Keirin MCR 2014 Program

全速力で 28 JUNE 2014

£3

CRAIG MACLEAN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

The long road back from Olympic agony – how a track legend fell in love with riding again

Fastest around the circuit

WELCOME

W

elcome to Manchester Keirin 2014, the UK’s first dedicated Keirin event with UCI accreditation.

This eccentric and highly compelling form of cycling has been hugely popular in Japan for decades and has gained many loyal fans here in the UK too.

The format is simple. Paced behind a motorised bicycle or ‘derny’, the riders jostle for position in a closely packed group, continually gaining momentum before finally being unleashed, leaving them just two and a half laps to cross the line at blistering speed. With top international competitors like Craig MacLean MBE, John Paul and Rachel James scheduled to compete, spectators are sure to be on the edge of their seats.

A proud sponsor of Keirin 2014 Manchester’s No1 electrical wholesaler!

Top brands at low prices 2

www.gilbeyelectrical.co.uk T: 0161 236 5079 E: sales@gilbeyelectrical.co.uk

In the spirit of traditional Keirin, riders will have to work hard today to gain victory — there are several heats and a minor final before the overall winner can claim victory and the £3,000 prize money in the last race of the night.

Flick through this programme between races to discover the fascinating story of Keirin’s origins, learn what it takes to win a Keirin race, get a firsthand account of Japanese Keirin from pro-rider Craig MacLean MBE and much more besides.

We hope you have a great evening and look forward to seeing you next year for Manchester Keirin 2015.

In the meantime, enjoy the racing and don’t forget to share your photos and tweets using the hashtag #keirinmcr…

Paul Churchill & Caspar Hughes Rollapaluza

全速力で

CONTENTS

MEET THE TEAM GEORGE THEOHARI EDITOR No stranger to the track himself, George is, among other things, an ex-journalist and the author of The Cyclist’s Companion, a definitive guide to all things cycling.

TOM OWEN ASSISTANT EDITOR Bike-mad and born in Manchester, Tom was the perfect man to work on this mag. When he’s not writing features he can sometimes be spotted on the open-mic comedy circuit.

JOHANNA PEARSON ART EDITOR Originally from Newcastle, Jo studied in Manchester before migrating further south to work in London. She likes IPA, illustration and other things beginning with ‘I’.

PHOTO STORY: MADE WITH SOUL 18

SPECTATORS’ GUIDE TO KEIRIN 08

THE BIG INTERVIEW: CRAIG MACLEAN 15

MAX LEONARD CONTRIBUTOR

04

RACE SCHEDULE

07

RIDER LIST

08

PECTATORS’ S GUIDE TO KEIRIN

10

KEIRIN CULTURE

Max is a freelance writer with a big love for overseas adventures by bike, and a pathological inability to stay still. He has a book out called Lanterne Rouge: the Last Man in the Tour de France. Go buy it.

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Gareth Nicholas IMAGES: Tom Bunning – www.tombunning.com Will Goodan – www.willgoodan.com Aled Lewis – www.aledlewis.com Tom Oldham – www.tomoldham.com David Sparshott – www.davidsparshott.com

12 ANATOMY OF A KEIRIN BIKE

Additional images supplied by the National Cycling Centre.

14

GET ON TRACK

SPECIAL THANKS: Ed Cowburn, Jarl Walsh, Craig MacLean MBE

15

T HE BIG INTERVIEW: CRAIG MACLEAN

18 PHOTO STORY: MADE WITH SOUL 21

TRACK TRIVIA

22 THE MAN ON THE MOTORBIKE

This programme was produced for Rollapaluza by Speak Media, a print/digital publishing and content creation agency.

To find out how we can help your brand communicate with its target audience, email: enquiries@speakmedia.co.uk Copyright applies to all content. For permission to re-use any text, images or concepts please contact Speak Media.

OUR SPONSORS

3

MANCHESTER KEIRIN 2014 RACE SCHEDULE

BESPOKE PERFORMANCE CYCLEWEAR

PROUD DESIGNERS & SUPPLIERS OF THE MANCHESTER KEIRIN 2014 RIDER JERSEYS

T

he Rollapaluza Keirin race format is different to what you may have seen at the Olympics or World Championships, as no riders are eliminated in the heats stage. Instead, they all earn points from their finishing position in each of the three rounds.

