Originally Posted by noglider

Velodromes were all over the country. Bicycles were at the forefront of technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Bicycles WERE technology, and everyone wanted a bicycle whether they could afford one or not. Bike racing -- mostly track racing -- was the biggest sport, and a lot of money rode on the betting.

Velodromes where everywhere, and many were made as temporary facilities.

So yes, Kissena is old but it's also young in that context. At some point, a standard emerged that the round trip should be 333 meters (1/3 kilometer). I understand Kissena is about 400 meters. But that's far from the worst of it. It's built on swamp land and doesn't have a concrete foundation. As soon as the asphalt is replaced, which doesn't happen often enough, it gets rippled and rough. It is property of NYC Parks department, and they don't have the money to keep it up properly, nor is the demand there. It's kind of a chicken and egg problem because it would be a popular spectacle if there were investment in it, but that's not going to happen because it's not a popular spectacle. And the surrounding area does not have much commercial potential. And so it goes. But it's *our* scrappy velodrome.

I made long-lasting friends with a woman that summer of 2014. She used to drive from Cambridge on Fridays just to race. Man, that's dedication. I'm friends with her whole family, and both families see each other often. I call them our adopted nieces.