Manchester Velodrome track cycling

A steep learning curve: and in this case that is not just an overused metaphor. This was a great opportunity to try track cycling for the first time, and as such an interesting experience: albeit a discipline dependent on the kind of explosive power I am completely unsuited to - being built more like Chris Froome than Chris Hoy. The two hour session at the National Cycling Centre Velodrome (Manchester) was good, though, with excellent tutorials although rather late for me (8-10pm!). The bikes take some getting used to: no brakes, no gears, constant pedalling required. The banked curves take even longer to get used to, although my biggest issue was not so much the steepness but riding in a group with no brakes. After a few laps, we got higher and higher on the banking - with a couple of loops high on the advertising hoardings. Amongst other things, we did a 2 lap pursuit (which I narrowly won), and a timed lap (a very slow 23 seconds in my case).