Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When will Velodrome be open to the public?
We will be open to the public beginning the week of August 27, 2012. We need volunteers for our youth and adult programming. Click here to sign up for programming.
When is the Grand Opening Celebration for the Velodrome?
Grand Opening Celebration is being held Thursday August 30 from 5pm to 8pm. At around 6pm there will be a brief ceremony followed by some demonstration riding and racing. There will not be open riding available that night. Beverages and snacks will be provided and there will be heavier fare available as well. All are welcome to attend.
What days and times is the Velodrome going to be open?
Starting August 27, 2012, the Velodrome will be open both during the week and on the weekends. The Velodrome will be staffed by trained volunteers (Session Leaders). Session Leaders need not have any special skills just a desire to help out and willingness to attend a Volunteer Orientation session and submit to a back ground check. The actual hours of operation will be based on the number and availability of Session Leaders that have successfully completed the Volunteer Orientation. Click this link to sign up to Volunteer for Programming. The first Volunteer Orientation sessions will be held Wednesday 8/22 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm, Thursday 8/23 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm, Friday 8/24 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm and Saturday 8/25 from 11:00am to 12:30pm
Can I ride my road or mountain bike on the track?
For safety purposes, fixed gear track bikes are required. We have 30 adult bikes and 15 kids bikes available.
What are the fees for riding?
Kids 18 and under receive free track time, bike rental and coaching. For adults the Track 101 is free. Pricing for Season Passes, Bike Rental andDayPassesare as follows:
| 2012 Season Pass (Valid 9/1/12 thru 10/31/12) |
|
|
|
| Family Members |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
| Per Month |
$50
|
$40
|
$35
|
$35
|
$35
|
| Months |
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
| Total |
$100
|
$160
|
$210
|
$280
|
$350
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2012/2013 Season Pass (Valid 9/1/12 thru 10/31/12 and May 1, 2013 thru 9/30/12) |
| Family Members |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
| Per Month |
$32
|
$30
|
$25
|
$25
|
$25
|
| Months |
7
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
| Total |
$224
|
$420
|
$525
|
$700
|
$875
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Bike Rental |
|
|
|
|
|
| Cost Per Rental |
$10
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Day Pass |
|
|
|
|
|
| Cost Per Day |
$15
|
|
|
|
|
What are fees for racing?
There will be no charge for “training races” however there will be fees for the Thursday night race series.
When will Track 101 classes start and what days/times will they be held?
Track 101
Check here for dates and times for Track 101.
What is the programming going to consist of for kids and adults?
Track 101: Initiation Session
(to be taken by all new riders to the track)
Prerequisite: the ability to ride 16-17 mph for a few minutes.
Develop the skills to ride safely on the Cleveland Velodrome. Learn track safety, track etiquette and technical skills. Riders of all abilities welcome. You will learn:
- basic track skills;
- riding fixed wheel with your pedal systems or toe clips and straps;
- bike control;
- solo laps; and
- group riding in line.
For more on how to prepare for Track 101 and what to expect, see our participants guide.
These sessions must be booked in advance. Please pre-register at www.clevelandvelodrome.org. These sessions are usually over subscribed so you will need to book several weeks in advance.
Track 201: Group Riding and Track Skills Sessions
(These sessions are offered on an “as needed” basis depending on registration numbers)
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of Track 101 and the ability to ride 30 kph (18 mph) for 10 minutes. Develop your confidence riding in small groups on the track. This session provides instruction on mastering paceline riding‚ the basis of all track riding. Offering an introduction to many basic track skills, this session gets you comfortable riding on all areas of the track in various situations. This is a fun session that will improve your comfort level on the track. This session is also a refresher for those who have been away from the track for one or more months and those needing extra instruction.
Track 201 sessions must be pre-booked. Class size is limited.
Controlled Rec Riding
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of Track 101.
This session offers an opportunity for cyclists of all skill levels to develop their fitness and enjoy riding on the smooth, wind-free, traffic-free environment of the velodrome. This session is a drop-in session. Talk to your session leader to learn additional skills during your riding time, this will make your step to track 2 much more easy.
Contact: TBD
Huff ‘n Puff
Prerequisite: Track 201
A dedicated session for our older (60+) and slower (33 km max) riders. If you are old but not slow, please go to another session. If you are slow but not old, you may attend with permission of the session leader.
No advance booking is required but completion of track 2 is a pre-requisite. No new riders, please.
