Turning a velodrome

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broitblat

broitblat

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In my other life I turn bicycle pedals. I used to ride competitively (local races, nothing significant) and still ride regularly to stay in shape (such as it is)... Anyways, this caught my attention and may be of interest to others (especially in the UK)

The Manchester Velodrome is replacing their wood track and selling off pieces of the old one. I am planning to purchase a section or two and create pens for my local velodrome's (Marymoor in Redmond, WA) fundraising auction.

2007745152_manchester.jpg


You can buy the sections through ebay (they are "buy it now", but not listed that way) through:
http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...d=m37&satitle=manchester+velodrome&category0=

or directly from the velodrome if you are in the area.

I have no affiliation with the Manchester velodrome, but thought some folks might be interested in some wood with a story.

-Barry
 
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The title of the post caught my attention. Like: how do you turn a bicycle race track? But, you explained it.
Now, please answer, how to you turn a bicycle pedal. And, please, don't say: Put your foot on it and push.....[;)]
 
Barry,
I raced too--Need to get my fat arse back on the bike but it's hard to make time for everything. Frank, I think turning the pedals is exactly what you don't wanna hear [:D]
Gary
 
Frank,

As Gary mentioned, you don't want to hear it, but turning a bicycle pedal is another way to talk about riding a bike (As Phil Liggett, a well known cycling announcer describes it, bike racing is "turning a pedal in anger").

Randy,
As Cav mentioned, the track is being replaced with "Siberian Pine", so I assume that old track was similar. It was originally installed in 1994, by the way.

-Barry
 
Hi guys, couldnt help but notice this post,

Up until recently I have been a fulltime track cyclist training with the australian sprint team based here in Adelaide. I represented australia earlier this year and have been heavily involved with cycling for the last 5 years.

I will be checking out those timber blanks for sure, I have many cycling friends that I know will buy a pen made from velodrome timber!

cheers
Mark Glowacki
www.burlsdownunder.com
 
Very cool. I used to ride the velodrome a bit myself. I had a chance to ride a Project 96 superbike on the Olympic Velodrome before the '96 Olympics, but thought that it wouldn't be prudent to crash one of their $40K bikes. I regret not having done it now.
 
Bruce said, "....thought that it wouldn't be prudent to crash one of their $40K bikes. I regret not having done it now."
Regret not crashing? [:0] [;)]
BTW guys, I get the pedal turning thing. Was trying to imagine how one would turn a wood bicycle pedal on a lathe. [:p]
 
Regret not trying to crash one. [:D] They were all fitted for the individual riders with no adjustments for seat height or handlebars. Everything was custom. With the velodrome, you have to go pretty fast just to stay on the wall. Pretty unnerving because I hadn't ever ridden anything similar before. They had strange handlebars and without shoes that clip into the pedals, it would be tough to get the proper amount of power. It would have been scary, but something to always remember. Especially if I crashed one and kept the US from competing. [:I]
 
After all the time and money spent on those project '96 bikes, they've been collecting dust since the olympics. I'm not sure they even re-used any of the concepts...

The velodrome here is a 400m concrete oval. The banking is not nearly as steep as the smaller wood tracks but still a little intimidating the first time.

-Barry
 
We have a concrete velodrome in Atlanta with 39 degree walls. That's quite steep! You really feel the G Force going around the corners.
 
I used to do some road racing. I wish I still could. I used to love hills when I lived in Wisconsin. That was my forte. I moved to Illinois 20 years ago and I lost it. A hill here is an on ramp to the highway.

I used to ride my road bike on the local tracks. It was fun, but I never had enough interest to get a track bike. I hope it turns well.
 
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