“Just don’t ride at the top!” he said over speakerphone.
“Why’s that?” I asked.
“‘Cause you’ll fall over!” my stepdad, Ed, replied as I made my way to the Colorado Springs Velodrome in Memorial Park for the first time.
I had no idea what he was talking about because I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I have been wondering about this large white blimp building off of Union Boulevard since I moved here in 2005, but I only recently realized I’d never been inside. Having been a professional photographer here since 2008, I feel like I’ve been in every nook, cranny and hole-in-the-wall of this city. So when it dawned on me that I had never darkened the vacuum-sealed door of the velodrome, which is part of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, I got curious — and determined.
It was less than a week later — I kid you not — when I got an email from the Women’s Mountain Biking Association (WMBA). This is my first year as a member of this group, though I’ve been an avid mountain biker for almost 20 years. WMBA organizes weekly group rides in the great outdoors, so this was a special email that read:
“Have you ever wanted to try riding at the Colorado Springs Velodrome?!”
“I have!” I said out loud at a red light. (I was driving again; don’t judge.)
The email went on to say:
“The Colorado Springs Velodrome is a 333.3-meter banked cement cycling track and is one of the fastest velodromes in the world with many world records set here over the years. Built in 1983 in preparation for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984, the Velodrome has played host to the Paralympic World Championships, the Junior World Championships, World Cups, National Sports Festivals, Elite, Juniors and Masters National Championships and a host of national and international events as well as served as the official training venue for U.S. Olympic and Paralympic cycling teams. There are currently fewer than 20 velodromes across the U.S. including ours here in COS, so we are very lucky to have this facility!”
Thankfully, I snagged the last spot available and four days later found myself pulling into the velodrome parking lot. Upon arrival, there are two doors you must enter, which vacuum seal the building. The dome is air supported and has its own atmospheric pressure that keeps the roof up. There are only three like this in North America. If both doors were open at the same time, a 40-mph wind would come through and blow everyone away!
For a note on history, long-time residents might remember that the originally named 7-Eleven Velodrome was open air. In 2013, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and USA Cycling decided to enclose the facility with an air supported structure after Union Cycliste Internationale, cycling’s governing body, changed track cycling to an indoor sport.
Riding the Velodrome for the First Time
I should tell you that my personality tends towards a “leap before you look” mentality. Do I check the weather before I leave the house? No. So I’m often surprised and have been stuck wearing Chacos more than once when the snowstorm rolled in. Do I read the entire recipe before I start cooking? Historically, no, which has led to some interesting, creative concoctions. So did I research track cycling ahead of time? Absolutely not. All I knew was what the email said, which was to bring water, snacks, helmet, clipless shoes and pedals and to wear comfortable riding clothes. Seemed easy enough. But there were lots of surprises in store for me!
The first was a big one: Track bikes have no brakes. Like, zero. Nada.
The second surprise was that there are also zero, nada gears.
Those were a shock to the system at first, and my hands kept reaching to pull brake levers and switch gears only to find empty air. But it actually simplified the ride. There’s a plethora of things to think about while track riding, and eventually I found it nice to have two less things to worry about.
The third surprise was how fun and welcoming the staff and riders were. A lot of sports can turn pretty elitist, especially in a city known for its Olympic athletes. However, I found the community at the Velodrome to be incredibly supportive. Even the experienced cyclists there seemed happy to have some newbies on the track, and it made a huge difference in my confidence as I learned that day.
“I have met some wonderful people who have been riding track for a long time,” says Christina Webb Thomas, who organized the WMBA ride that day and has been track cycling for more than a year. ”They have all been more than happy to give me tips, explain nuances about track bikes and how to optimize my riding, as well as encouraging me along the way when my legs get tired,”
The last surprise to me was how much I loved it! We spent some time on the infield practice track with our coach, Pat McDonough, a 1984 Olympic silver medalist who was delightfully clad in a Hawaiian shirt. He guided us through braking with no brakes (hint: you pedal backwards), as well as learning how to ride in a paceline. A paceline is a single-file line with the front rider changing every lap or so. It’s an important technique because it allows a group of cyclists to share effort and move more quickly than a single rider can alone. After that short lesson and after me falling over in slow motion in front of everyone with my feet stuck to the pedals, Pat threw us into the deep end of the track to find out what we were made of.
The cement track has a gradual slope that gets steeper the higher you go but is flat at the bottom. When Pat told me to move from the flats to the first sloped lane, I couldn’t do it. My mind told me that I should absolutely not be leaning sideways on a bike with no brakes! The next lap I did make it up a level, and Pat kept commanding me farther and farther up until he said something I was both proud and terrified to hear: “Go to the top!”
The best way to describe to you, dear reader, what it feels like to ride at the very top of a track banking at 32 degrees is it’s a rush like none other — like no drink or drug I’ve ever tried. When I returned to the infield to catch my breath after a few laps at the top, I felt like every cell of my body was pulsing with adrenaline and excitement. I was shaking, not out of fear but out of the pure thrill I got from doing something my mind didn’t think was possible. I was hooked.
Our gang left the velodrome that night invigorated and proud, but also laughing at the fact that my first official WMBA ride was on the velo track. But I had to learn how I could keep doing this.
So I spoke with Rob Mayfield, who has been track cycling for decades and moved here in 2018. He is the Community Program Coordinator for the Colorado Springs Velodrome and he is responsible for increasing community access to the velodrome from 80 hours a year to about 600 hours a year.
Turns out, whether you’re a cycling newbie, experienced track cyclist, adult or kid, the Velodrome has a lot going on for us non-Olympian or Paralympians. “If you’re on the fence about trying [the Colorado Springs Velodrome], it’s a welcoming community,” Rob told me. “The people involved just want to help people at any level get on board. I just want people to ride!”
I know he’ll see this new track cyclist back at the velodrome.
How to Learn to Ride the Colorado Springs Velodrome
USA Cycling License
To ride at the Colorado Springs Velodrome, all riders must have an annual USA Cycling License or purchase a One-Day License. An adult non-racing membership is $20. An adult racing membership is $110. You can find them at memberships.usacycling.org.
Learn the Velo
Adults. Tuesdays and Thursdays for two weeks. $40.
This four-day course teaches riders the safety protocols and rules of the velodrome. Rental bikes are included. Mayfield says the velodrome will add other sessions based on interest.
Open Training Sessions
Monday – Thursday nights. Monthly pass $100. Single session $20.
After completing the Learn the Velo class, riders with coaching staff approval can train in Open Track Sessions and Learn to Race Sessions. You can sign up for weekly coached sessions for no additional charge.
Learn to Race
$20 per session.
The velodrome welcomes all level riders to join its weekly races. This class will teach you the basics.
Youth Learn the Velo
Four week program First Mondays and Wednesdays of the month. Free
This Kids on Bikes program is led by Olympian Maddie Godby in age groups of 10-14 and 15-18. It teaches young riders the safety protocol and rules of the velodrome, foundational skills to get comfortable riding the track, and an introduction to racing. Bike rentals are free, and so is a USA Cycling youth license with a Kids on Bikes code.
Friday Night Races
FREE to watch. Most Friday nights April – September. Free to watch. $25 adults to race, $10 for juniors.
Come and watch or sign up to get into the action. Riders of all levels are welcome. Check the website for up-to-date schedules.
Find all the details and registration info at coloradospringsvelodrome.org.