Contact: TBD
Velo-Kids
This structured introductory program is designed for new riders and young people under 14 who have just started coming to the track. It will help build confidence and skills on the Cleveland Velodrome. Velo-Kids activities are age- and ability-based. Riders can move from one category to another as their skills increase.
Categories:
Junior-Pee Wee – ages 7 years – 10 years
Junior-Sport – ages 10 years – 12 years
Junior-Teen – ages 11 years – 14 years
New riders of other categories welcome
NoteVelo Kids sessions run concurrently with Youth Workouts.
Contact: TBD
Youth Workouts (experienced Velo-Kids)
Prerequisite: Velo-Kids
This program offers youth-oriented skills and drills designed to teach track etiquette and build strength and endurance. It is perfect for riders from 12-18 who have already developed the ability to ride on the Velodrome and are looking for fun, hard, fast, riding, an opportunity to improve their fitness, and a bit of a challenge. During each session the riders will do skills and drills to increase their Speed, Strength and Endurance.
Categories:
Cadet – ages 12 years – 16 years
Junior – ages 14 years plus
What are the rules and etiquette for the Cleveland Velodrome?
GENERAL RULES
- Maintain a speed of at least 30 km/h while riding through the turns. If your speed drops down below this, descend onto the lower blue band (the Coté d’Azur) and use the Coté through the turn.
- Regardless of what is happening around you, do not leave the track if you are traveling over 30 km/h. This is too high a speed to be able to turn at the end of the straight.
- To get on the track, start from the roll around, which occupies the left hand side of the track when viewed from the access tunnel. Approach the back side of the track from the roll-around. If the pole lane (the area of the track below the red line) is unoccupied as far back as you can see by looking to your right, get up on to the apron and accelerate forcefully while remaining seated. (If it is occupied, take another turn around the roll-around.) Take a very gentle angle up on to the track as you accelerate through the turns. Aim to be traveling 30 km/h on the black line by the time you enter the straight.
- Do not ride on the Cote d’Azur for any longer than is necessary to either access the track from the infield or vice versa. Keep your speed up above 30 km/h and do not warm up/warm down on the Cote d’Azur.
- During training sessions, it is helpful to separate the track into two concentric ovals, with the blue line (the “stayers’ line”) being the mark of separation. Generally, training lines will form both at the bottom of the track (in the “pole lane”, between the black and red lines), and at the Stayers’ (blue) line. Be sure to shoulder check before changing your line and signal your intention to those nearby with a flick of the appropriate elbow. It is best to consider the area between the red and blue lines as a passing area only, and to avoid training in that area.
- When riding more slowly than those in pace lines (such as between intervals or when warming up), make every effort to stay on the Black line. This will allow the riders in both training lines (in the pole lane and on the stayers’ line) to continue unimpeded.
- Do not ride slowly at the top of the track. Any rider who loses grip and slides down the full width of the track will cause major havoc.
- When the track is crowded, be very aware of everything and everyone in the 50-metre area of the track directly in front of you. Always ride just slightly above (higher on the track) than the rider in front of you. Ride over other riders if necessary.
RULES FOR PASSING
- Normally, you pass above slower-moving riders (i.e. on their right) if you are riding in the same “lane”. When passing, shout “Stick” or “Stay” (loudly enough for them to hear you). This will let them know you are about to overtake them and that they must “hold their line”.
- You will occasionally pass below riders, i.e. on their left. If you are passing below riders (on their left) shout “Stick up” to let them know that you are doing so.
- If you are riding on the highest point of the track next to the rail and passing a rider on his/her right who is positioned just below you, say “Stick down” to let him/her know to leave you room to pass between them and the rail.
- If you hear a rider behind you yell “Stick,” “Stay,” “Stick up,” or “Stick down,” hold your line. Ride straight and make no sudden movements. It is then the passing rider’s responsibility to avoid you.
ETIQUETTE DURING TRAINING
- Communicate with other riders to make them aware of your presence, whenever necessary.
- As previously mentioned training lines (groups/pace lines) form either at the bottom of the track in the pole lane (between the black and red lines) and at the Stayers’ (blue) line.
- While participating in a training line, ride in a straight, smooth and predictable manner. On the track, riders follow other riders very closely, so maintaining a consistent speed is critical to everyone’s safety. You will note that while in line a rider will position him/herself just slightly to the right of (above) the rider directly in front of him/her. This allows a rider to move up the track should an accident occur in front of him/her.
