[CR] Atlanta velodrome(s)

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot:PY-10)

From: "marie autrey" <ridingrabbit@earthlink.net>
To: classicrendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:14:57 -0500
Subject: [CR] Atlanta velodrome(s)


I know you're just dying to know...

In the modern era, Atlanta briefly had two velodromes: the Dick Lane velodrome, a concrete outdoor structure, and, during the 1996 Olympics, the wooden, portable Olympic velodrome.

The Dick Lane (www.dicklanevelodrome.com) is unique, or bizarre, depending on your point of view: it is 1/5 mile in length, which means that the start and finish lines and almost never the same. It has a creek meandering through the infield, erosion from which caused turn 4 to develop a slump akin to riding off a curb. But it is maintained by an active and enthusiastic bunch, hosts racing two or three nights a week in good weather, runs a kids outreach for the neighborhood, and generally makes itself a credit to the area. In trouble? Anything related to bicycles in Atlanta is perpetually in trouble, but I dont' think it'll blow away anytime soon...

Unlike the Olympic velodrome, which was disassembled and carted away to, I've heard, Mickey-land in Orlando. You can still make out its footprint if you know where to look.

(Not completely off topic, in that I ride my Rino track bike with Gipiemme and sew ups there) marie autrey ridingrabbit@earthlink.net Decatur, Georgia (little country town enveloped by Atlanta) USA