Velodrome

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The Dunc Gray Velodrome located in the City of Bankstown, built for the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, Sydney, Australia
The Dunc Gray Velodrome located in the City of Bankstown, built for the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, Sydney, Australia

A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights. The straights transition to the circular turn through a moderate easement curve.

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[edit] Technical aspects

Banking in the turns, called superelevation, allows riders to keep their bikes relatively perpendicular to the surface while riding at speed. When traveling through the turns at racing speed, which may exceed 60 kmh (about 37 mph), the banking attempts to match the natural lean of a bicycle moving through that curve. Therefore, the centripetal acceleration of the combined inertia of bicycle and rider moving in the curved path balances the tangential acceleration pulling them outwards. There is no centrifugal force pulling the bicycle outward, only the centripetal acceleration and the normal force acting on the tires through the riding surface.

Riders are not always traveling at full speed or at a specific radius. Most events have riders all over the track. Team races (like the madison) have some riders at speed and others riding more slowly. In match sprints riders may stop. For these reasons, the banking tends to be 10 to 15 degrees less than physics predicts. Also, the straights are banked 10 to 15 degrees more than physics would predict. These compromises make the track ridable at a range of speeds.

From the straight, the curve of the track increases gradually into the circular turn. This section of decreasing radius is called the easement spiral or transition. It allows bicycles to follow the track around the corner at a constant radial position. Thus riders can concentrate on tactics rather than steering.

[edit] Bicycles and track design

Bicycle racing on an outdoor velodrome.
Bicycle racing on an outdoor velodrome.

Bicycles on velodromes have no multiple gears or brakes. They employ a fixed rear gear, or cog, that does not freewheel. This helps maximize speed, reduces weight, avoids sudden braking while nevertheless allowing the rider to slow by pushing back against his pedals.

Modern velodromes are constructed by specialised designers. The Schuermann architects in Germany have built more than 125 tracks worldwide. Most of Schuermann's wooden outdoor tracks are made of wood trusswork with a surface of strips of the rare rain-forest wood Afzelia. Indoor velodromes are built with less expensive pine surfaces. Other designers have been moving away from traditional materials. The 1996 Atlanta Olympics saw the introduction of synthetic surfaces supported by steel frames.

The track is measured along a line 20 cm up from the bottom. Olympic standard velodromes may only measure between 250 m and 400 m, and the length must be such that a whole or half number of laps give a distance of 1 km. Others range from 133 m to 500 m, although 250m is the most popular and the length used in major events. The velodrome at Calshot Spit, Hampshire, UK is only 142 m because it was built to fit an aircraft hangar. It has especially steep banking. Forest City Velodrome in London, Ontario, Canada, is the world's shortest at 138 m. It was built to fit a hockey arena. Like Calshot, it has steep banking.

Many old tracks were built around athletics tracks or other grounds and any banking was shallow. The smaller the track, the steeper the banking. A 250 m track banks around 45°, while a 333 m track banks around 32°.

Velodrome tracks can be surfaced with different materials, including wood, synthetics and concrete. Shorter, newer, and Olympic quality tracks tend to be wood or synthetics; longer, older, or inexpensive tracks are concrete, macadam, or even cinder, as in the Little 500.

[edit] Track markings

Track markings
Track markings

All tracks must have standard markings. Between the infield (sometimes referred to as an apron) and the actual track is the blue band (called "côte d'azur") that is typically 10% of the surface. The blue band is not a part of the track. Although it is not illegal to ride there, moving into it to shortcut another rider will result in disqualification. During time trials, pursuits or other timed events, the blue band is obstructed with sponges or other objects. The blue band is a warning to cyclists that they may scrape their pedal along the infield when in a curve. This can easily result in a crash, and so this is why it is ill-advised to ride on the blue band.

20 cm above the blue band is the black line. The inner edge of this 5 cm line defines the length of the track. 90 cm above the inside of the track is the outside of the 5 cm wide red sprinter's line. The zone between black and red lines is the optimum route around the track. A rider leading in this zone cannot be passed on the inside; other riders must pass on the longer outside route.

Minimum 250 cm (or half the track width) above the inside of the track is the blue stayers' line. This line serves in races behind motorbikes as a separation line. Stayers below the blue line may not be overtaken on the inside. In Madison races (named after six-day races at Madison Square Garden in New York) the released team rider rests, riding slowly above the blue line until his teammate comes around the track and pushes him back into the race.

The finish line is black on white and towards the end of the home straight. Red lines are marked in the middle of each straight as start and finish line for pursuit races. A white 200 m line marks 200 m before the finish.

