There's only one indoor velodrome in the country – do you know where it is?

Has anyone been to an indoor velodrome before? There's only one indoor velodrome in the country and we are hoping to turn Chicago Velo Campus into the second!

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Permalink Reply by pjarchrn on December 16, 2011 at 4:48pm

So, is the only one in Boulder or Carson, CA? According to Wikipedia there are 2. 

Still would be great to have one where I used to work.

Permalink Reply by Chicago Velo Campus on December 17, 2011 at 2:32pm

The photo is of the only covered velodrome in the country, which is in Los Angeles.

We are currently fundraising to turn Chicago Velo Campus into the second one in the country - and first in the Midwest!

How great would it be if we could cycle year round in Chicago?

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on December 17, 2011 at 7:10pm

We already cycle year round in Chicago. But, I agree, it would be nice to have a covered velodrome.

Chicago Velo Campus said:

The photo is of the only covered velodrome in the country, which is in Los Angeles.

We are currently fundraising to turn Chicago Velo Campus into the second one in the country - and first in the Midwest!

How great would it be if we could cycle year round in Chicago?

Permalink Reply by Emanuele Bianchi on December 17, 2011 at 8:43pm

Hi P. 

there is only one velodrome that meets the international standards for training and racing,  the velodrome in Boulder is built inside a warehouse with columns right at the edges of the apron, is made of an unusual size and shape and is not considered a regular velodrome. 

it is a cycling indoor facility and its great to have it but do not meet the basic requirements to be considered at all effects a velodrome where regional or national championships could be held. 

the only indoor facility close to us that meets UCI standards other than LA is in Burnaby Canada

http://www.burnabyvelodrome.ca/index.php


Paul J Archibald said:

So, is the only one in Boulder or Carson, CA? According to Wikipedia there are 2. 

Still would be great to have one where I used to work.

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on December 18, 2011 at 5:31am

I would def bring my nephew down there mid-winter to ride around the track.  

Permalink Reply by Chicago Velo Campus on December 19, 2011 at 8:30am

Hopefully by mid-winter we will be well on our way to raising enough money to cover our facility. We have started a campaign to raise funds to do so called Cycle 4 Seasons - Be sure to check out our fundraising site for more info: http://www.cycle4seasons.com/

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on December 19, 2011 at 10:43am

Although I see your point, I feel the velodrome is still promoting cycling and maybe it would encourage people who don't ride in winter due to the cold and wet to dust off their bicycles and come out and try their hand at racing around, even if it is indoors. I guess to me, anything promoting cycling is a positive.  I also wish more people would get on their bikes during winter and actually experience how relatively easy and enjoyable riding in winter can be, but at least this place is promoting cycling in general, and I also think they are targeting an audience who normally uses only trainers in winter or the spinning crowd.  

h' said:

I wonder if you would consider a slightly different angle than promoting the idea that one can only cycle 4-seasons by being able to do so indoors.  A group of committed individuals have been working for 12 years to promote the idea that one can use a bicycle year-round for outdoor transportation in Chicago, and it's pretty clear that the idea is slowly gaining traction; your marketing tack feels like a step backwards.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on December 19, 2011 at 11:18am

Do you really think that people who are casual, six month per year riders, who don't already train indoors on simulators, are going to trek down to 86th and Burley and ride on a track with 45 degree banked walls? Doesn't strike me as a very effective targeted marketing plan to expand year round biking in Chicago.

Melanie said:

Although I see your point, I feel the velodrome is still promoting cycling and maybe it would encourage people who don't ride in winter due to the cold and wet to dust off their bicycles and come out and try their hand at racing around, even if it is indoors. I guess to me, anything promoting cycling is a positive.  [snip]

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on December 19, 2011 at 11:30am

I have no idea what people will or will not do- I am just stating my belief and an opinion. I personally don't think it discourages anything by the way they are marketing- I ride year round and I actually thought it might be something interesting to check this place out and I'm not even into track racing or indoor cycling.  I certainly didn't mean for anyone to get upset by my comment, either. I support winter cycling, in any form.



Kevin C said:

Do you really think that people who are casual, six month per year riders, who don't already train indoors on simulators, are going to trek down to 86th and Burley and ride on a track with 45 degree banked walls? Doesn't strike me as a very effective targeted marketing plan to expand year round biking in Chicago.

Melanie said:

Although I see your point, I feel the velodrome is still promoting cycling and maybe it would encourage people who don't ride in winter due to the cold and wet to dust off their bicycles and come out and try their hand at racing around, even if it is indoors. I guess to me, anything promoting cycling is a positive.  [snip]

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on December 19, 2011 at 11:50am

I'll pitch in the $10 to buy a new domain name. The 4 season marketing angle was ill-conceived.

I'd also be happy to see a covered velodrome in the city but the organizers need to recognize that a roof is not required to cycle in Chicago in the winter. To suggest otherwise is either ignorant or insulting.

edit: I'm not upset either. It does look like fun. I just think the 4 Seasons marketing angle is counterproductive to the promotion of year-round outdoor biking.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on December 19, 2011 at 11:51am

Sorry, Melanie. I certainly wasn't upset, and had no intention of making it seem like I was attacking your beliefs or opinion. I BELIEVE that riding on a 250 meter track with 45 degree banked walls would be a hoot (I used to ride in Northbrook 20 years ago), but is unlikely to result in broader adoption of year round cycling.

Melanie said:

I have no idea what people will or will not do- I am just stating my belief and an opinion. I personally don't think it discourages anything by the way they are marketing- I ride year round and I actually thought it might be something interesting to check this place out and I'm not even into track racing or indoor cycling.  I certainly didn't mean for anyone to get upset by my comment, either. I support winter cycling, in any form.


  [snip]

Permalink Reply by Chicago Velo Campus on December 19, 2011 at 12:32pm

Thanks guys for your comments and thoughts.  Our post was meant to create a FUN discussion about a new kind of cycling opportunity in the city of Chicago. For sure people in Chicago cycle all winter outside (we see it and do it ourselves), what we are creating is an indoor space where people can ride fast, race, train and have fun year round – it’s a different cycling experience.  Whether or not people choose to support us and our work is their individual choice, but we hope that those in the cycling community will try to understand our mission and efforts.

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