Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - velodromes near boston?

what's the closest velodrome to boston? i was thinking that it would be a lot of fun to shed my front brake and tear ass around a track some weekend.

Kissena !

S/F,
LORD CEYA!

somehow i don't see myself lugging my bike on the fung wah

Well. The only 'real' velodrome around you is the one in NYC. It is Kissena. But, there is this velodrome....if you call it that....

http://www.leadcycling.com/

But, the good news is that the vandedrome was bought by a club in western massachusetts. more info of the vandedrome can be found at....

http://members.aol.com/velodromes/Vandedrome/
and
http://www.northamptoncyclingclub.org/

Woo Woo...

Super Rookie=Knowledge
[165]=Chump

somehow i don't see myself lugging my bike on the fung wah
Many of us have. In fact three of us just did it for halloweekend. Not a big deal--you just toss your bike into the cargo hold. It won't get damaged.

Hmm. The Vanedrome is a four hour drive into the boonies, and Kissena is a four hour bus ride into awesomeness. Whichever will I choose?

Seriously, the Fung Wah is so painless it's ridiculous. I'm thinking about heading down AMAHP (as much as humanly possible). Anybody up for some weekend excursions?

EDIT: Also, you have to have a valid USCF racing license to ride the Vanedrome. I don't know if it's the same at Kissena, but I'm thinking not.

looks fun though
http://members.aol.com/irispress/nobrakes.html/vdromec.gif

After May (end of collegiate racing season) I'm definitely down to go to NYC on some weekends. If you think Kissena will somehow be open in the ass coldness of February, I could do it then as well. My grandmother has a small apartment in mid-town Manhattan, so I always have a place to stay (and can fit another person in there if need be).

Also, if anyone has a car (or I could get a Zipcar), we can go to that thing up in New Hampshire every once in a while as well.

You know, it does look like fun. Maybe we can do a tour of all the "nearby" velodromes in New England. One weekend at Vanedrome, one at Kissena, and one at that racecar track in NH.



looks fun though

Haha, have fun! I've no intention of returning to NH until I can cook an egg on the pavement.

you have to have a valid USCF racing license to ride the Vanedrome. I don't know if it's the same at Kissena, but I'm thinking not.

In most cases when one is required you can buy a temp. license for the day, at least thats how it is for Wed. Night training Crits at the Indust. Park in Lincoln, RI. We should do a little road trip like that ... I'll volunteer my tansportation for that one.

Kissena is public, so no USCF liense. It is outdoor and in a public park (Kissena Park in Queens).

S/F,
CEYA!

Haha, have fun! I've no intention of returning to NH until I can cook an egg on the pavement.

Agreed, so obvioulsy we'd go in the spring Jrowe and you will be coming.

The only thing I've heard is that the Chinatown buses are usually fine, but sometimes the drivers can be weird about it. Since they're $30 RT now that they have to leave out of South Station, I just take Greyhound/Peter Pan who have dropped their Boston/NYC fare to $30 RT as well.

I've gone there and back twice now using the Chinatown busses and experienced no such weirdness. The key seems to be never asking questions. Just climb into the storage bay and lock your bike to the supports so it stands upright. Nobody troubled me in the least. Some other observations, having traveled both ways:

- Less waiting in lines with Chinatown bus. There's no separate ticket line, so it's marginally faster.
- No finding your way through Port Authority upon arrival.
- Technically, your bike is supposed to be boxed with Greyhound (though nobody seems to care).
- No sh!tty movie.

On the other hand, I haven't heard of a Greyhound exploding on the side of the highway.

Babies!



Agreed, so obvioulsy we'd go in the spring Jrowe and you will be coming.

To my knowledge, the Vandedrome is not currently built. It was purchased by the Northampton Cycling Club in 2003 but all the boards need to be reconditioned and reassembled at an estimated cost of $50k. It's always been real close to being ready to go.

http://www.valleydrome.org/

- Technically, your bike is supposed to be boxed with Greyhound (though nobody seems to care).

Not so. Greyhound's policy explicitly allows unboxed travel between NY & Boston. Peter Pan doesn't allow it unless there's an empty bin. The catch is that when you buy the $30 ticket, you get a pool ticket which means that you could travel on Greyhound or Peter Pan. What I didn't realize is that they have different policies, so I once got into a shouting match with the dispatcher in the Port Authority terminal who told me I couldn't travel with my unboxed bike even though GPX was out of boxes. I would have had to wait another hour to travel on a Greyhound bus.

Fortunately they had an empty bay after all.