In the men’s minor finals, those with the least points from the heats race each other for positions 9 – 40. The last race of the night is the major final, where the best riders over the course of the night go head-to-head for the overall win.

With a smaller field, the women race two semi-finals, followed by a minor and major final.

18:00

RIDERS WARM UP

18:15

BRIEF FOR RIDERS AND COMMISSAIRES BEGINS

TIME

RACE

19:00

MEN’S 1ST ROUND HEAT #1

19:08

MEN’S 1ST ROUND HEAT #2

19:16

MEN’S 1ST ROUND HEAT #3

19:24

MEN’S 1ST ROUND HEAT #4

19:32

MEN’S 1ST ROUND HEAT #5

19:40

WOMEN’S SEMI-FINAL #1

19:48

MEN’S 2ND ROUND HEAT #1

19:56

MEN’S 2ND ROUND HEAT #2

20:04

MEN’S 2ND ROUND HEAT #3

20:12

MEN’S 2ND ROUND HEAT #4

20:20

MEN’S 2ND ROUND HEAT #5

20:28

WOMEN’S SEMI-FINAL #2

20:36

MEN’S 3RD ROUND HEAT #1

20:44

MEN’S 3RD ROUND HEAT #2

20:52

MEN’S 3RD ROUND HEAT #3

21:00

MEN’S 3RD ROUND HEAT #4

21:08

MEN’S 3RD ROUND HEAT #5

21:16

WOMEN MINOR FINAL 7-12

21:24

MEN’S MINOR FINAL 33-40

21:32

MEN’S MINOR FINAL 25-32

21:40

MEN’S MINOR FINAL 16-24

21:48

MEN’S MINOR FINAL 9-15

21:56

WOMEN’S FINAL

22:04

MEN’S FINAL

Across our five regional breweries and

seven brewery brand families, we craft brew some of the nation’s favourite and most iconic cask, keg, smooth and bottled ales. Our portfolio presents a national ale trail from the Lake District all the way down to the south coast.

In addition

to our exceptional range of ales, we also offer a complete portfolio of standard, premium and world lagers to cater for varying tastes, occasions and outlet styles.

To complete

our offering we have sourced leading brands in wines, spirits, minerals and ciders to make sure our customers receive the best service from the Best National Cask Ale Brewer (Publican Awards 2013).

For more information please contact our friendly Customer Services team on 0800 587 0773. Also visit www.marstons.co.uk

We are delighted to be involved with Keirin Manchester 2014 and wish all participants the best of luck in tonight s exciting event.

Brakes is the UK’s leading supplier of fresh, ambient frozen and non foods into the foodservice industry. www.brake.co.uk

全速力で

MEN

WOMEN

RIDER LIST NAME CLUB/TEAM Emily Capewell Lichfield CCC Henrietta Colborne Beacon Wheelers Jessica Lee Glasgow Rapide TCT Julie Dominguez Rachel James Abergavenny RC Rebecca Dornan The Rigmar Racers Sophie Capewell Lichfield CCC

SPEED RACERS

NAME CLUB/TEAM Andrew Bradshaw VCL Andrew Louis Glasgow Rapide TCT Benedict Elliott VC St Raphael Chris Pritchard Scotland Chris Gibbons Manchester Wheelers Christopher Barr Glasgow Rapide TCT Colin Davenport Glasgow Rapide TCT Craig Maclean Dolan Dan Bray Dave Heald VC St Raphael Dimitri Demishev Rollapaluza Graeme McBride Glasgow Rapide TCT Henry Martin VC Londres Jamie Alexander Glasgow Rapide TCT Jim Sullivan Brixton CC Joe Truman I-team CC John Paul City of Edinburgh RC Jonathan Mitchell Glasgow Rapide TCT Liam Harper Performance Cycle Coaching Mark Robinson RAF CC Matt Rotherham Sportcity Velo Michael Veen AR&TV de Adelaar Miles Joule Stovold Swinnerton Cycles Pelayo Rico Pete Mitchell Performance Cycle Coaching Richard St Pierre Brixton Cycles Seb Horner PH-MAS Cycling Tom Baker Abergavenny RC Vojtech Blazejovsky Brixton Cycles

Rachel is one of the strongest female cyclists to have come out of Wales in recent years.

