Lee Valley VeloPark - where you can ride the London Olympic banked track! This is an amazing opportunity to ride in the slipstream of the likes of Sir Chris Hoy and Dame Sarah Storey, who were part of the multi-medal winning 2012 Olympic track cycling event teams held at the venue.
Velodromes are incredible places and this one at Lee Valley is world-class. There's a distinctive whirr as the bikes whizz round the banked 250m circuit. And you can just imagine the electric atmosphere at this 6000-seater Olympic velodrome during the games. Now this is your chance to have a go yourself!
Yes, it might look scary riding on a sloping track. And you might think you'll just slide down. But with the right gear and tuition from expert coaches, you'll conquer the curves with ease!
First up is the bike. It'll have no gears. No suspension. No brakes. You just need to pedal. And keep pedalling at that, as there's no coasting on a velodrome track bike. It'll feel very different to your usual town cruiser or mountain bike, but the Lee Valley VeloPark coaches will give you all the riding tips (and tell you how you stop).
Then there's the track. You'll see there are black, blue and red lines. All these will be explained to you, but in essence, if you can ride the lower black band, you can ride higher up the bank. And that's because the steepness is actually the same across the whole track. There's a minimum speed needed - that is easily attainable - and you'll stay up!
Bikes and helmets are provided for these Lee Valley Velodrome experiences. If you have Look Keo-cleat compatible shoes you can bring them. You can hire them on the day, or just use trainers. You will need track gloves though, which can also be hired at the venue.
A brilliant experience for keen road bikers and anyone who just fancies having a go, book your Lee Valley Velodrome experience voucher today and get ready to ride the world-famous Pringle-shaped Olympic velodrome!
Velodrome Experience with Flying Lap