Velodrome distance, measured on the inner or outer track?

Out of curiosity, is the distance of a velodrome measured on the flat inner part of the track or the outer part of the track? Thinking of going for a few laps around Carmarthen velodrome to get me starting riding again and got me wondering. Anybody know? Haven’t googled or anything as that would be too easy and make complete sense.

It’s measured along the black line

I thought it was the black line.

Think the distance around the top of the track is something silly like 20% further than the black line, though I guess that may depend on the particular track

Google kills conversations… let’s all rack our memories and talk about it instead. Black line, I reckon.

Seems pretty unanimous its the black line, thanks. Haven’t got a distance-o-meter thingummybob to put on the bike, will have to download an app for my phone to see what distance I manage.

Google kills conversations… let’s all rack our memories and talk about it instead.

What’s the red line distance then as an off shoot? Pretty sure there’s a white line too.

Trying to recall a conversation with a coach at Derbados. I think the red line is 6m further. Blue is 15 and the fence is 35. The white lines are the pursuit start lines at 200m.

I can’t get a GPS signal inside but do have the wheel & cadence sensor thingies and on a fairly standard 2hr SQT I do 40-50km.

More importantly gnusmas is going for a play on a bike – fab.

Have fun and don’t try to freewheel whilst daydreaming about the length of the paint stripes 🙂

That leads into one of my ‘really!?!’ questions.

If it’s 35m further around the top of the velodrome than the black line…..how much further is it around the inside of the M25 (traveling a/c/wise) than the outside (c/wise)

For the purposes of calculation, assume the M25 is a circle, circumference is 108 miles (172.8km) and the road is 4 lanes each way @ 3.6m each lane = 28.8m and let’s say 1.2m in the middle to keep it simple

Haven’t got a distance-o-meter thingummybob to put on the bike, will have to download an app for my phone to see what distance I manage.

TheOtherJamie has it right, your phone won’t get GPS through the roof so won’t work. I assume you’re going to Newport? At Manchester you can hire timing chips that strap to your ankle, Newport might do the same, (but Google doesn’t reval an easy answer) ask at reception when you arrive. Distance and the other stats are, AFAIK calculated based on 250m laps so won’t be bang on as you won’t spend the whole session on the sprinters line, but will give you an idea.

Circumference of the M25 is irrelevant,

If we assume a circle then all the matters is the difference in radius / diameter

so if the difference is 30 metres between the inside and outside, then you travel 30 x 2 pi metre further on the outside or 188.5 metres

Works with any size of circle

I assume you’re going to Newport?

I guess you didn’t read the first post? His phone gps will be just fine.

Is it an outdoor track? I which case it might not be 250m anyway. The one in Dundee is ~400m. Someone told me it has to be longer outdoors because it’s not so easy to get good banking for the tight turns using concrete/tarmac.

*waves to fellow Derbadian*

I which case it might not be 250m anyway

It is 405.38m 🙂

Going up high on the track is an aweful lot longer to get round. Done loads of track training (no racing) as I daren’t get yet another bike (at the time). It’s great fun. I commuted on fixed gear for 7 years bofore I got my back broken by a driver, but did regular track sessions. The session hammering it behind a derney was ace – I lasted until the end other than a mate in front of me that had his own PX track bike with a bigger gear – my word, getting out of the air flow at 35-40 MPH just dropped you off the pace.

It’s an outside velodrome in Carmarthen so no issues with GPS.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmarthen_Park

@mick_r thanks. I did say I was thinking about it but I’m feeling like I want to (finally) which is a positive start I suppose. I have to start somewhere to get back into it.

I assume you’re going to Newport?

I guess you didn’t read the first post? His phone gps will be just fine.

Kerect. 😄

It’s the race line near the bottom where it’s measured (on the wood) about 6 inches up from the floor. PS the 43 degrees (ish) is the same at the bottom, just like it is at the top, but you’ve got a hell of a lot longer way round to pedal at the top to maintain speed and grip (and it’s high up).

Never pass under someone – your right side/top overtakes

Looks quite well looked after in the photos and nice that you can just use it if events aren’t on.

It was completely resurfaced last year so it’s in great shape. It’s fenced off, but it can be used by anyone. I think the fence is meant to be a deterrent for de yoof. The rugby pitch is in the middle of it and floodlights all round too. It’s in the main park so the skate park, kids playgrounds etc is all there too.

Outdoor velodromes are often old, I think the one in Cardiff is 440 yards.

EDIT no it’s 460m according to the internet which would make it basically 500 yards, and Carmarthen is basically 440 yards which for the youngsters is 1/4 mile.

When are you thinking of going Al? I’ll pop down too if you fancy it.

A mate did this at Herne Hill Velodrome. Set GPS, did a lap on the black. Reset GPS, a lap on the red. Reset and blue. Reset and fence. He rode them all at the same speed (rolling start, 20mph).

It gave him 4 neat ovals. Can’t remember what the difference in lap length was though. It varies between velodromes. The indoor 5 Olympic standard ones are almost identical (very minor differences due to track shape), the outdoor ones are all different depending on length and bank angle. HH is relatively shallow.

richmtb
Subscriber
Circumference of the M25 is irrelevant,

If we assume a circle then all the matters is the difference in radius / diameter

so if the difference is 30 metres between the inside and outside, then you travel 30 x 2 pi metre further on the outside or 188.5 metres

Works with any size of circle

Posted 19 hours ago

Aye, and velodromes are circular…

Bout time you got down to the Glasgow one for a taster session Rich ! 😜

Aye, and velodromes are circular…

Bout time you got down to the Glasgow one for a taster session Rich ! 😜

I’ve done one.

It was bloody terrifying!

^^^^^ I know a track coach that could help 😂

@toofarwest no real thought been put into it, just a starting point to try and get back into cycling again. Weekdays during school are easier, if you let me know when you can I’ll see what I can arrange. Hope your doing ok