She exploded onto the track-racing scene in 2012 when she brought home the British National Track Championships title in the Team Sprint. Her younger sister Becky is a track world champion and member of Team GB.

NB: Rider list correct at time of going to press; subject to change at organisers’ discretion prior to the event.

Meet the star riders hoping for victory on the Manchester track tonight.

RACHEL JAMES

CRAIG MACLEAN MBE

JOHN PAUL Scotsman John Paul is no stranger to Rollapaluza roller racing, or Keirin for that matter. He won our London Keirin event last year at the historic Herne Hill Velodrome and is the current national Rollapaluza roller-racing champion. He was also part of the Great Britain squad that brought home a bronze medal in the Team Sprint from last year’s UCI Track Cycling World Cup.

MATT ROTHERHAM

Turn to page 15 for an exclusive interview.

PETE MITCHELL Pete Mitchell has an impressive list of palmarès to his name, with top placings in the Junior World and European Track Championships as a youngster and two golds in this year’s Para-cycling Track World Championships, where he competed as a pilot rider with Neil Fachie.

Matt Rotherham is another fierce competitor and can already count a European Track Championship gold medal among his palmarès.

He rides for Sportcity Velo and is currently part of the Team GB cycling set-up.

7

SPECTATORS’ GUIDE TO KEIRIN

KEIRIN RULES

Keirin is one of the most distinctive events in the world of track cycling, and one of the most, if not the most, exciting to watch. Here are the rules and tactics you’ll see on the track tonight.

Words Tom Owen Illustration Aled Lewis

THE RIDERS As many as nine riders take to the track behind a pacer motorbike – known as a derny – in an explosive eight-lap race that is as exhilarating as it is physically demanding. In the final stages, expect to see elbows and shoulders flying between the riders, as each one tries to find that crucial gap and a safe path through the crowd of bikes and bodies.

8

THE DERNY The derny’s job is to gradually increase the pace, while the riders behind jostle for position. With just two-and-a-half laps to go, the pacer bike leaves the track, unleashing a frenetic bunch sprint for the line.

全速力で

JERSEY BOYS Ed Cowburn from Milltag tells us about his designs for the exclusive Manchester Keirin 2014 event jerseys: “We wanted to put our own take on the Japanese way of doing it.

Traditional Keirin is very much like greyhound racing, but instead of dogs you have cyclists. They always have the same colour scheme, with the same number on each colour.

HOW TO WIN AT KEIRIN

THE BELL As a special Rollapaluza twist, the final frenetic laps of each Manchester Keirin race will be heralded by a traditional Japanese-style bell-ringing, with the speed of the bells increasing to match the acceleration of the riders.

Positioning is everything in the early stages of a Keirin race. Riders will often try to muscle each other out of the way to get the privileged place right behind the motorbike.

The unique G-forces created by the high, banked walls of the velodrome track propel riders out of the curves, giving them a momentary burst of speed. The winning racer is more often than not the one who uses this ‘slingshot’ to greatest effect.

It’s not all about power – in Keirin you have to be crafty as well as strong.

Tactics, movement (and even the odd well-placed elbow to the ribs) can all play a part in a winning ride!

Traditionally there’s the set primary colours, but we wanted to be a bit more modern about it so we’ve got fluoro colours in there to liven things up. It means it’s got a very different feel from what you’ll usually see in this country, it’s got almost a cartoon character or superhero feel.

Japanese Keirin also always has nine riders, we’ve got eight – so we had to lose a colour. We decided to lose black; because the derny riders usually wear black, and we wanted to create an exclusive black jersey for people to buy on the night as a souvenir.”

Check out more of Milltag’s jersey designs at www.milltag.cc

9

KEIRIN CULTURE

KEIRIN CULTURE From riots and race fixing to Olympic glory: how Japan’s ‘war on wheels’ became a global sport Words Max Leonard Illustration Johanna Pearson

10

W

paced behind a pedal-assisted motorbike or ‘derny’. With one-and-ahalf laps to go, the racers are released to sprint to the finish at speeds of up to 70kmh (43.5mph).

