On the weekend Niels and I were lucky enough to watch the National Cycling Track Championships live at the new velodrome. It is named the Anna Meares Velodrome after the legend track star from Queensland.  The velodrome has been built for the Commonwealth Games that are being hosted by the Gold Coast next year.

The facility is amazing and all the seating allows a fantastic view of the track.  Due to the steepness of the boards, you have to be going a minimum of 30km/hr on the steepest slopes (corners) to stay upright.  What struck me was the noise that the cyclist create riding over the boards, the surface is made out of wooden planking.  

There is so much to capture your attention there, not only the cycling but the preparation in the middle of the track, mechanics, bike inspections, athletes warming up and officials doing their jobs.

They can get up to about 70 km/hr and with these bicycles they have no gears and no brakes and you can’t stop pedalling so it sets up the situation for some crashes.  We witnessed one and fortunately the rider was ok.  They also have individual pursuits and they use a frame to hold the bike until the count is complete.  

It is great watching them then moving the equipment off the track before the cyclist comes around again.

Here is a video of the U19 25km Sprint event and every 10 laps they have a sprint for points.U19 Sprint Race – 60 laps

I have done one season of track cycling on a concrete surface and think that help me negotiate the street of Vietnam as they use the same principal of only looking forward and worrying about what is happening ahead of you.