Imagine if this was still here (preferably with an O2 type dome) when the rail line to Powderhall closes and people would be able to cycle off-road from Roseburn and Davidson's Mains and Canonmills and Trinity and Leith and Portobello...
IMAGINE.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Sport
Threat to Meadowbank velodrome?
(54 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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A wooden outdoor velodrome in Scotland was always a bit of a daft idea, was it not? I recall TV coverage of the 1986 games showing an empty, rainswept arena renamed the Wellydrome.
How long is the wooden surface going to last? It looks a bit dodgy from the photos above.
Posted 12 years ago # -
A wooden outdoor velodrome in Scotland was always a bit of a daft idea, was it not?
Yachts are made of wood. Some houses too. Not daft.
It is not that wet in Edinburgh. This is not the Western Highlands. But yes, a hostage to fortune.
I recall TV coverage of the 1986 games showing an empty, rainswept arena renamed the Wellydrome.
Maybe this is why the Council want to knock it down. It's an embarrassment for them.
Has anything been costed lately?
Seemingly only the cost of bulldozing the velodrome, building a supermarché and upgrading the main stadium for rugby.
Sigh.
Anyone know any architects/civil engineers?*
*Come to think of it, there are architects teaching at Scottish art colleges who could set this as a project for their students: design a roof/enclosure for Meadowbank velodrome...
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'm being e-mailed interesting insights on this.
Apparently Herne Hill is still rained off "with even a light shower".
"You can't roof over Meadowbank. the track is made from Afzelia, an african hardwood. If you stop the rain getting to it, it will dry out and splinter."
When Brian Annable (in British Cycling's first 50 Hall of Fame inductees) was City Architect he tried to get a roof (no money of course).
It was only later when a new study was carried out that the issue of 'drying out' surfaced.
Obviously there are wooden indoor tracks and Meadowbank was resurfaced for the last Commonwealth Games - not cheap.
It was also realised that to create a roof for the existing velodrome - especially so close to the main East Coast Line would not be easy or cheap. (@crowriver that would be an interesting challenge for "architects teaching at Scottish art colleges who could set this as a project for their students" - some sort of lightweight cantilever structure only 'unveiled' when rain threatened a session.)
So the idea for a new track elsewhere seemed the best option. Then Glasgow got the CG and the chance of big money went west.
Obviously if Edinburgh is good Enough for Diving (revamped Commy Pool opens today) then it might have been possible for the City to host cycling too.
(Perhaps cycling is now more prestigious than diving so Glasgow wanted the glory!)
Now for the good news -
It is likely that the track will continue till at least 2015. There may even be a "User Group" to take over the running and maintenance of the velodrome this year.
The aspiration is for a 200m, covered facility, similar to the UCI track at Aigle which held the Junior Worlds a few years ago.
Apparently Government guidelines state that "children should not have to travel more than 30 miles to get to their sport facility"
So if kids in Edinburgh want to able to become 'the next Chris Hoy' they'll need a track!
Someone with their heart close to the Track told me: "We need our own track to continue the hertage and knowledge base built up here over the last 40 years".
Sounds like a good enough reason for Edinburgh to take its 'own' cycle sport seriously.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@chdot, that fills out the context enormously.
It seems the best outcome would be for the users to take over running the velodrome. Then it would no longer be an "issue" the council needs to worry about. On the other hand that might mean no council funding for maintenance: but then there's not much evidence of that at the moment!
Then it's just keeping it open/refurbishing if need be until such time as a replacement can be funded and built (when?).
some sort of lightweight cantilever structure only 'unveiled' when rain threatened a session
Like this one at Wimbledon? ;-)
Surely a lower tech/lower cost structure could be envisaged.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"You can't roof over Meadowbank. the track is made from Afzelia, an african hardwood. If you stop the rain getting to it, it will dry out and splinter."
In which case you just need a roof over it for event days that you can open the skylights in during the week to let the rain in!
Posted 12 years ago # -
The Wimbledon roof was megabucks though.
Posted 12 years ago # -
The Wimbledon roof was megabucks though. Hence the 'wink' emoticon.
Given the likely financial constraints, perhaps some kind of giant tent like structure would seem the most feasible. Couple of 'big top' style poles in the green field centre, rig the (ripstop translucent nylon/kevlar) tent the day before a big event, take it down and stow it the day after.
Or even smaller pole supported fabric structures extending from the edges, a bit like the sunshades which were apparently used in the Coliseum of ancient Rome...
Posted 12 years ago # -
Is there a route for getting heavy plant into the middle? Is there something sufficiently solid beneath the central field for big poles to be bedded into? Is the outer edge of the top of the wall of the current structure strong enough to attach giant cup-hooks to?
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Is there a route for getting heavy plant into the middle?"
No, that's one of the problems.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Maybe just needs a day's crane hire to lift two poles into position. Small cement mixer and some spades should do the rest.
Tensioning poles (like giant tent pegs) could be erected around the perimeter, cemented into the ground. Again, cement, pneumatic drill/spades, crane. Some metal fixings for the side walls to stop the poles wobbling around.
Just an idea. I'm no architect, engineer, nor even a tent designer.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"I'm no architect, engineer, nor even a tent designer"
Bound to be some on CCE.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Surely it would be possible to water the track with a hose once in a while. No need for a removable roof.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Surely it would be possible to water the track with a hose once in a while.
Or indeed install a sprinkler system, á la golf. Or have a semi-enclosed roof so that airborne moisture still circulates, and the grass in the middle is rained on. Like in most stadia.