Trackside, punters crowd around television screens to keep abreast of races taking place across the country, their losing tickets scattered over the floor like confetti. The riders look like jockeys, their upper bodies bulked up cartoonishly by the padded jerseys that are designed to protect them from falls on the concrete track.

Nine competitors race against each other over 2,000 metres,

Keirin began after the Second World War, a time of austerity for Japan. It was a cheap alternative to horse racing and evaded the strict betting restrictions on many other sports, but corruption coloured its early days. Spectators rioted at one Osaka meeting in 1949, after the hot favourite started suspiciously slowly and placed poorly. Organisers turned to local mobs to police the races, but this only led to in-fighting among rival gangs. Keirin has become more civilised over the years, but it’s still a sport for gamblers rather than fans,

ith its brightly coloured helmets and body armour, violent jostling between competitors as they vie for position, and the ever-present roar of derny engines, Keirin is a track event like no other – more akin to a scene from a sci-fi movie than an elite bike race.

全速力で and fear of corruption is still evident – before being allowed to attend Keirin school (see right), riders must prove they have no Yakuza ancestry or other links to organised crime.

One of those credited with improving Keirin’s domestic reputation is Koichi Nakano. He was the first Keirin rider to make it on the international stage, winning an unmatched 10 consecutive world titles between 1977 and 1986. Both of Nakano’s parents were professional Keirin cyclists. His father raced into his 50s, but this isn’t uncommon – the oldest-ever Keirin rider retired at 60.

It’s a hard life for Keirin racers. Only 10 percent of applicants make it into Keirin school and many that attend

Summer Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000. With a global stage, Keirin soon captured the imaginations of fans watching around the world. In the years that followed, Sir Chris Hoy, famed British cyclist and six-time gold medallist, was imperious on the international scene – winning three World Championships and two Olympic Golds in the discipline.

Back at home the JKA has sought to harness Keirin’s new-found global popularity by creating an exclusive, invite-only summer competition.

In its international series, the JKA invites selected overseas riders, previously including major track stars like Hoy, Theo Bos and Craig MacLean MBE, to a special summer series that draws huge

FROM ITS UNSAVOURY ORIGINS, KEIRIN HAS STEADILY EVOLVED INTO A GLOBALLY RECOGNISED SPORT don’t make the grade. Once licensed, there is no off-season and riders must race several times a month.

Unlike the racing you’ll see here in Manchester, Japanese Keirin has a strong team element. Riders form alliances based on a variety of complex factors. Forming ‘lines’ – groups of two, three or four – riders protect each other from attacks and work together to try and decide the winner of the race. Each rider must disclose their tactics at the start of the race, giving punters more information to inform their bets.

While the sport has always been popular in Japan, it took strident lobbying from the Japanese Keirin Authority (JKA) for Keirin to become recognised worldwide.

It appeared first in the UCI World Championships in 1980, and then the

crowds. Western riders are strong competitors, but suffer from being unfamiliar with the rules of Japanese Keirin, underestimating the subtle tactics that decide the winners and losers.

From its unsavoury origins, Keirin has steadily evolved into a globally recognised sport. Its unique visual appeal has also led to a cult following in fixed-gear scenes around the world.

British Keirin fans will be hoping the 2014 Rollapaluza event in Manchester marks a new era, with many more events around the country to come.

This is an edited extract from Fixed: Global Fixed-Gear Bike Culture (Laurence King Publishing). To buy: http://bit.ly/fixed-gear

GETTING THROUGH KEIRIN SCHOOL In order to participate in races, riders must graduate from Keirin school, an intensive training facility that aims to ensure only the very best riders make it onto the track.

•

T he official day starts at 6:15am, with two hours of chores. Many students rise as early as 4am to put in extra time on the bike.

•

s well as physical conditioning, A visiting lecturers educate the trainees about moral principles. Such are the sums bet on races that each rider must be unimpeachable in their conduct and mores.

•

T rainees are distinguished on the track with coloured helmets: sprint stars wear black, endurance riders wear red.

Those not making the grade are given blue helmets – a sign of shame.

•

T o graduate, students are expected to ride one kilometre in 1min 15sec.

This requires averaging a speed of 48kmh (30mph).

Luckily, it’s a little easier to take part in Keirin races in the UK. Take a look at p14 to find out how you can get involved.

KEIRIN TIMELINE 1948

First Keirin races held in Japan.

