Page 2 - Is our sport in real trouble?

31-07.-2004, 08:37 AM

#16

closesupport

Banned

Join Date: Jul 2004

Posts: 1,075

Re: Is our sport in real trouble?

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielmolloy

In San Diego where I'm from, our velodrome is always packed with riders on Tuesday race nights. We have a very strong base of Triatheletes and road racers here, and some excellent track racers. We probably get 30 A riders, 15 B riders, and 8-15 C riders every tuesday. For the opening Motorpaced Burnout, the string of riders goes more than halfway around the track. The track surface isn't the greatest, but at least we have a velodrome, while others in the country have been closed. It probably helps that there are a lot of people who ride fixed gear bikes on the streets and then develop an interest in racing track.

at leaste you got a track, i live 20 miles away from the nearest track, almost 19miles to the nearest club meeting places, i don't drive nor does my partner, i love to cycle but couldn't do anything other than race against my own clock.

i live in a town that is in a hollow so if i want to travel anywhere i have to spend the best part of the day peddaling up hill.

what i'd give to ride on a track, with poor surfaces or cycle with a club.
So until i get a track or a club that rides nearer to me i'll be racing the clock and setting my own time targets and hopefully from time to time find someone on the road that i can compete with for an hour or 2.

20-08.-2004, 12:52 PM

#17

velomanct

Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2003

Location: Connecticut

Posts: 943

Re: Is our sport in real trouble?

Quote:

Originally Posted by closesupport

i just drove 4.5hours to ride the track for the first time in trexlertown PA. 20miles? you are damn lucky.

20-08.-2004, 09:52 PM

#18

closesupport

Banned

Join Date: Jul 2004

Posts: 1,075

Re: Is our sport in real trouble?

Quote:

Originally Posted by velomanct

i just drove 4.5hours to ride the track for the first time in trexlertown PA. 20miles? you are damn lucky.

i dont drive though, 1 bus, 1 train a damn long walk then another bus.
(BUS FAIR\TRAIN FAIR\BUS FAIR\BIKE RENTAIL\SHOE RENTAL\GYM ADMISSION) & OR TRACK RENTAIL. probaly wouldn't bother me if i was well off but unfortunately i ain't.

wouldnt be a problem if i drove and was a little more well off, i just feel sorry for those young ones that would have great fun doing so. near me there is a reebok centre, athletics track, tennis and badminton courts, footall and rugby stadium and international swimming pool with saunas and gymnasiums, so why cant we have a velodrome. i think its pretty mean that everyone else is catereed for and not us cyclist.

i just feel its a little off putting the fact that i have to travel so far for an hour or two on the track and pay out so much. I wonder how many other people feel the same.
maybe someone could start a pole in the northwest on if the velodrome was closer they would be more likely to use it.?

04-10.-2004, 03:23 AM	#19
Glowingrod Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Various Posts: 67	Re: Is our sport in real trouble? Certainly need more velodromes in North America! In Toronto there just plain ain't one around, and the folks in Quebec just closed the only one within reasonable (reasonable being several hours) driving distance to folks in Ontario, now its for Quebec riders only. At least that's the rumour, haven't been able to get there for awhile. I'm expecting an upswing in demand for track usage in this area, the only gold at the olympics that got much fanfare was the canadian win on the ladies track. I have no idea why there aren't more velodromes around, would be a fabulous winter sport if we had an indoor heated drome to ride.

25-10.-2004, 07:15 AM	#20
speediegee Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 4	Re: Is our sport in real trouble? I ride track in Edinburgh Scotland...unfortunately its an outdoor track, and Scotland is not famous for sunshine and b-b-qs is it! The track scene is fairly large and this track has and still is producing world class athletes - however, Edinburgh council, get a move on with the new velodrome with roof, we do you proud by winning and advertising your name, but at this rate everyone will have moved to Manchester before you have laid the first board. Yes it is on its way but maybe not quick enough..A weekly track league runs throught the summer months, I joined in July and in two months saw two nights of racing due to bad weather, I also amongst others drive 100m round trip for this. The sport is in trouble due to lack of support, and people here get fed up of chancing the weather...but somehow we keep winning medals..anyone awake Edin Council!!!

15-11.-2004, 04:48 PM

#21

ahodson4519

Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2004

Location: Peachester. Top of the hill in the middle of nowhere. (try and find it in your atlas)

Posts: 5

Re: Is our sport in real trouble?

Quote:

Originally Posted by VeloFlash

Actually, Queensland will be getting an indoor track. So all the mainland state capital cities will have an indoor Olympic 250 m board track.

They are building a new indoor track at Northcote (?) in Melbourne and when complete they will dismantle the Vodafone Arena track (location of 2004 Worlds) and transplant it in Brisbane.

The Vodafone Arena in Melbourne was rarely used for track racing as other sports provided a higher and steady income stream, like carpet bowls. Dunc Gray hosts a lot of other sports but still maintains regular track racing and training. I understand the fixed costs of running Dunc Gray (that is those costs that will exist irrespective of whether it is being used or not) run to about $3,000 per day.

At Northcote they are considering to run a winter track series along the lines of Sydney. I have not competed in the FNWTR Sydney series but now as road racing in NSW is becoming limited through political ineptitude I may mosey along.

Here is their new website -

http://www.fnwtr.tk/

Where is the indoor velodrome going in queensland. I have to travel for an hour to go to a velodrome where kids rip up the concrete surface with crowbars so an indoor one with security would be great!

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