Posted 12 years ago # -
[url=http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/scotland/article/sc-news-20100730-Sir-Chris-Hoy-Velodrome-Development]
Have I missed something? The lovely new facility is nearing completion in Glasgow. Living near Meadowbank as I do, & Her Indoors working in the building next to the track, our joint observations would suggest that the days when the track is not used are in the vast majority. Track riders have had to either travel through to Edinburgh for years (& have taken a chance on the vagaries of the weather to get a ride) or gone much further afield. What's so awful about getting on the train & popping through to Glasgow?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Have I missed something?
Err... Two pages of discussion on this forum, perhaps?
Posted 12 years ago # -
" What's so awful about getting on the train & popping through to Glasgow?"
Having done this (not for cycling) it is very awful indeed. Takes a huge chunk out of your day just to get a couple of hours training done. Huge energy sapper.
Posted 12 years ago # -
First, I guess, is the problem with getting more than two bikes on the train, which would be awkward as everyone would need to arrive in staggered 15 minute intervals and leave in 15 minute intervals (possibly before everyone was there).
Then there's the question of travelling with expensive and fragile bikes.
Probably will just lead to some people doing a lot of driving, and others not bothering at all. It is quite a niche.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Err... Two pages of discussion on this forum, perhaps?"
- most of the chat seemed to be about putting a roof on Meadowbank velodrome, sorry I missed the bit that justified actually keeping it open when there will be a state of the art world class cycling centre opening in Glasgow shortly. I'll read through it again.
"Takes a huge chunk out of your day just to get a couple of hours training done. Huge energy sapper".
- which is exactly what everybody who lives outside of Edinburgh has to do to get to Meadowbank.
Posted 12 years ago # -
The new velodrome in Glasgow will be a huge boost to competitive cycling in Scotland, however it need not be either Glasgow or Edinburgh, preferable to have both.
The sports council research shows elite and established competitors will travel quite a way for a specialist facility, it's the grass roots beginners who won't regularly travel more than 30 mins to get some where that they can have a try and become competant.
These youngsters are the lifeblood of any sport,so local facilities like Caird park in Dundee and Meadowbank can be seen as "feeders" to the velodrome in Glasgow.
Imagine if there was one swimming pool in Scotland and it was outdoors in Stirling, how successful would the Scottish swimmers be come international competition time ?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Meadowbank Velodrome, Edinburgh
The East of Scotland Track Promoters Association (ESTPA) is pleased to announce a new partnership arrangement with the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) who own the Velodrome at Meadowbank Sports Centre.
This partnership arrangement will allow the Velodrome to remain in use for the foreseeable future and encourage elite athletes as well as grass-roots cycling development to continue in the run up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
ESTPA will be responsible for the management and control of all cycling activities, as well as the equipment at the Velodrome.
CEC will continue their support to cycling in Edinburgh, together with the ESTPA team of officials. Over the last 30 years, they have developed the sport of track cycling at the Velodrome by promoting events and by the provision and maintenance of track machines and equipment. This has encouraged young beginners to take up the sport and aspire to become champions.
Cycling and community groups will be able to hire the Velodrome for a range of training, competition and accreditation activities. Bookings can be made for try the track sessions to allow keen cyclists to experience the thrill of riding on the boards that have produced and nurtured Scotland's Commonwealth, World and Olympic champions.
Comments from Elite Cycling Track Racers
Marco Librizzi Commonwealth Games Mens Team Sprint, Bronze Medalist Manchester 2002
This partnership agreement is a fantastic development for Scottish track racing, keeping a velodrome open in Edinburgh is key to developing grass roots track cyclists, who in turn will become the champions of the future.
Kate Cullen Commonwealth Games Woman's Points Race, Bronze Medalist Melbourne 2006
'It is fantastic news that Meadowbank Velodrome will be in use, - it would have been devastating to Scottish track cycling if a season was missed, especially with the up and coming Commonwealth Games. Thank you to ESTPA for all the hard work to keep the track open. '
Jenny Davis Commonwealth Games, Woman's Team Sprint, Silver Medalist Dehli 2010
"Having regular access to the velodrome is an essential part to my training and preparation in the run up to Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. I rely on getting access to it every single week throughout the summer months so this announcement means I can now focus solely on the task of winning medals at Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. It seems like a long way away but the more time I get on the velodrome now, the faster my progress will be and the closer I get to those winning margins. This couldn't have come at a better time."
Callum Skinner Commonwealth Games, Sprint Development Rider, Dehli 2010
"This is great news for Edinburgh and the whole of the Scottish Cycling community. I'm sure that ESTPA will do a good job managing Meadowbank to its full potential, allowing this historic track to build further on its reputation of producing world class athletes."
Contact estpa@hushmail.com for further information .
---ENDS---
---NOTES FOR EDITORS---
The East of Scotland Track Promoters Association (ESTPA) was constituted in February 2011 by the executive committee and elected members of the East of Scotland Cycling Association and now functions as a stand alone organisation with the following objectives :
To co-ordinate and promote track cycling for the Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders local authority regions
To establish and maintain contact with other track cycling promoters in Scotland and Great Britain
To enhance the provision of track cycling facilities
To promote track cycling events
To assist in the process of qualification and experience of track cycling officials.
To be involved in any other aspects of cycling that further the objectives above.
---CONTACT---
Mr Brian Annable
estpa@hushmail.com#####
2012 Programme of events at Meadowbank velodrome:
Meadowbank National TL 24th April - 4 Sep
ESCA Champs - Pursuits 4 May
Sprints 11 May
1Km + 10Km 18 May
ERC Youth Omnium 13 May
Vortex Race Team Track Day 27 May
Meadowbank International Gran Prix 9/10 June
European Cycle
Messenger Championships 15/16 JuneScottish Champs 23/24 June
Posted 12 years ago # -
Great news!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Hooray! Fantastic that this has taken place. Very sensible arrangement, well done ESPTA and the Council.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Posted 12 years ago #
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