1950s A series of race fixing penalties are put in place to fight corruption and clean up the sport’s image.

1957 All Keirin bicycles are required to conform to specifications governed by the JKA, to create a level playing field.

1968 The Keirin school is built in the Shizouka province of Japan.

1980 Keirin becomes an official UCI World Championship event.

2000 Keirin makes its Olympic debut at Sydney.

2014 Keirin Manchester, the first dedicated Keirin event in the UK with UCI accreditation.

11

Words George Theohari Illustration David Sparshott

Every Japanese Keirin bike is built to the same strict specifications, but customised to its rider – making each machine unique.

The strict ‘NJS’ equipment rules are enforced to ensure a level playing field, and have preserved the same elegant aesthetic of the original Keirin bikes used in the 1940s and 50s. Here we look at the distinctive features of a traditional Japanese Keirin bike.

12

NJS-APPROVED Each part of the bike must bear the famous NJS stamp, to show it meets the requirements set by the Japanese Keirin Authority (JKA).

Even individual chain links are stamped with this mark of quality.

FRAME The frame of a Keirin bike is custom-built from steel and designed to match its rider perfectly. All frames must be manufactured by approved builders in Japan. Of this select group, Nagasawa is considered by many to be the Rolls Royce. Riders often make their bikes stand out with custom paint jobs.

WHEELS The wheels of a Keirin bike are 22mm wide at the rim, with an outer diameter of 675mm to minimise the surface area in contact with the track, reducing friction. All Keirin wheels must be built with 36 spokes. The light tubular tyres are designed specifically for the outdoor banks in Japan. They are inflated to 140psi, much higher than the average street bike, to minimise rolling resistance.

BOTTOM BRACKET The bottom bracket on a Keirin bike is fitted as close to the ground as possible, improving aerodynamics and stability.

全速力で

HANDLEBARS & HEADSET The classic, deep-drop handlebar with its continuous curve, in a polished finish matching the traditional ‘quill’ stem, is perhaps the defining feature of a classic Keirin bike. The silver-anodised Nitto B123AA, produced in strong yet light, heat-treated aluminium, is one of the most popular bars among Japanese pros. 90% of pro Keirin riders use the Hatta Swan Super Deluxe open bearing headset, which has mirror-polished bearing races as standard.

SADDLE All riders use Kashimax Five Gold racing saddles, in white, black or brown; the only colours allowed in pro-racing. Most use unpadded models, often with 30mm rails.

PEDALS & STRAPS Keirin riders use pedals with toe-clips and straps – not modern style ‘clipless’ pedals.

Weighing less than 300g a pair, pedals used by pro-racers such as the MKS RX-1 are extremely strong yet lightweight, and feature high-quality bearings that ensure easy, friction-free spinning.

KIT & EQUIPMENT Each lane is assigned a specific jersey colour.

This makes it easy for gamblers to identify their rider in the heat of the action. The racers wear armour under their jerseys – giving them an even bulkier, almost super-hero like appearance – but no protection is allowed to be worn on the lower body, instead riders apply oil to their legs to lessen the injuries caused by skids and crashes. All competitors must also wear heavily padded helmets, to protect them from the inevitable spills that come in such a fast and frenetic event.

Additional research: Gareth Nicholas 13

GET ON TRACK

GET ON TRACK If you’re enjoying the fast and furious Keirin action and feel inspired to take to the track yourself, here are some top tips from Jarl Walsh, Head of Operations for the National Cycling Centre (NCC), on how to take your first steps into track racing.

WHY RIDE THE TRACK?

FINDING A TRACK

The first thing you’ll need to ride a Keirin, or any other event for that matter, is a track! If you’re not local to Manchester, the British Cycling website has a handy feature that will help you find your nearest venue, just visit www.britishcycling.org.uk/track

Taking a spin on a real velodrome track is a unique and exhilarating experience that everyone should tick off their bucket list. It’s a chance to emulate your heroes and try something new. It’s a buzz like no other.

You’d be surprised how many tracks there actually are in the UK. Some of them have been around for more than 100 years, others (like ours) are much more modern and have stateof-the-art facilities.

