ABSTRACT
Keirin is a very physical competition. In addition to having well developed thighs, Keirin racers need to have powerful upper bodies. Keirin racers’ thighs are extremely important since thigh diameter is equated with a cyclist’s ability. The frames of bicycles for keirin are made only of chrome-moly steel designed to combine suppleness and strength, and are handmade by custom frame builders. Unlike street bicycles, the rear gear on keirin bicycles is fixed and constantly engaged with the wheel: the absence of a freewheel makes backpedaling impossible, but provides the only available brake. Government revenues raised by keirin contribute to the public good in a wide range of social welfare activities such as amateur and schools athletic programs, health care, education and disaster relief. At weekends there may be a crowd in the velodrome, but during the week many punters follow races on television or on-line and the velodrome is quite.