[edit] Track construction

Velodromes may be indoors or outdoors. In the heyday of velodrome racing (1890-1920), indoor tracks were common. When hosting six-day races, they were popular for revelers and urban sophisticates to congregate in the early hours after the bars had closed. Indoor tracks are not affected by weather and are more comfortable for spectators. They ride smoother and last longer. Despite the advantages of indoor tracks, outdoor velodromes are more common, as an outdoor venue does not require a building, making it more affordable, especially when new. Today, although many classic indoor tracks have been torn out of buildings and replaced by venues for more popular sports, velodromes are still sometimes built into indoor venues, particularly where track racing can generate enough to cover the expense of dedicating a building to it.

A velodrome will usually be among facilities constructed for events such as the Olympics or Commonwealth Games.

[edit] List of velodromes

(outdoor, unless otherwise stated)

[edit] Australia

[edit] Austria

  • Ferry-Dusika-Hallenstadion, Vienna, (indoor)

[edit] Belgium

  • GENT-Blaarmeersen, Vlaams Wielercentrum Eddy Merckx (250m, covered) Ghent
  • GENT "Kuipke" (167m, wood, indoor) (somewhere referred as Citadel Park Velodrome) Ghent
  • ANTWERPEN, Antwerps Sportpaleis (indoor) Antwerpen
  • ZEMST (Elewijt) - Lengte 377 m - Asfalt
  • HULSHOUT - Lengte 384 m - Asfalt http://www.wielerpistehulshout.be
  • ANS (Alleur) - Lengte 400 m - Asfalt
  • PEER - Lengte 400 m - Asfalt
  • CHARLEROI (Gilly) - Lengte 250 m - Asfalt http://cipposr.skyblog.com
  • ROCHEFORT (Jemelle) - Lengte 400 m - Asfalt
  • REBECQ (Quenast) - Lengte 333,33 Asfalt
  • OOSTENDE (Stene) - Lengte 333,33 Asfalt
  • ANTWERPEN (Wilrijk) - Lengte 333,33 Asfalt http://www.wielercentrumantwerpen.be
  • BRUGGE (Assebroek) - Lengte 333,33 Asfalt
  • BEVEREN - Lengte 400 m Asfalt

[edit] Canada

Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec also housed a velodrome, but years after the 1976 Summer Olympics, it was converted into the Montreal Biodome, an indoor nature museum. Quebec City had the Vélodrome Louis Garneau, but it was demolished by the city in November 2007.

[edit] China

Laoshan Velodrome, Beijing (for 2008 Summer Olympics).

Shenzhen

Kunming

[edit] Cuba

Velodromo Reinaldo Paseiro, near Havana

[edit] Denmark

[edit] Dominican Republic

  • Santo Domingo

[edit] Finland

[edit] France

INSEP, Paris (indoor)

[edit] Germany

  • RSG, Augsburg, (indoor)
  • Velodrom, Berlin, (indoor)
  • Bielefeld
  • NRW-Leistungszentrum, Kaarst-Büttgen, (indoor)
  • Stadthalle, Bremen, (indoor)
  • Chemnitz
  • Cottbus
  • VCD, Darmstadt
  • "Badewanne", Dudenhofen
  • Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, (indoor)
  • Gera
  • Stellingen, Hamburg, (covered)
  • Wuelfel, Hannover
  • Radstadion, Köln, (semi-covered)
  • Rosch-Kampfbahn, Leipzig
  • Mannheim
  • Olympiahalle, München, (indoor)
  • Reichelsdorfer Keller, Nürnberg
  • Oberhausen/Baden
  • Leistungszentrum BW, Oeschelbronn
  • Rostock
  • "Schanzenberg-Bahn", Saarbrücken
  • Schopp
  • Singen/Hohentwiel
  • Solingen
  • Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, (indoor)

[edit] Greece

[edit] Hungary

  • Millenáris (Millenarian) Sports Yard, Budapest, built in 1896, outdoor, concrete, 412 m
  • Tamási track,city of Tamási, outdoor, concrete, 400 m

[edit] Italy

[edit] Japan

Tracks for amateur races (City/Velodrome/Length)