An 11-year-old kid can’t take their football down to Old Trafford for a kickabout, but a cycling fan can come down to the NCC and race around on the same boards as world-beating Olympic heroes like Victoria Pendleton CBE and Sir Chris Hoy – that’s what makes it so special.

While most of the velodromes and tracks in the UK will offer some form of introductory session, you will most likely need to book a place on these in advance – and with so many people looking to give it a go there can be waiting lists.

WHO CAN RIDE THE TRACK? Anyone! We’ve worked hard to make the NCC one of the most accessible tracks in the country. Trying it out for the first time is as simple as calling up to book a taster session, telling us some basic measurements so we can find you a bike, and turning up.

14

In one day we’ll have a whole range of people on the track; from local schoolchildren, to our veterans’ session (for those who are getting on a bit like me!), to the men and women in the GB cycling team.

TASTER SESSIONS

The NCC’s own taster sessions are a great way to get started. We’ll provide you with all the gear you need, including the bike, and from there it’s just a case of getting out there with up to 15 other novices, to see if you have what it takes!

You can find out more about the NCC at our website: www.nationalcyclingcentre.com

全速力で THE BIG INTERVIEW

Craig MacLean MBE, among the most successful track cyclists of his generation, saddles up tonight for the inaugural Manchester Keirin.

We talk to him about the thrills and spills of racing in Japan, his preparation for the Commonwealth Games, and how he’s back in the form of his life after nearly giving up the sport altogether just a few years ago due to a mystery illness. >

RACING REDEMPTION Words George Theohari Portraits Tom Bunning

BIG INTERVIEW: CRAIG MACLEAN

B

y current cycling standards, where athletes as young as 15 are placed on “an assembly line”, with Olympic glory as the final product, MacLean is a late bloomer.

He didn’t finally settle on track sprinting until he was 24, citing the lack of a clear pathway as a main reason for his reluctance. Poorly funded and newly formed, GB Cycling was not the worldbeating superpower then that it is now. “I was essentially looking for work until the lottery funding came about. It was lucky I was on income support otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to do it at all.”

The British public would surely not begrudge him that extra early support, as he now has a string of World Championship and Olympic medals to his name, as well as being a current Paralympic champion (he competed as a tandem pilot in the 2012 Games, the only rider to win medals at both Olympic and Paralympic games).

Surprisingly, none of these on-track achievements is MacLean’s most treasured memory from his career.

Instead, he recalls leading out Team Scotland at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester: “Marching out into a stadium with the entire Scottish team and being cheered by 70,000 people, it was quite a magnificent experience.”

To walk out again, this time in his native Scotland, when the Games are held in Glasgow later this summer, would be something special.

easily have achieved a podium placing. More distressingly for MacLean, he also performed poorly in the team sprint.

The diagnosis couldn’t have come any sooner. By 2008 MacLean was considering retirement from cycling altogether: “After the diagnosis of

IT DESTROYED ME REALLY. I THOUGHT I WAS ESSENTIALLY DONE. IT FEELS LIKE YOU’RE LETTING THE TEAM DOWN

AGONY IN ATHENS

If 2002 was a career highlight, then MacLean’s all-time low was to follow just two years later at the Athens Olympics. In the run-up to the games he suffered from a crippling mystery illness. The condition wrought havoc with his training schedule and performance, leading to a 7th place in the Kilo final – an event in which, at his best, he could 16

“It destroyed me really. I thought I was essentially done. It feels like you’re letting the team down and there are three other guys waiting in the wings to take your place – that was really hard to deal with.”

It took five more years until he was eventually diagnosed with coeliac disease.

the coeliac I kind of came back into it, that sort of gave me a new lease of life really, I regained my health and I found my love for riding again.”

In between those two landmark moments, MacLean headed east, taking on a decidedly different summer job.

全速力で MARCHING OUT INTO A STADIUM WITH THE ENTIRE SCOTTISH TEAM AND BEING CHEERED BY 70,000 PEOPLE, WAS QUITE A MAGNIFICENT EXPERIENCE

permit! In fact, the native riders, whose prize money you’re taking, don’t even want you there.”

MacLean jokes that, despite being a heavily-built sprinter, he often came off second best in the cut and thrust of the race as native riders knew best how to throw their weight around. “As well as trying to win the race, you’ve got to watch out for the Japanese guys, who are getting away with murder compared to the foreign guys.”