So the real thing is just to make sure that your departing ticket is on a Greyhound bus, that's the one that's schedule restricted. You can return on any bus you want. Since you get to pick the exact route, it's no problem to pick one that's Greyhound.

I guess I just like knowing that there is a policy that explicitly allows it, even if it kind of sucks in with GH vs. PP. I know I've heard people who talk about being charged a bike fee by some drivers and one person who was told they'd have to buy a whole second fare (what?!).

Trevor, that kind of sounds like the hassle you were trying to avoid by going with Greyhound... ;)

The Chinatown bus people seem pretty savvy, and fiercely competitive with other companies. If anybody hassles you, just say you're going to Lucky Star instead and ask for a refund.

Actually, I should specify that I rode the last two times on Lucky Star, as opposed to Fung Wah. Maybe that's the key. Try Lucky Star, kids! Motherfung the Wah.

Oh, it totally is. But I didn't know that until after it was too late. Now that I know, I would simply make sure that both legs of my journey are on Greyhound, which is cake. Just look at the schedule on the Internets.

Anyhow, ya gots options, go with whatever makes you feel easier. I'm sure threatening to travel on a different bus would be enough to make any of the drivers relent, but I hate playing the ******* card, so I'll go with the known setup.

Plus I just like the ride from mid-town. I seem to usually stay in Chelsea or so and I love that initial spin 20 blocks straight down 9th Ave. :)

I'm so confused. I see all these bros on sweet brakless track bikes in the city, but there's no velodrome close. What's up?

Babies!

I'll ride in the cold ... I have gear for it and I plan on it. I suppose some of us don't though, at least not for real distance/training rides anyway. I'm going to get some good base in this winter on my new fixed road frame ... soon to come, almost done.

This thread has been totally hijacked, shame on all of us.

... Yeah that veldrome thing.

I'm so confused. I see all these bros on sweet brakelss track bikes in the city, but there's no velodrome close nearby. What's up?

you mean they ride those things on the street? how strange and mystical ... I want one.

whoa! slow down people. The vandedrome is not constructed. They just bought the boards and it need to be highly refurbished. The cycling club is hoping to have it put indoors in the next 10 years. so hold onto your hopes and dreams!

The vandedrome is awesome though!

*sigh* I wish somebody would buy a portable velodrome and refurbish it here in Boston.

I like the word "refurbish."

whoa! slow down people. The vandedrome is not constructed. They just bought the boards and it need to be highly refurbished. The cycling club is hoping to have it put indoors in the next 10 years. so hold onto your hopes and dreams!

The vandedrome is awesome though!


doh-

i now a bunch of people who use MIT's track. usually they go thurs nights at about 10.

Many of those people are on this forum, some have even posted in this thread. MIT is not enough for these posters, though. They want to turn left over and over again, but with banking.

Many of those people are on this forum, some have even posted in this thread. MIT is not enough for these posters, though. They want to turn left over and over again, but with banking.
just trying to help

One of the best spots for riding track bikes, and probably the most overlooked, in Massachusetts is the Cape Cod Canal. It has paved two way traffic on either side as well as bridge access between the two. I'd say this area is probably one of the most scenic areas to ride in Mass.

Also down the Cape are a bunch of other paved bike paths that are relatively flat. They are probably posted on line somewhere (too lazy to find them). I really encourage people to ride fixed down there, especially this time of year, because there aren't as many people (so you can go faster!) and the traffic isn't even half as bad as in the summer. If you're looking for good weekend trips, definitely check out the canal for a half day or something.

I heard a rumor that there was an underground velodrome or something built in some warehouse downtown. Don't know if it's true but...

One of the best spots for riding track bikes, and probably the most overlooked, in Massachusetts is the Cape Cod Canal. It has paved two way traffic on either side as well as bridge access between the two. I'd say this area is probably one of the most scenic areas to ride in Mass.

Also down the Cape are a bunch of other paved bike paths that are relatively flat. They are probably posted on line somewhere (too lazy to find them). I really encourage people to ride fixed down there, especially this time of year, because there aren't as many people (so you can go faster!) and the traffic isn't even half as bad as in the summer. If you're looking for good weekend trips, definitely check out the canal for a half day or something.
the canal is an awesome place to ride. i have family in sandwich (cape cod) however, the calal is fairly short. 6.5 miles each way. usually takes about 45 mins to an hour to complete it both ways. it is very scenic and as well would encourage riding there.

just trying to help
I know. I was giving the others a hard time, not you. Help is always a good thing.

