Ride The Velodrome

All our Velodrome track activities on one page!

Please see our timetable for session times. Before you book on any session, you need to become a member of the NCC, and have your details entered on our membership database. This is the downloadable health questionnaire and parental consent form. Please fill it in, and e mail back to admin@nationalcyclingcentre.com. Once we have you entered on the database, you can then phone up and book Taster, spin and some BMX sessions, and pay by credit/cash card. On your first visit, we also need to take a photo of you (in reception) for our database records. Before your first Taster session, please read our advice sheet You need to refer to our sizing chart to order the correct sized track bike in advance of your session and also refer to this Bike size and gear size table. As you progress, you can plan what other sessions you can ride, by referring to our winter activities

Once you have successfully completed a Taster session and are eager to progress further, the track programme provides a structured pathway to enhancing your track skills and fitness, and you will need to book more Taster sessions to progress. Download Velodrome Accreditation advice

The Taster session can be the first part of progressing through to gaining Velodrome track accreditation. Inform the coach of your current skills, and they can advise how to progress.

It is unlikely that a blue slip is achieved on the first Taster session, but ask the coach to explain the process so you can practice the skills. You will also need to advise the coach before the start of the session if you want to be assessed for a blue slip, it is not offered retrospectively. The coach will advise if there are other riders to join you in the line for your assessment.

Minimum age 12 years - see exceptions in table below. The Friday Family Taster session allows 9 years + on the session, but all riders are expected to keep a brisk pace, and there may be more adults than kids on the session! Please book and pay for your session in advance.

The weekly Taster sessions within our winter programme are:

Day	Time	Session
Monday	8:00 - 9:00am	Usually has a fast group of adult riders
Monday	5:00 - 6:00pm	12 years or older
Tuesday	8:00 - 9:00am	Usually has a fast group of adult riders
Tuesday	12:00 - 1:00pm	Usually has a slower group of senior riders
Wednesday	12:00 - 1:00pm	12 years or older
Wednesday	5:00 - 6:00pm	also for 9-15 year old MCC residents
Thursday	8:00 - 9:00am	12 years or older
Thursday	12:00 - 1:00pm	12 years or older
Thursday	5:00 - 6:00pm	12 years or older
Friday	8:00 - 9:00am	Usually has a fast group of adult riders
Friday	12:00 - 1:00pm	12 years or older
Friday Family Taster	5:00 - 6:00pm	9 years or older
Saturday	5:00 - 6:00pm	12 years or older
Sunday	5:00 - 6:00pm	12 years or older

Taster Sessions

An introductory session for beginners. You will be riding with up to 15 other riders on the track at the same time, for one hour’s duration. You will be given a set of skills to learn by the coach and each rider will be provided with a bike and helmet. The Taster sessions are great fun and are one of the most popular track sessions provided, so whether you want to be the next Sir Chris Hoy or Laura Trott, or just curious to see what it’s like to ride round a banked cycle track, this is the session for you. Bring some friends or family for an experience you will never forget. Once booked on a Taster, please take time to read this information Preparing for your Taster session

Buy a voucher

We sell vouchers that can be exchanged for a Velodrome or BMX track session, which can make a nice present, and has a two year validation. Sold in £10.00, £5.00 & £1.00 vouchers.

Velodrome Taster Voucher

By this for a surprise track session!

See for yourself!

Watch this You tube clip featuring Guardian journalist Susan Greenwood on her first taster session http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hotTzGgAPxo&feature=related

Read for yourself!

If you want to read Guardian journalist Trevor Ward's experience of their first Taster session, follow this link http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2012/aug/23/track-cycling-manchester-velodrome

The Taster session can be the first part of progressing through to gaining Velodrome track accreditation. Inform the coach of your current skills, and they can advise how to progress. This is explained further in the Accreditation information. It is unlikely that a blue slip is achieved on the first Taster session, but ask the coach to explain the process so you can practice the skills.

