The UK has six indoor velodromes open to the public, alongside a wider network of outdoor tracks. For road riders, a track taster session is one of the easiest ways to try a completely different side of cycling: fixed gear, no brakes, steep banking and a much greater emphasis on smooth lines and group awareness.
The six indoor venues are the National Cycling Centre in Manchester, Lee Valley VeloPark in London, Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, Wales National Velodrome in Newport, Derby Arena and Calshot Velodrome near Southampton. Most offer public taster sessions and bike hire, with accreditation needed before you can join more advanced sessions or racing.
How can I ride on a velodrome near me?
Most indoor velodromes start new riders with a taster session covering the basic skills needed to ride a fixed-gear track bike safely. From there, riders can work through accreditation before joining more advanced coached sessions or racing. I have previously written about a Derby Velodrome taster session, which gives a good idea of what a first visit feels like.
Even experienced road riders should expect to begin with the track basics because riding fixed gear without brakes changes how you control speed and move around other riders. Most indoor venues hire track bikes, and many also offer shoe hire. If you plan to use your own shoes, check the pedal and cleat standard with the venue before travelling.
Accreditation is normally completed in stages, building from safe group riding through to more advanced track skills. British Cycling supports a UK-wide indoor track accreditation record, although venues still control their own sessions and may check that riders have the appropriate level before booking. Once accredited, riders can move into structured training sessions, track leagues and the different race formats used on the velodrome.
UK indoor velodromes
| Velodrome | Location | Track |
|---|---|---|
| National Cycling Centre | Manchester | 250m indoor |
| Lee Valley VeloPark | London | 250m indoor |
| Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome | Glasgow | 250m indoor |
| Wales National Velodrome | Newport | 250m indoor |
| Derby Arena | Derby | 250m indoor |
| Calshot Velodrome | Hampshire | 142m indoor |
How to find a velodrome near me
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Photo Credit: Getty
British Cycling’s track listings and local venue websites are the best place to confirm current public sessions. The map below gives a broader view of indoor, outdoor and grass tracks around the UK, while venue booking pages will have the latest taster-session and accreditation dates.
Map of UK Velodromes
Orange – outdoor
Green – grass
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