- If an accident occurs several bike lengths in front of you, be prepared for the rider directly in front of you to move up the track to avoid running over riders and/or bicycles. A fallen rider will immediately tumble down the track’s slope; you must therefore move upward to avoid him/her and his/her bicycle. Never try to pass below riders who have fallen in front of you. You will fail every time.
- Each rider will take a turn at the front of the training line, and then remove him/herself as the leader by riding up the bank in corner one. This allows next rider to become the line’s leader, and the rest of riders in the line to pass below him/her. Once the former leader lets all of the remaining riders pass by, (s)he will rejoin the training line by repositioning him/herself behind the last rider. The lead rider will almost always give up the lead in Corner ONE of the track, as that is the most energy-efficient place to do so. When you are the lead rider and you are preparing to peel off, you must check over your right shoulder to ensure that the area above the line is unoccupied. Signal with the right elbow that you are about to make a leader change.
- If you are part of a training line that is riding at the Stayers’ (blue) line, you must ensure that you remain at the stayers’ line at all times. If the track is not overly crowded, riders may take the opportunity to engage in interval training/sprints in the area located directly below you, between the red line and stayers’ line. For maximum safety that area must be kept as clear as possible.
- Lead changes on the stayer’s line should not take place more frequently than once every two laps to minimize crowding between the pace line and the rail.
- If you are part of a training line that is riding in the pole lane (between the black and red lines), when you peel off the front, make sure that you do not cross the Stayers’ (blue) line, as the other training line may be positioned directly above you on the track.
- If you are riding in the pole lane (between the red and black lines) at the bottom of the track (either on your own or in a training line), you may see a rider on the Cote d’Azur in the corner you are approaching. To avoid hitting that rider, you will have to ride up the banking (above the red line) to pass him/her. This is necessary because you will be leaning into the corner on an angle, while the rider on the Cote d’Azur will be riding perpendicular to the ground. The two of you will knock heads unless you give space to that rider. If you are riding in a line and feel comfortable doing so, give the rider behind you a hand signal indicating that you intend to move upward. In addition, all persons riding above the pole lane but below the Stayer’s (blue) line must also be vigilant enough to note that you will need to move upward. It is incumbent on them to make the necessary adjustments to avoid you.
- At no time during training is a rider allowed to use the Cote d’Azur to pass underneath another rider.
- Do not ride two abreast. The track is simply too narrow for this; riding in this manner creates a serious hazard for passing riders.
- Use common sense when deciding if it is appropriate to practice sprints. If the number of riders training approaches 10-15 and the track is getting crowded, refrain from doing so.
- NO RACING DURING RECREATIONAL RIDES!
SAFETY AND ETIQUETTE DURING RACES
- Communicate with other riders to make them aware of your presence, whenever necessary.
- As is the case during training, the lead rider of a group will peel off the front of the line in the corners. Be prepared for this, especially if you are trying to pass the group from above.
- Do not “double-switch,” i.e. if you are the second-placed rider in a race, do not follow the lead rider up the track when (s)he peels off. Always take your turn at the front of the line, and then peel off. Double-switching is dangerous, as the third rider in the line will not expect this to occur, and may be in a position where his/her front wheel overlaps your rear wheel.
- During sprint laps (a race official will ring the bell), do not change your line! No one expects the lead rider to peel off; the absolute rule is that every rider will sprint in a straight line during that lap.
- During sprint laps, the rider occupying the pole lane is entitled to use that entire lane. That rider has the absolute right of way. No one can enter the pole lane from either above or below in the final lap of any sprint during a race. If you are located above that rider, you are forbidden from crossing the red line and entering the pole lane.
- At no time during a race is a rider allowed to use the Cote d’Azur to pass underneath another rider.
RESPECT OTHERS
- Treat volunteers and officials with respect and consideration. They give up their free time to make sure that the velodrome training sessions and races are safe and well-run. Swearing at, arguing with, or distracting them from their responsibilities is bad form at best, and at worst, may put other riders in danger. Depending on the nature of this type of offence committed, a rider may be punished by having his/her membership/license suspended or revoked. The velodrome’s volunteers and officials work hard to make riding and racing consistent and safe; your respect is the least they deserve.
- Treat the other riders with respect and consideration. Racing is intense, competition is intense, and even training is intense. However, all members benefit if the prevailing mood at the track is one of friendly competition. Treating others with common courtesy promotes the formation of alliances during races. It also contributes to an atmosphere within which members can approach others for help with equipment problems, to borrow/loan tools, and to discuss techniques and strategy. This velodrome needs to grow and develop. Do your part to assist in that process by respecting your fellow members.