VI & Disability Tandem Taster

Taster sessions for visually impaired or disability riders

If you have the ability to ride a two wheeled bike, or you have previously ridden as a co- pilot on a tandem, and you are 12 years or older, then you can book on a Taster session that caters for Disability or Visually Impaired riders at Manchester Velodrome. The cost is £10.50 (£8.30 concessions) including tandem hire and helmet, and Limar shoes are available to hire at £4.80. Please book and pay for the session in advance with reception. Download the information

The smallest tandem has a 19” (48cms) rear seat tube, so you need to refer to this table:

Height req. in metres	Height req. in feet/inches	Tandem rear in inches	Tandem rear in cms
1.44 to 1.52	4' 10" to 5' 0"	19	48

Youth Accreditation

Riders between the age of 9 -15 years, have a separate Youth accreditation procedure. Download the Accreditation document for further information The only session available for Youth accreditation is the Taster Skills Improver on a Friday evening 6:00 -7:00pm, and you must have had three hours of riding the Velodrome before booking on the Taster Skills Improver session. Youth riders who have previous Manchester Velodrome track experience of at least 3 hours, can be booked onto the Adult Taster Skills Improver on a Monday night (5:00 – 6:00pm – 7:00-8:00pm in Summer) or Friday night (6:00 – 7:00pm) to gain their Youth accreditation, with up to 5 x 1 hour sessions of skills analysis by the coach. Please ask for a youth skills tracking sheet/contact information form at reception before the first Taster improver session. Please ask the coach to sign off each session, as it cvannot be signed retrospectively.

Adult Accreditation

For riders 15 years or older - advise the coach on our Taster session that you want to progress towards your accreditation. The coach will set out what you need to do safely to get your "blue" slip - riding in a line of riders (minimum of four) at a brisk pace for 20 minutes, changing each lap and looking over your shoulder. You also need to achieve four solo laps at the top of the track. Once you have achieved this safely, the coach will issue a blue slip, and they hand this into reception so you can book on a Taster Skills Improver session. Download the Accreditation document for further information

Taster Improver

For riders 9 years or older, the Taster Improver is the next step to enhancing your skills, and overall fitness. This session focuses on specific key skills and routines designed to make you a fitter, safer and more confident track cyclist. Download the "Track Accreditation" document for further information. On a Friday evening 6:00 -7:00pm.

Skills session

Once you have been assessed as being ready to progress, you will be encouraged to move on to the Skills session and then the Induction session. These are intensive sessions and are a learning process and then a test of track craft for candidates to demonstrate the skills learned so that they can safely ride the Structured Training sessions. Both are two hour sessions, and for the Induction session you need the fitness to stay on the track for up to 35 minutes! Accreditation passes will be issued on successful completion. Accreditation for successful candidates also allows access to the ACT Track League during the winter on a Monday evening. Download the Accreditation document for further information.

Structured B Training

For the not so fit and not so fast, and a good session for those who have just gained their accreditation. Two hours duration. Thursday 6:00 -8:00pm.

Structured A & B Training

For accredited riders, 15 years or better, these sessions will further develop technique, skill and fitness. Progress from the “B” session once you have got some track speed. Two hours duration. Tuesday evening, alternate Saturday mornings, and Sunday evenings in winter.

Structured Madison Training

Bring a training partner for this team riding session, or come on your own and ride with an experienced Madison rider. For experienced accredited riders only, so get 6 x A & B sessions in before riding this session! Two hours duration, alternate Saturday mornings.

Structured Derny Training or Structured Sprint/Keirin Training

Best to use your own bike for these sessions! Two hours duration.For experienced accredited riders only, so get 6 x A & B sessions in before riding this session! Two hours duration. Wednesday evenings 8:00 -10:00pm.

Structured Discipline specific training

New to Friday nights in the summer. Best to use your own bike for these sessions! For experienced accredited riders only, this is a 3 hour session at a higher price. See the separate information for the various discipline specific and championship specific sessions available. Book in advance. Friday evenings 7:00 -10:00pm.