Edit--


One of the best spots for riding track bikes, and probably the most overlooked, in Massachusetts is the Cape Cod Canal. It has paved two way traffic on either side as well as bridge access between the two. I'd say this area is probably one of the most scenic areas to ride in Mass.


How far is this from Boston?

I know. I was giving the others a hard time, not you. Help is always a good thing.

Edit--



How far is this from Boston?

edit- I lie it's 60ish not 30 miles away. Dude its a bike path along the Cape Cod Canal ... it is nice but not really worth the trip IMO. Not to mention it's 13 miles round trip, shortish unless you riding with your girlfriend I'm sure Rob won't be that into it. You would have to get a ride down Rt. 3 To Route 6.

It's about 60 miles (rithem learn some geography!). Within range of a Zipcar. Anyone got a bike rack?

I agree though, not really worth the trip unless you're just itching to get out of Boston.

It's about 60 miles (rithem learn some geography!). Within range of a Zipcar. Anyone got a bike rack?

I agree though, not really worth the trip unless you're just itching to get out of Boston.

shut up I just fixed it ... Before I saw paul's (you) post i was going on my head atlas.

Sucka please! I was just busting your balls...

Speaking of getting out of Boston, we did a climbing clinic/individual TT at Wachusett Mountain this past Sunday. Boy did that hurt.

Sucka please! I was just busting your balls...

yeah me too ... watch who your callin' sucka you know how we throw down here in Prov.:eek:

Aha! Tell us all about it. Just how hard was Wachusett? How long did it take to get up it, what was the approximate grade, etc?

Well if I were in decent shape, it probably wouldn't have been so terrible. The fact is that I have no endurance, so my time was downright embarrassing. Eric's time was pretty good - a little over 18 minutes. The climb itself is about 1100 feet over just less than 3 miles. The first half of the climb is 6-8% grade, as I recall, while the last half has a (very) brief downhill past the visitor center parking lot, and then transitions back to roughly the same grade, with a section near the summit that is 10-12%, if not steeper. Sorry I can't be more precise, I'm barely remembering what the one guy with an altimeter on his computer was telling us.

yeah me too ... watch who your callin' sucka you know how we throw down here in Prov.:eek:

Watch my dick!

(This is where the face punching occurs.)

Watch my dick!

(This is where the face punching occurs.)

see T knows wusup. see mah gol-frontz

*sigh* I wish somebody would buy a portable velodrome and refurbish it here in Boston.

I like the word "refurbish."

Maybe you could dig up the human powered roller coaster?

Many of us have. In fact three of us just did it for halloweekend. Not a big deal--you just toss your bike into the cargo hold. It won't get damaged.

wow, i would have figured otherwise. does one have to change their street tires out for clean tires before getting on the track?

wow, i would have figured otherwise. does one have to change their street tires out for clean tires before getting on the track?

Kinda like the "no street shoes on the gymnasium floor" rule? Good question. Kissena is an outdoor (concrete?) track, so I'm guessing no. For an indoor wooden track, on the other hand, probably wouldn't be a bad idea.

edit- I lie it's 60ish not 30 miles away. Dude its a bike path along the Cape Cod Canal ... it is nice but not really worth the trip IMO. Not to mention it's 13 miles round trip, shortish unless you riding with your girlfriend I'm sure Rob won't be that into it. You would have to get a ride down Rt. 3 To Route 6.

Indeed I wouldn't. I've ridden on some of the Cape bike paths and they're not bad, but like all bike paths they're littered with children and tourists and rollerbladers. Now if we're talking a ride to the Cape, I'm all over that shizznit.

Kissena is an outdoor asphalt track, with leaves and grit and cracks and bumps and ripples. It is also, as Ceya said, in a public park. They certainly don't care what kind of tire you have (as long as it's not studded).

The "many of us have" comment was in reference to throwing our bikes into a fung wah bus cargo hold, not going to Kissena, though I rode at Kissena (but didn't race) this summer.

Too short? You guys are talking about driving over 100 miles to goto some lousy city and ride in a circle. The canal has a lot more to offer than any left turn only velodrome...and if you find it boring than try biking some of the other paths on the Cape. I'd also like so see someone try pushing it at 20 the whole way with the canal's infamous headwind. If that doesn't get your blood going than I don't know what will.

I heard a rumor that there was an underground velodrome or something built in some warehouse downtown. Don't know if it's true but...

I don't know if you're being serious, but there was a "portable" type track in a lot down on the Seaport for a while.....who knows where that ended up.