“It’s supposed to be defensive,” he laughs. “But, they’re so good at what they do – they can get away with so much more.”

MANCHESTER AND BEYOND Even with his experience in Japan, MacLean will have to be on top of his game to ensure a smooth victory at tonight’s event. The prize money on offer adds an extra dimension, with riders looking to risk it all for a chance to take home the £3,000 pot.

JAPANESE DREAM

In 2002, MacLean was one of a select group of top Western track riders invited by the Japanese Keirin Authority (JKA) to take part in its ‘International Series’ – a summer season of races where overseas track stars can compete in the usually closed shop of Japanese Keirin. He would return three more times in 2003, 2006 and 2007.

Life as a Japanese Keirin racer was “bizzare”. While MacLean was seen as an elite athlete in the UK, he likens the experience of competing in Japan to “being a greyhound or racehorse”.

He explains: “They only invite [Westerners] to increase the revenue and to make it more interesting for the gamblers out there – I had ‘entertainer’ stamped on my work

MacLean, with his treasured place on the Scottish Commonwealth Games team on the line, has more at stake than most in the event of injury. “Could be a bit risky,” he says.

“I’m gonna ride, but we’ll just have to wait and see how it goes on the day.”

Looking beyond Glasgow and next year MacLean is planning a recordbreaking attempt with Anthony Kappes, his tandem partner in the 2012 Paralympics. The pair will try to break the land speed record for a human powered vehicle (HPV), riding a custom-built recumbent tandem. Again, MacLean is reluctant to talk up their chances, but with his fiery, competitive spirit and self-belief evidenced by the superb form he is still enjoying at 42 – an age when many of his former team-mates and rivals have hung up their cleats – you wouldn’t bet against him.

BIG IN JAPAN Craig MacLean isn’t the only big name track star to seek his fortune in the Land of the Rising Sun. Here are a few more who’ve made the long journey east: THEO BOS

Dutch track and road rider, Theo Bos, was a five-time world champion – including taking the Keirin title in 2006. His French rival, and bronze medal winner in the same final, Arnaud Tournant, said Bos’ performance was “the best I’ve seen in a very long time.”

SIR CHRIS HOY

Without doubt the biggest name (and thighs) in world Keirin, Sir Chris Hoy was the dominant force in the sport for more than 10 years, winning more gold medals on the track than any other cyclist. Of course, he had to try out the Japanese competition.

BECKY JAMES

Last year, world Keirin champion Becky James was one of only two overseas competitors invited to Japan, where she tested herself against the country’s very best riders.

Describing the experience she said: “The gambling and racing is nuts but I felt like a superstar.”

SHANE PERKINS

Disillusioned with missing out on the Olympic cycling team in his native Australia, Shane Perkins made the bold move to try his hand at Keirin in Japan. He’s now a world champion and Olympic medallist.

Watch Craig’s record-breaking attempt at our Rollapaluza Records Night here: bit.ly/rollarecord 17

PHOTO STORY

MADE WITH SOUL 18

Will Goodan’s photography offers a fresh look into the world of Japanese Keirin racing, complete with vibrant colours, beautiful hand-built bikes and unprecedented behind-the-scenes access.

We raided Goodan’s archives for our favourite shots, and spoke to the man himself.

全速力で

What was behind your move from the US to Japan? How did you get into photography?

Will Goodan: I moved four years ago in search of something new and different from my previous life. The photography began when I went to art school and took a black and white film class – from then I was fascinated by it.

Are you a cyclist? How did you first come across Keirin?

I’ve been on two wheels for most of my life come to think of it, right now I ride a Kalavinka track bike and a Canyon roadie. As soon as I arrived here I quickly learned about the existence of Keirin, and got into the whole culture of it even quicker – we were meant to unite.

What is Tokyo like as a city for cycling?

I’m going to make a bold statement and say it’s

I’M A PERFECTIONIST, AND KEIRIN IS THE CLOSEST TO PERFECTION YOU CAN GET absolutely outstanding to ride here. The streets are butter smooth. It’s like they built it for cycling.

Tell us about how your Keirin photography came about – was it easy getting access to tracks and riders?

It began with me owning my first Keirin bike.

