The Chainlink

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!

Views: 1873

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

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.

When you view the image in the top link, the file name comes up as LAVelodrome.

So I'd assume it's in a city where French is spoken (do we have those here?)

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?

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?

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.

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

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/

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.

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.

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]

Actually should have contacted Emmanuelle off-forum about this-- I don't always think clearly when checking in while juggling other things. I actually came back here to can this response.

But, here we are, so: I don't think anything I posted suggested in any way that I feel that the Velodrome project is not a positive thing for Chicago or doesn't promote cycling.

I have similarly contacted the "spinning crowd" with this concern upon receiving e-mails proclaiming you can't ride outdoors in the wintertime, and have been met with a favorable response.

I think a reasonably creative person can come up with a marketing angle that doesn't work against the goals of organizations and campaigns they might hope to find partnership with.

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]

RSS

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service