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Velodrome

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Bicycle racing on an outdoor velodrome.

A velodrome is a sporting arena purpose-built 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.

Banking in the turns is called superelevation. It allows riders to keep their bikes relatively perpendicular to the surface while riding a curve at high speed. When travelling through the turns at typical racing speeds, which may reach upwards of 60 km/h (about 37 mph), the slope of the superelevation 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 with the tangential acceleration pulling them outwards. It is worthwhile to note here that there is no such thing as a "centrifugal force" pulling the bicycle outward; there is only the centripetal acceleration and the normal force acting on the tires through the riding surface.

Of course, riders are not always traveling at full speed or at a specific radius. Most events have riders all over the track. Races such as the Madison will have riders both racing at high speed, and resting at low speed. In match sprints riders may stop completely. For these reasons, the banking in the turns tends to be 10 to 15 degrees less than what physics might predict. Also, the straightaways are banked 10 to 15 degrees more than what physics would predict. These compromises make the track ridable on its entire surface at a wide range of speeds.

From the straightaway, the curvature of the track increases gradually into the circular turn. This section of decreasing radius is called the easement spiral or transition. It allows the bicycles to naturally follow the track around the corner at a constant radial position. Thus, the riders can concentrate on matters such as race tactics rather than steering their bicycles significantly. In addition, special track bikes are commonly used on velodromes in place of traditional road-racing bikes. Track bikes differ mainly in that they do not use multiple gears and derailleurs (shifters) or brakes. They employ a fixed rear gear, or cog, that does not freewheel. This helps to maximize speed, keep weight to a minimum, and also allows some braking as the rider resists the rotation of the wheels directly through the cranks and pedals.

Modern velodromes are calculated and constructed by specialised designers. The Schuermann dynasty of architects (Germany) are considered to be the foremost designers of traditional velodromes with more than 125 tracks worldwide. Most of Schuermann's wooden outdoor tracks are made of wood trusswork with a surface made with strips of the rare rain-forest wood Afzelia. Indoor velodromes are built with less expensive pine wood surfaces. Other designers have been moving away from the traditional materials used. The 1996 Atlanta Olympics saw the introduction of synthetic surfaces supported by precision steel frames, while the track geometry itself had problems of length precision. All designs today use CAD techniques to increase performance and lower cost.

The track length is measured on a special line 20 cm up from the inside of the track. Olympic standard velodromes are minimum 250 metres in circumference. Other velodromes can range from 133 m to 500 m, although 250 metres is the most popular and the length used in all major events. The velodrome at Calshot Spit, Hampshire, UK is unusually short at only 142 m because it was built to fit into an existing disused aircraft hangar, and has notoriously steep banking. Forest City Velodrome in London, Ontario, Canada, is the world's shortest velodrome at 138 m. It was built to fit in an old hockey arena. Like the Calshot Spit velodrome, it also has very steep banking. The length of the track multiplied by a round number of laps or half laps should result in 1.000 m. Many older tracks were built around the outside of athletics tracks or other sports grounds and any banking on these was usually quite shallow. The smaller the track the steeper the banking. A 250 m track would bank in a range around 45°, while a 333 m track would bank in a range around 32°. Velodrome tracks can be surfaced with many different materials, ranging from wood, to synthetics, to concrete. Shorter, newer, and Olympic quality tracks tend to be surfaced with wood or synthetics; Longer, older, or inexpensive tracks are concrete, macadam, or even cinder, as in the Little 500.

Track markings

All tracks must have a standard set of markings. Between the infield and the actual track there is the blue band (also called "côte d'azur") that is typically 10% of the surface wide. The blue band is not an official part of the track. Although it is not technically illegal to ride on the blue band, moving into this space in an attempt to make a "shortcut" under another rider will result in disqualification. During time trials, pursuits, or other timed events, the blue band is usually obstructed with sponges or other objects that discourage riding. 20 cm above the end of the blue band is the black measurement line. The inner edge of this 5 cm wide 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 the 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 always pass on the longer outside route. Minimum 250 cm (or half the track width) above inside of the track is the blue stayers' line. This line serves in stayer races (races behind pacemaker-motorbikes) as a separation line. Stayer-riders riding below the blue stayer 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 situated towards the end of the home straight. Red pursuit lines are marked in exactly the middle of each straight as start and finish line for pursuit races. A white 200 m line markes the distance of 200 m until the finish line.

Velodromes may be built either indoors or outdoors. In the heyday of velodrome racing (1890 -- 1920) indoor tracks were common. When hosting 6 day races, these venues were popular places for revelers and urban sophisticates to congregate in the early morning hours after the bars had closed. Indoor tracks are not affected by weather and therefore are more comfortable for spectators. They also ride smoother and last longer. Despite the advantages of indoor tracks, outdoor velodromes are much more common, as an outdoor venue does not require the added expense of a building, making them much more affordable, especially when new. Today, although many classic indoor tracks have long ago been torn out of buildings and replaced by venues for other more popular sports, velodromes are still sometimes built into indoor venues, particularly in regions where the popularity of bike track racing can generate enough revenue to cover the added expense of dedicating a building to such a sport.

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

List of velodromes

(outdoor, unless otherwise stated)

Australia

New Zealand

  • Manukau Velodrome, 285 m Outdoor Concrete, Auckland
  • Wanganui Velodrome, 250 m Outdoor Wooden, Wanganui
  • Te Awamutu Velodrome, 450m Outdoor
  • Rotorua Velodrome, 333 m Outdoor Concrete
  • Wellington Velodrome, 333m 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
  • ILT Velodrome, 250 m Indoor Wooden, Invercargill

Austria

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

Belgium

  • Blaarmeersen, Gent, (covered)
  • "Kuipke", Gent (indoor)
  • Antwerps Sportpaleis, Antwerpen, (indoor)


  • ZEMST (Elewijt) - Lengte 377m - Asfalt
  • HULSHOUT - Lengte 384m - Asfalt http://www.wielerpistehulshout.be
  • ANS (Alleur) - Lengte 400m - Asfalt
  • PEER - Lengte 400m - Asfalt
  • CHARLEROI (Gilly) - Lengte 250m - Asfalt http://cipposr.skyblog.com
  • ROCHEFORT (Jemelle) - Lengte 400m - 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 400m Asfalt

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.

China

Laoshan Velodrome, Beijing (for 2008 Summer Olympics).

Shenzhen

Kunming

Denmark

Dominican Republic

  • Santo Domingo

Finland

France

Germany

  • RSG, Augsburg, (indoor)
  • Schoeneberg, Berlin
  • 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)

Greece

Hungary

  • Millenáris (Millenarian) Sports Yard, Budapest, built in 1896(possibly the world's oldest) outdoor, concrete, 412m
  • Tamási track,city of Tamási, outdoor, concrete, 400m

Japan

Tracks for amateur races (City/Velodrome/Length)

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


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

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

Malaysia

Thailand Changmai Bangkok ??? 2007 Sea Games Venue

The Netherlands

Nigeria

  • Abuja Velodrome, Abuja (indoor)

Pakistan

South Africa

Spain

Switzerland

United Kingdom

England

Scotland

Wales

United States of America

There are 23 tracks in the United States, including:

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