I loved it so much I decided to shoot it just for personal record and then realised it was getting > 19

TITLE

a lot of recognition online, so I made it a tradition for each new bike I built. Access was something that came by chance and through the many friends I made through cycling here in Tokyo. They’re just good people to be around!

Why does Keirin interest you as a subject?

How would you sum up its visual appeal?

It adheres to all things I find important. From the engineering of each part, to the care and precision put into each frame, and the simplicity of the final product. I’m a perfectionist, and Keirin is the closest to perfection you can get.

Although it’s a lesser-known discipline in the West, it seems to inspire a passionate following, especially among fixed gear/track riders. Why do you think that is?

I think the story of Keirin’s origin and past have become equally as important as the aesthetic value of the sport. People are beginning to take pride in owning something that is made with soul – they can feel it when they ride.

Designer and photographer William Goodan was born in California, but moved to Japan in 2010, in search of new adventures and a fresh start. With his camera as a constant companion, he has snapped some breath-taking images of Keirin. See more of his work here: www.willgoodan.com 20

全速力で

TRACK TRIVIA

Test your cycling knowledge Compiled by Gareth Nicholas Illustration Aled Lewis The winner of a Keirin race will often be travelling at more than 40mph.

But what is the fastest speed ever recorded on a bicycle?

1

The oldest velodrome in the UK was built in 1877. Where is it located?

4

a. 67mph b. 107mph c. 167mph d. 207mph

a. Herne Hill velodrome, London b. Preston Park, Brighton c. Halesowen velodrome, Birmingham d. Richmondshire velodrome, Richmond

Keirin has been an Olympic sport since Sydney 2000.

Which British athlete has won 2 of the 4 gold medals awarded for Keirin so far?

Which three letters are stamped on official Keirin bike parts to show they meet the Japanese Keirin Authority’s strict regulations?

a. Sir Bradley Wiggins b. Sir Chris Hoy c. Craig MacLean MBE d. Victoria Pendleton CBE

a. MKS b. LOL c. TNT d. NJS

What is the name of the Manchester based research and development team for British Cycling?

3

a. Undercover Unicorn Club b. Clandestine Canary Club c. Secret Squirrel Club d. Stealth Seal Club

5

6

a. The Northern Cycling Centre b. The National Cycling Centre c. The British Cycling Centre d. The Manchester Velodrome

8

Which of these was never an Olympic cycling event?

a. 2000m tandem race b. 25 Mile race c. 500m wheelie race d. 12 hour race What is the name of the name of the motorised bike which sets the pace in a Keirin race?

9

Which of these is missing from a track bicycle?

a. The seat b. The spokes c. The brakes d. The handlebars

a. A Gerny b. A Derny c. A Sherny d. It doesn’t have a name

Answers: 1c, 2b, 3c, 4b, 5d, 6c, 7b, 8c, 9b

2

Built in 1994, the venue for the Manchester Keirin is officially known by what name?

7

21

THE MAN ON THE MOTORBIKE

(NOT SO)

EASY RIDER The derny rider is a revered cult figure in the world of track riding. Here, we go inside the mind of the man on the motorbike.

Words Tom Owen Portrait Tom Oldham

“A derny isn’t just a small motorbike, it’s a motorised bicycle, with gears and pedals to help you adjust the speed more subtly. A good derny rider should build the speed up slowly, using the pedals to move through the gears. You can use the brakes to slow down and the throttle helps you get going, but mainly it’s the pedals and the driver doing the hard work. Smoothness, pace and technique are the marks of a great derny rider.

As a derny rider it’s my job to pace the riders as they build up speed before the last lap, keeping them out of the wind and helping them to go as fast as possible. When I leave the track, the racers behind burst into an all-out sprint for the line.

In Keirin, position is everything. The best place to be is immediately behind the derny, and the riders are willing to fight each other to get there. The most assured racers will rub tyres against the mudguards of the derny in front of them, fighting for every bit of aerodynamic advantage. They’ll only do this with a derny driver they trust though – one false move could cause a massive crash, so you have to be precise.

Most people think it’s the rider that controls the race – it’s not, it’s the derny driver. A good (or bad) driver has the power to influence the outcome of the race more than you might imagine.”

As told by Phil Wright, track coach and derny rider at Herne Hill Velodrome, London

全速力で

23