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Velodrome
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== Bicycles and track design == [[File:forest city velodrome.jpg|thumb|right|[[Forest City Velodrome]] in [[London, Ontario|London]], Canada]] Bicycles for velodromes, better known as [[track bicycle]]s, have no brakes. They employ a single fixed rear gear, or cog, that does not freewheel. This helps maximise speed, reduces weight, and avoids sudden braking while nevertheless allowing the rider to slow by pushing back against the pedals. Modern velodromes are constructed by specialised designers. The [[Schuermann]] architects in Germany have built more than 125 tracks worldwide. Most of Schuermann's outdoor tracks are made of wood trusswork with a surface of strips of the rare rain-forest wood [[Afzelia]]. Indoor velodromes are built with less expensive pine surfaces.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} The track is measured along a line {{convert|20|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} up from the bottom. Olympic and [[UCI Track Cycling World Championships|World Championship]] velodromes must measure {{convert|250|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}. Other events on the [[Union Cycliste Internationale|UCI]] International Calendar may be held in velodromes that measure between {{convert|133|and|500|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} inclusive, with a length such that a whole or half number of laps give a distance of {{convert|1|km|mi|2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{citation|page=85| url=https://www.uci.org/docs/default-source/rules-and-regulations/3-pis-e_english.pdf?sfvrsn=da11c58e_22| publication-date=1 October 2019|title=UCI Cycling Regulations, Part III: Track Races| publisher=[[Union Cycliste Internationale|UCI]]}}</ref> The velodrome at [[Calshot Activities Centre|Calshot]] in [[Hampshire]], England, is only {{convert|142|m|ft|abbr=on}} and has especially steep banking because it was built to fit inside an aircraft [[hangar]]. The [[Forest City Velodrome]] in [[London, Ontario]], Canada, is the world's shortest at {{convert|138|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Built to fit a [[ice hockey|hockey]] arena, it too has steep banking. [[File:Calshot velodrome.jpg|thumb|right|[[Calshot Activities Centre|Calshot velodrome]] with Woolwich CC cyclists riding round banking]] The smaller the track, the steeper the banking. A {{convert|250|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} track banks around 45Β°, while a {{convert|333.33|m|ft|abbr=on}} track banks around 32Β°. Some older velodromes were built to [[Imperial units|imperial standards]]. The [[Dick Lane Velodrome]] in [[East Point, Georgia]], United States, is {{convert|0.2|mi|m|1|abbr=out|disp=or}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dicklanevelodrome.com|title=The Dick Lane Velodrome|website=www.dicklanevelodrome.com}}</ref> Velodrome tracks can be surfaced with different materials, including timber, synthetics and concrete. Shorter, newer, and Olympic quality tracks tend to be timber or synthetics; longer, older, or inexpensive tracks are concrete, macadam, or even cinder.
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