warm up our chilled bodies and enjoyed a slow meal together. Immersing ourselves in the post-race vibe, talking about things like “I attacked that corner too hard today!” was genuinely fun. Usually, we only talk about bikes, but spending time eating together outdoors and huddling around the campfire deepened our bonds in a different way. It was the perfect moment.
There’s just something special about eating outside. Sharing a pot, sipping warm soup, and talking about “What should we do for the next race?” is always a good time. The sound of the campfire crackling was comforting, and as the night grew quiet, the excitement of the race cooled down, but this time with my friends was the best way to refresh.
Summary
This Tokai Tracklocross was truly a fulfilling day, from the heated race itself to the time spent talking with friends around the campfire afterward. I realized once again that the unique charm of this event is being able to enjoy both the excitement of the race and the relaxed atmosphere of camping.
Competing, yet respecting each other and honoring each other's efforts after the finish line—that free and spirited atmosphere of tracklocross reminded me of how fun cycling really is. And, talking around the fire after the race really helped strengthen the bonds with my bike buddies.
Once again, a huge thank you to the organizing staff for putting together such a fun event! Thanks to your course layout, support, and especially your efforts in making the race so exciting, I was able to enjoy it to the fullest.
Next time, I hope everyone reading this will join in too! Part of tracklocross's appeal is how easy it is for beginners to participate. If you’re hesitant about entering, just go for it and give it a challenge! All you need is a fixed-gear bike, a helmet, and most importantly, the spirit to have fun. It’s sure to be an unforgettable memory.
I look forward to riding with you all at the next race!