  • Aomori Hachinohe Velodrome 333 m
  • Iwate Shiwa Velodrome 333 m
  • Miyagi Prefectural management Velodrome 400 m
  • Miyagi Taiwa City Velodrome 333 m
  • Akita Rokugo Velodrome 500 m
  • Yamagata Shinjyo Cycle Sports Contre 400 m
  • Fukushima Izumisaki International Cycle Stadium 333 m
  • Tokyo Tokyo Dome Stadium(Indoor/Sectional) 400 m
  • Ishikawa Uchinada Velodrome 400 m
  • Yamanashi Sakaigawa Velodrome 400 m
  • Nagano Karigane Velodrome 333 m
  • Shizuoka Japan Cycle Sports Centre 250 m
  • Shizuoka Japan Cycle Sports Centre 400 m
  • Shizuoka Nihon Keirin Gakko (Japan Keirin School) 333 m
  • Shizuoka Nihon Keirin Gakko (Japan Keirin School) 400 m
  • Osaka Kansai Cycle Sports Centre 400 m
  • Hyogo Akashi Velodrome 400 m
  • Tottori Kurayoshi City Velodrome 333 m
  • Shimane Ota City Velodrome 333 m
  • Fukuoka Moji Keirin Velodrome 500 m
  • Miyazaki Prefectural management Park Velodrome 400 m
  • Kagoshima Nejime Velodrome 400 m
  • Okinawa Prefectural management Park Velodrome 333 m

Tracks for Keirin races(City/Velodrome/Length):

  • Hakodate Hakodate Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Aomori Aomori Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Fukushima Iwaki Taira Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Niigata Yahiko Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Gunma Maebashi Keirin Velodrome(Indoor) 335 m
  • Ibaraki Toride Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Tochigi Utsunomiya Keirin Velodrome 500 m
  • Saitama Omiya Keirin Velodrome 500 m
  • Saitama Seibuen Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Tokyo Keiokaku Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Tokyo Tachikawa Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Chiba Matsudo Keirin Velodrome 333 m
  • Chiba Chiba Keirin Velodrome 500 m
  • Kanagawa Kagetsuen Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Kanagawa Kawasaki Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Kanagawa Hiratsuka Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Kanagawa Odawara Keirin Velodrome 333 m
  • Shizuoka Ito Keirin Velodrome 333 m
  • Shizuoka Shizuoka Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Aichi Ichinomiya Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Aichi Nagoya Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Gifu Gifu Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Gifu Ogaki Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Aichi Toyohashi Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Toyama Toyama Keirin Velodrome 333 m
  • Mie Matusaka Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Mie Yokkaichi Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Fukui Fukui Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Shiga Otsu Keirin Velodrome 500 m
  • Nara Nara Keirin Velodrome 333 m
  • Kyoto Mukomachi Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Wakayama Wakayama Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Osaka Kishiwada Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Okayama Tamano Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Hiroshima Hiroshima Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Yamaguchi Hofu Keirin Velodrome 333 m
  • Kagawa Takamatsu Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Kagawa Kanonji Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Tokushima Komatsushima Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Kochi Kochi Keirin Velodrome 500 m
  • Ehime Matsuyama Keirin Velodrome 500 m
  • Fukuoka Kokura Keirin Velodrome(Indoor) 400 m
  • Fukuoka Kurume Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Saga Takeo Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Nagasaki Sasebo Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Oita Beppu Keirin Velodrome 400 m
  • Kumamoto Kumamoto Keirin Velodrome 500 m

[edit] Malaysia

Thailand Changmai Bangkok ??? 2007 Sea Games Venue

[edit] The Netherlands

[edit] New Zealand

  • Manukau Velodrome, 285 m Outdoor Concrete, Auckland
  • Wanganui Velodrome, 250 m Outdoor Wooden, Wanganui
  • Te Awamutu Velodrome, 450 m Outdoor
  • Rotorua Velodrome, 333 m Outdoor Concrete
  • Wellington Velodrome, 333 m Outdoor
  • Nelson, 512 m? Outdoor
  • Denton Park, 400 m Outdoor Concrete, Christchurch
  • Ashburton, 400 m Outdoor
  • Timaru, 400 m Outdoor
  • Seddon Park Velodrome, 250 m Outdoor Concrete, Dunedin
  • Invercargill ILT Velodrome, 250 m Indoor Wooden, Invercargill

[edit] Nigeria

  • Abuja Velodrome, Abuja (indoor)

[edit] Pakistan

[edit] Peru

  • National Velodrome La Videna Lima (outdoor)
  • Velodrome Cerro Juli Arequipa (outdoor)

[edit] South Africa

[edit] Spain

[edit] Switzerland

[edit] United Kingdom

[edit] England

[edit] Scotland

[edit] Wales

[edit] United States of America

There is 1 indoor wooden track in the United States:

There are 22 outdoor tracks in the United States:

[edit] External links