Saturday 28/01/2016 Derby Arena Velodrome

Saturday I rode upon the most fantastic Derby Arena velodrome.

It is an Olympic sized track, so 250 metres long and I think it has 42 degree banked corners.

Thus I found the track much easier and less frightening to ride around than Calshot and that is why I ride at Calshot.

It was still difficult to hold my line precisely, however I am improving.

Toward the end of the session I completed another flying start Kilo to compare with my Calshot time of: 2.17.09

Calshot Laps = 187m:

Lap 1 = 19.60

Lap 2 = 19.21

Lap 3 = 19.18

Lap 4 = 20.10

Lap 5 = 18.88

Lap 6 = 18.70

Lap 7 = 20.40

Total = 2.17.09

Derby Laps = 250m:

Lap 1 = 30.02

Lap 2 = 29.04

Lap 3 = 30.71

Lap 4 = 30

Total = 2.00.90!!!

Calshot Velodrome

I went all the way from where I live in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, to one of our nearest velodromes at Calshot Activities Centre, nearly 90 miles away, situated on Calshot Spit in Hampshire near Southamton: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/calshot/  It is housed within UNHEATED, so very cold in winter, aircraft hangers originally built during the second World war to house the Sunderland seaplanes that successfully hunted German U-boats. Calshot Velodrome has very steep 45deg corners and is 142.85 metres long, Olympic standard tracks are 250m long and have a corner banking of 42 degs, I was told by the instructor at Calshot.

I went on 09/01/2017 and 11/01/2017 to Calshot, however when I again travelled there wanting to ride on Wednesday 18/01/2017, just as I was preparing myself to cycle the track the instructor Harry looked at where the roof was dripping water. Harry found it to be dripping on the track so consulted the Manager who postponed the session until another day! Fortunately I hadn’t come far, only 87 miles each way!

11/01/2017 I completed a flying kilo, kilometre long time trial, in 2:17:09, World record held by Francois Pervis at 56:303 from a standing start! Must have been the fact that Francois completed it at altitude or so I have convinced myself! Francois Cancellara Rio Olympics Gold Medal winning time: 1hr 12mins 15 seconds.

I really enjoyed myself and am improving my feel for the track. I just need to do more riding on that Velodrome whilst the Velodrome is constructed in Oxfordshire, please give me the OK/source of funding, I do have some good ideas/location, again I have ideas,  to construct a Velodrome Nicola Blackwood, please.