There was a time when the Westshore VelodromeB次元官网网址檚 future was in jeopardy, as municipal officials struggled to determine who would pay for its upkeep and whether it was the best use of valuable land.
While the track cycling community fretted over the disposition of the track, built for the 1994 Commonwealth Games, an influx of capital came to facility owner West Shore Parks and Recreation. It came in the form of the Westshore Rugby Football Club, which announced in 2014 it would move to Colwood from the former Velox club, and use a refurbished velodrome infield as its training facility.
The non-profit Greater Victoria Velodrome Association benefited from that move, as WSPR was given more certainty about revenues and decided to keep the facility. Those days seem like another era, as the GVVA is thriving today with about 130 members and a dozen-member board. Not only do they run the facility, they do a good job promoting recreational and competitive cycling in the Capital Region.
The association hosted an open house recently to introduce newcomers to the facility and the sport of track cycling. The specialized bikes were provided, as well as some instruction and as much time on the track as riders wished, before the rain began.
B次元官网网址淭hat was really the goal of the board, was to encourage people to come out and see what weB次元官网网址檙e doing, see what the facility is and give it a go,B次元官网网址� said GVVA president Tony Winter.
The riders on the day ranged in age from youth right up to middle aged, none of whom appeared to have been on one of these specialized bikes before. Track bikes may look similar to road versions, but the former have no brakes, one gear and a fixed crank that makes the pedals and back wheels move in tandem.
B次元官网网址淧eople wonder about the safety of riding a bike without brakes, but when everyoneB次元官网网址檚 riding a bike without brakes, you donB次元官网网址檛 have those sudden decelarations,B次元官网网址� Winter said. B次元官网网址淥nce you get the hang of it, it really is quite safe.B次元官网网址�
Sherry Barnes, GVVA treasurer and scheduling director, noted that the track users range widely.
B次元官网网址淲e have a number of folks that come to the track for strictly exercise,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hoping to spark more interest from the riders. ItB次元官网网址檚 a nice safe area to learn how to ride a bike in, and also a nice safe area for the experienced riders to learn some different skill sets.B次元官网网址�
All ages of riders can join the learn to race programs and later take advantage of on-track coached sessions to learn about everything from how to ride safely to racing strategies, she said.
Although the 333-metre track no longer meets World Cup standards B次元官网网址� most pro races are on 250-metre indoor tracks where weather isnB次元官网网址檛 a factor B次元官网网址� Winter said the velodrome is a great multipurpose facility.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had the fortune to ride on a number of tracks throughout the world and this is really a very, very good track,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great track for beginners to learn on and itB次元官网网址檚 also great for racing on. ItB次元官网网址檚 wide and the banks are not so steep that itB次元官网网址檚 intimidating for new riders. ItB次元官网网址檚 one of my favourite tracks.B次元官网网址�
Some outsiders were on hand making the day go smoothly. Shawn McKean, the owner of Broad Street Cycles, spoke to the importance to the cycling community of the velodrome.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 good to keep these facilities alive,B次元官网网址� she said, as she helped a rider get sized up on a bikes. B次元官网网址淎 lot of champions have come from these grounds.B次元官网网址�
For more information about the velodrome and the various programs available, visit .
